The Charade

49| 𝕾𝖍𝖚𝖙 𝖚𝖕, 𝖂𝖎𝖋𝖊

Chapter 50, 51 and 52 are published on Scrollstack! Read the note in the end.

AUTHOR'S POV

The cold stone walls of the dungeon echoed with the drip of water seeping through cracks, each droplet splattering onto the ground.

Light barely reached this place, and what little light there was only dimly illuminated the man chained to hooks on the wall in the center of the room.

Blood trickled down his face, pooling beneath him. He stirred, his legs raw from struggling against the chains, but the movement only intensified the pain that pulsed through his battered body.

A low, dark chuckle filled the air, followed by the sharp tap of boots against floor as the captor emerged from the shadows, his dark eyes gleaming with satisfied delight. He approached slowly, savoring each step as he tilted his head, observing the broken barely alive human before him-injuries all over his body, no arms, no hair on his head.

"Still alive, are we?"

The green eyes captor sneered, crouching to meet his twin brother's eyes.

His gaze traced along the fresh bruise on the man's jaw. "You don't have to suffer more. Tomorrow, I'll tell my wife everything and finally end your chapter. Forever."

"I am your brother,"

Dhir's voice came out slowly, a mere whisper.

Anger flared in Adhikrit's eyes as he landed a punch across Dhir's face, causing him to collapse against the floor.

"And she is my sweetheart. My fucking sweetheart." Adhikrit's shout echoed through the chamber.

Dhir's barely conscious body lay sprawled on the floor, struggling to breathe.

"Kaha tha na? Kaha tha na, usse dard mat dena." Adhikrit shouted, his eyes misting slightly. "And look what you did to her." His fist struck Dhir's face again, leaving Dhir being on the edge of unconsciousness.

(I told you to not hurt her, and look what you did.)

The man, who had barely eaten in days, could not withstand the assault.

Adhikrit stood up, chuckling. If his sweetheart could see him now, she would faint.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Adhikrit moved to retrieve a knife from the corner of the room. He returned, a sinister smile curling his lips as he carefully sliced a toenail off Dhir, awakening him with a scream.

"Shhh... usne sun liya toh?" Adhikrit whispered, warning him as he moved to cut off another finger.

(Shh, what if she hears?)

Dhir cried, begged his brother to kill him, as he had no energy left to keep living.

When Adhikrit finished his "artwork," he stood and left-it was already late, and now was the time to go back to his sweetheart.

As soon as Adhikrit stepped outside the chamber, Akshat entered with a team of doctors.

It was a ritual: once Adhikrit had finished his torment, the doctors would treat Dhir just enough to keep him alive, sustaining him for however long the Boss wanted.