FLAWED

Chapter 4

xX Aislin Xx

-Then-

My hand drifts to my lips, and all I can taste is bile. I choke back a gasp and bite the back of my hand, shoving my knuckles in my mouth. I don't even earn so much as a sideways glance from those around me.

The girl is screaming, a heart-wrenching inhumane sound full of pain and hurt. It rings high and slices through the silence like scissors would paper.

He brings the whip down on her back again...and again..and again. And all I can think of is why. Why. Why would he do this?

Why am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? Why am I the only one acting with revulsion? Why is the girl beside me practically vibrating with pent up energy and standing on her tip-toes to get a better view?

I'm going to be sick. I want to throw up, but I can't even put my head down; there's too many people and not enough space. Am I the only one here who thinks this is wrong?

She stops screaming and now all I an hear is the sickening draw and snap! of the whip as he mercilessly continues. Blood pours from her back and onto the platform, and crawls steadily toward the edge and then drips onto the grass.

I could've been standing there for seconds. Minutes. Hours. The next thing I know is that I'm standing alone on a field of red grass with a lifeless body thirty feet away. So much blood. There are two guards standing on either side of the platform, and I didn't notice them arrive. Then again; I didn't notice everyone else leave. I fall to my knees and dry heave. How can I be the only one? I hold my head for a few minutes until the spell passes.

I unsteadily get back on my feet; and find myself drawn toward the girl like a magnet to a fridge. I'm five feet away and the reek of blood and sweat is unbearable. I take one step closer and the guard to my right barks, "Stop!"

I freeze. My head turns slightly and I look at him. He has a full orange mask and a black cape with a hood pulled over his head. The guard to my left has identical attire. My blood roars and I feel a rush; the ground races towards me as I catch my final glimpse of the girl who died.

There's a smile on her face.

***

1. If you were captured by an enemy force, what is the first thing you do?

A) Form an escape plan

B) Wait for a rescue team

C) Collect as much info as possible while detained

D) This is a trick question; you're not going to ever be caught

E) Make friends with the guards

I groan inwardly. This class work is so stupid. Dungeon Prep is supposed to be helping us prepare for actual live or die scenarios-- but how am I supposed to know what to do if we haven't learned anything in class? It's so fake. It's as if they're just giving us busy work-- so we won't have time to do other things.

I drum my pencil on my paper and circle C.

"Umm...it's A."

My head flits to the voice on my right, and I see a girl looking at me. She looks to be about my height, but I can't tell because she's sitting down. She has tan skin and dark brown eyes with short black hair. She's wearing a loose T shirt and jeans. She has no malice in her eyes, and for a second I honestly think she's trying to help.

Then suspicion clouds my head. Not one person-- once, has tried to be helpful. Has tried to be my friend.

"Who asked you?" I snap and turn back to my work.