The Immortal Blade Trilogy: Book #1: Fate's Destiny.

Punishment.

I woke up in a cold, stone room. It was damp and it had a musty smell to it. I had no idea what time it was. I sat up quickly then screamed. I forgot that I still had an arrow in my waist. There was no way of telling if the arrow was barbed or not so I couldn't pull it out. I knew what I would have to do, but it would be very painful. If the arrow can't go back out, the only way for it to go is farther in. I grabbed the shaft of the arrow and snapped it. I then had to push the arrow out the rest of the way. I tore a piece of my shirt off and stuffed it in my mouth so I could bite down on it. Then I pushed. I cried out but didn't stop pushing. I didn't dare stop pushing or I might not be able to do it again. The arrow was about half way through when the pain became unbearable, but I couldn't stop pushing! I had convinced my brain that I was no longer in control of my arm. This was a dangerous gift that not many people have, but I have it. I bit down so hard that my jaw felt like it would break. It was finished. The arrow was out. I picked it up to see if it was barbed and it was. 

Good thing I didn't pull it out.  I thought as, once again, everything went dark.

When I woke again, there was a soldier that was standing in the doorway. Probably sent to take me somewhere when I woke up. 

"Get up." He commanded. 

I obeyed. I didn't have enough strength in me to be a rebel. 

"Follow me. And don't even think about trying anything." 

Again, I obeyed. I had to walk with one hand pressing on my waist because of the arrow. 

I wonder if the stranger got away... 

We entered a room and I shuddered. This was obviously the torture room. What was more shocking was the boy that was chained up and just about to get whipped. His arm seemed broken as it hung from the shackles above his head. He seemed strangely familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. The boy seemed no older than sixteen or seventeen but his shoulders were bulging with muscles. His back had numerous scars on it and I figured this wasn't his first time in this place. He had a taut body and I finally recognized him. He somehow heard the door open and turned around. 

It's him! The stranger who saved my life multiple times! 

He mouthed the words "sorry" and I understood, but didn't agree. The soldier with the whip raised it above his head and cracked it on the strangers back. He had nothing to bite down on so all he could do was yell. That was what broke me. I ran towards the soldier with the whip and grabbed his arm, just as he was going to whip again. 

"Hey! Get off of me!" The soldier yelled while pushing me to the ground. 

I sprang back up and punched him in the jaw. He grabbed his jaw and dropped the whip. 

Ouch! That hurt my fist! 

By this time, the guard who had escorted me here grabbed my arm and forced me to my knees. 

"Who do you think you are to tell him to stop whipping, girl?" The soldier shouted. 

I thought for a moment then replied. 

"Some prisoner who attacked you. Punish me instead!" 

The strangers eyes darted to mine. 

"No! You can't! Don't listen to her!" The stranger cried. 

"Be quiet!" The guard commanded. 

"Now girl... What did you say?" 

The stranger looked at me with those pleading dark eyes and begged me to not say it. I shot him a look of stubbornness and he bowed his head in grief.