My Choice

Chapter 8

I slowly open my eyes. The room is dark and I hear low breathing behind me. I feel around and find a lamp next to me. I quickly switch it on. Henry is laying beside me, holding onto my waist. I push his arm away with a lot of force causing him to fall out of the bed. Henry wakes up startled. He looks up at me and chuckles. "Well, good morning to you too." I get up and hurry to the bathroom. I stare into the large mirror. I looked dreadful and filthy. I run the water in the tub so I could take a bath. I open the bathroom door, go to the dresser, grab some clothes, and go back into the bathroom. I step into the warm bath and relax. The water felt so good. I thought I heard the door open so I turn my head to see if Henry was sneaking a peek at me. Thankfully, he was not. I start bathing myself while humming a song my mother used to sing for me. When I finish, I step out the tub and dry off. I look at the clothes I had chosen. A black lace bra with matching underwear and a short red and black dress were hanging there. I groan at the distasteful outfit but put it on. I step out the bathroom with a not so pleased look on my face. Henry, who was now sitting on the bed in his day clothes, smirks and pats the spot next to him. I refuse and start walking in the opposite direction. A hand grabs my wrist and throws me onto the bed. Henry stares hungrily down at me. "If you keep wearing stuff like that, I don't know how much longer I can control myself." I blush and try to push him off. He leans down and kisses me roughly. He slides one hand up my thy. I try to push it away but he was too strong. A knock from outside the door saves me. Henry sighs and answers it. I sit up off the bed. Henry nods to the person at the door then walks towards me. "Come along, my dear. I won't tie you up as long as you behave yourself." I stand up and follow him. He leads me into the dinning area. I take a seat and eat. I look around the room searching for an exit. I see a small opening to my left. Henry was talking to a guard elsewhere so I take this chance to run. I hear yelling behind me. I search for my friends, hoping they are unhurt. With no sign of them, I hide in the shadows to catch my breath. Four guards run past me and I laugh at their incompetence. That was a mistake. Henry grabs my wrists and cuffs them. He yanks on my hair causing me to let out a cry of pain. "How dare you! I was trying to be a gentleman and not have to do this but you just had to run away." He drags me down a dark staircase into the dungeon. I am then chained to a chair. I look around to find torture items along with pools of blood surrounding them. "What have you done with my friends?!" I hear a soft voice come from one of the cells next to me. "Ryia? Is that you? Are you hurt?" "Asher! No, I'm alright. Where are the others?" I hear rustling and two more voices. "We are here. Thank goodness your safe!" Tears of joy fall from my eyes. "What a marvelous reunion." Henry turns on a light. I can clearly see Asher, Dain, and Berinon. They were bloody and half beaten. I turn to Henry. "You monster! Why did you hurt them?!" He shushes me. "I didn't hurt them. Someone else did but I am going to hurt you." He grabs a blade and cuts my right arm. I scream in pain. "Don't you dare touch her! I'll kill you! Stop hurting her!" Asher yells. Henry turns to him and smirks. "Stop? I've only just begun." He tortured me until the sun started setting. I lay there beaten up and bloody. Unconsciousness crept up slowly because of the blood loss. I hear the faint yells of my friends in the background. My uncle walks into the room looking rather unpleased. He looks at Henry and whisper yells,"She was supposed to be unhurt. Now look at her. She can barely stay conscious. My brother will already be pissed that we took her and now he'll be even more pissed." Henry whispers something in the King's ear and his expression changes. "You're right. This could work better than expected. I'm warning you though. She must be alive for this to work." Henry nods and bows. He then gently picks me up and carries me all the way back to the room we share. I am then placed in a soft chair. Henry inspects my wounds and treats them. When he finishes, he places me on the bed. "I h-hate you!" I say. "I love you, my dear. Sweet dreams. I'll come check on you later. The door will be locked."
He then disappears and leaves me alone. Thoughts filled my head then tears started to fall. The blood loss causes me to fall fast asleep while the tears still stain my face.