To Love Your Enemy

Dungeon Life

--- Safiya POV --- 

The guards had my hands behind my back. Next thing I knew I was being shoved onto a dirty floor. I gave the guards a look of hatred. They all simply laughed and shut the door. I took a deep breath and started to observe my surroundings. Before long I noticed I wasn't the only person in here. There were about fifty, maybe even hundreds of people in here. It was to dark for me to be completely sure. One thing I knew, it wasn't any of the members of the rebel army. Everyone was separated. In fact the minute I made eye contact with any of them they flinched. They were all scared. Why, I'm not sure. As I got a better look I noticed there were bruises on all of them. Quite a few had wrapping around their arms and legs. Some even walked with a limp. That's when I pieced it together. These people have been beaten.  

I got off the ground and dusted the dirt and mud off of my clothes. A young boy caught my attention, so I quickly straightened up my clothes and walked over to him. Fear filled his expression when he noticed me walking towards him. "Don't be scared. I won't hurt you." He gave me a pleading look. "Please? Get away from me. You're new so you don't know. We'll be punished if they catch us talking. Maybe even killed." He instantly stopped talking and looked back down at the ground. I was about to open up my mouth to respond when the door suddenly slammed open creating a loud bang. "What's with all the ruckus in here? You know the rules! Which one of you was it?" The room remained quiet.  "TELL ME NOW OR YOU ALL GET BEATEN!" Everyone pulsed at his declaration. I slowly turned around and met the man speaking with a glare. 

"It was me... Sorry do you have a problem with that?" The man quickly met my gaze. He quickly examined me. "I understand..." He quickly stated while walking closer to me clearly trying to be intimidating. "No bruises or injuries... In fact you're in perfect condition. You're the newbie. I'll pardon you this time as you were unaware but let me go over the rules. 

1. No talking... Unless told to do so by a higher authority.

2. No laughing, crying, smiling, or facial expression of any kind. In fact any display of emotion is forbidden. 

3. No making any noise what so ever. 

4. Eye contact with any guards or prisoners is prohibited.

Any breaking of these rules will result in a harsh beating or in some cases even death. Do you understand?" He narrowed his eyes on mine. I looked at the guard in bewilderment. Then erupted in laughter. Eventually clutching my stomach from the hurt. The guard looked at me in pure horror. I finally settled down and glanced my eyes directly at his. "That is the absolute stupidest thing I have ever heard! What's next? Are you going to prohibit us from breathing?" I then continued laughing. 

After my laughing settled down, I looked back at the horrified man in front of me with a smile on my face. "If you haven't already figured it out I won't be following your ridiculous rules. You can beat me all you want, I don't care, and you know why?" I slowly started to take steps closer to him. "Because I'm not the rebel leader for nothing and you don't scare me... But most of all-" I quickly dropped my smile while getting face to face with him. "You can't and won't ever break me." The guard looked at me completely flabbergasted, as his eyes about popped out of his head. I quickly step back, my smile back on my face. "Have a nice day sir." I then sat against the nearest wall, crossing my arms and legs, while the smug smile remained on my lips. The guards face filled with confusion while he awkwardly left the room. 

After awhile of just braiding and unbraiding my blue hair I realized everyone in the room was staring at me with awe.  I quickly smiled at them while waving. A lot of them looked down, clearly still afraid. Then the boy I talked to earlier got up and walked up to me. "Why did you do that? Are you crazy? If he hadn't been so surprised he probably would have killed you." I quickly smiled. "No he wouldn't." The boy looked at me confused. I gave him a quick smile. "The Pharaoh sent me here himself..." Everyone in the room gasped. I gave him a coherent look. "They wouldn't dare to touch me without the Pharaoh's order first... Considering he never takes personal prisoners. The fact he hasn't killed me means he wants me for something... They know that... So they wouldn't dare to lay a finger on me until he decides what to do with me first."  

Realization came on the boy's face. "That's why you did that... You knew all along they wouldn't do anything to you. So you are just waiting for the Pharaoh to make the final decision." My laughter quickly echoed across the room. "What? No. Of course not! I will get out of here long before that happens." I leaned in putting my chin on my hand. "Since he didn't kill me I can only induce he is planning some kind of 'special' elaborate death for me or..." I said the next part with disgust. "He attends to make me his toy." I dropped my smile instantly turning an intense gaze at the boy. "I'll die before I become that man's plaything." The boy looked at me like I was crazy. My smile quickly returned. "That aside... What do you go by?" He looked at me a little confused at first, but answered none the less. "Paki." He hesitantly answered. "So Paki, how did a nice boy like you end up in a place like this?" He looked down in shame. "I, well, I was a servant under the princess. I helped the princess get out of the palace under her orders. She got caught and I got caught assisting her. So I along with all the other servants that day were sent in here by one of the officials as punishment. We will be set free in about 2 years." I rolled my eyes then smiled at him. "Paki I have made a decision... When I escape from here, you're coming with me."