Prison Cells and Broken Hearts

Prison Cells and Broken Hearts - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

SLAP

I cry out in pain as another lash is delivered to my back, breaking the skin.

"That's what you get, you filthy animal!" The lasher yells, cracking his whip harder than before.

SLAP

SLAP

My hands are tied above my head, bruising from the force.

I'd been sentenced 30 lashes for simply speaking out while we were standing in line, getting ready to face whatever disgusting exude for sustenance awaited us. I'd simply asked a simple question, god knows what it even was, now... As blood is already flowing down my back, seven more lashes meet with me before they finally untie me. My legs shake as I collapse to the dusty ground of the prison yard, breath uneven and harsh. "You are dismissed!" The guard calls out to the crowd sent here, his gravelly voice violent and untempered. They'd stayed silent; the other prisoners, simply made to watch me suffer in example.

"Yuki!" The guard calls roughly, sending for the female medic to comet I my aid. She helps me up, her tender hands a nice alternative to beatings and ropes. "Take him to the medical ward, but not overnight!" "Yes sir." She responds, nodding. He chuckles, observing my blood that's splattered on the plank I was tied to as we walk away.

"I'm sorry..." She says gently as I hiss in pain, taking a step. I look at her, astonished by her caring attitude. "What?" I ask, taking a deep breath. "They treat you so terribly..." She looks back at the empty courtyard, her eyebrows furrowed in a frown. "I wish they treated you more as humans instead of animals..." There's a long pause and all you can hear is feet crunching off the gravel and onto the concrete floors. Then I speak, "Most of the guards here don't really care about us, why are you acting so kind?"

"My brother is housed here... I know I hate to see him suffer like this, so I suppose I just have a but more empathy than most." She leads me into the medical ward. There're lights plastered all across the ceiling, casting white light accords the shadowless room. One broken light flickers in the corner, throwing an inconsistent buzz of electricity around the cornered walls. "Please take a seat in that chair, if you don't mind..." She motions to a small chair in the corner of the sterile-like room, taking a white medical apron from off a hook placed by the door and tying it around her waist and neck. I sit down painfully as she walks over to me, surveying the gruesome gashes and cuts carelessly scattered across my back. "Oh..." She gasps, looking at the fresh gashes that cover my back and sides. I bite my lower lip, squeezing my eyes shut in pain as she gently washes the fresh gashes adorning my pale back, pouring water over the hot flesh.

"This may sting a bit..." She gently warns me, reaching over to grasp a small bottle of alcohol in her dainty hand. Her hands shake a bit as she slowly dampens a cotton ball with the liquid. I suck in a painful breath as she slowly dabs the cleaning solution onto my wounds, her face accessorized with a look of concern. "Shhh, just hold on, I don't want these to get infected..." I nod, my eyes still unopened.

As soon as the stinging sensation fades, it's replaced with the gentle caress of fresh cotton bandages being wrapped around my torso and back. "I'm sorry..." She skillfully secures my binding, making sure there are no stray ends before untying her apron and setting it on the hook by the door. "I hope that wasn't too awful..." A look of genuine concern still decorates her features and she turns back around to me, resting a hand upon my bruised shoulder. "No, I'm fine..." She nods, giving me a faltering smile. "Alright." She says before turning away to apply fresh bedding to one of the small cots lining top he other side of the room.

"I thought he said not to house me here overnight, won't you get in trouble?" "Most likely, if I don't find a believable excuse." She says with a little chuckle. "I'm confused." I say bluntly, still not used to even the slightest forms of empathy. "Look, you've been hurt quite badly..." She finishes, stopping to stare at her work before turning back to me, "I'd not be able to properly live with myself if I couldn't do at least thing much for you."

Another sad smile.

I'm used to the pity; the prisoners on death role are all on one list, given out to all staff each time it gets updated (I'd learned at least that much from other prisoners), so I'm sure she knows that this is one of only a few more nights I'd be sleeping outside of a coffin... Sure, she was attempting to be kind, yet I was sick of being treated like this... She complains of primal-like treatment from the other guards and staff, yet here she was, treating me no less than a puppy who'd have to be put down the next morn.

"Th-thank you..." I mutter, staring at the cool grey tile, memorizing the way the broken light flickers off the surface of the stone. "Not at all..." She replies, turning away once more to attend to an appointed task. The hesitation in her movement is barely audible, yet I catch her change in demeanor quickly. "Neji..." She absentmindedly whispers, shuffling through a stack of envelopes and papers. "Yes?" I reply automatically.

"I-I think this is for you..." She holds a small white letter in her hands as she slowly turns to face me. "The prisoners aren't supposed tort mail..." She looks confused, gazing at the neatly folded paper in her hands. She shakes her head, gingerly handing me the note as she turns back to her previous work. "I'd keep that hidden if I were you, by the way." I turn the small envelope over in my hands.

The ink is a deep purple, the beautiful writing consisting of swirls and lines shimmering with the light of the room. I quickly glance at the return name, confusion playing on my face.

'Hinata Hyuga'

((Guys I know I've never said this before, but if you see any typos in any of my works feel free to let me know! c:))