Lace

11.

7 months later

My body ached with the pain of hardship and determination, whilst my body reeked of an odd sense of desperation and joy.

Fear and excitement.

Frisson.

It's been seven months but and in that time, I've done nothing but work.

I've worked on bettering myself. I've unlocked a side of me that I never knew existed.

I worked on myself mentally, discovered the joy I'd reading and passion for numbers that I didn't know was within me.

I worked on myself physically. No longer was a fragile little girl. I'm becoming a worrier. 

"Are you sure that this is him?" Erebus asked. His tone was serious, and his facial expressions failed to convey the anger that I've learned resided in his eye.

"I couldn't forget his face even if I wanted to." I didn't lie. His mocking smile still haunts my nightmares. I still remember the way his eyes locked with mine, his gleaming with mockery and victory while mine swirled with a dance of pain and sadness.

A feeling and emotion that I've come to terms with disregarding.

Pain showed weakness, and sadness showed vulnerability. I was not either of the two.

Erebus sent a knowing look to Soren. The two shared a knowing look before the second in command dipped his head into his laptop.

Over the past few months, Erebus kept to his words. He nurtured me into a fierce woman who will some day strike fear into the eyes of her enemies.

The hatred that I felt towards him at first, slowly morphed into admiration. He was everything I wanted to be, and more: strong, feared and respected.

I've formed bonds with the two leaders here, one more easier to understand than the other.

"I want to choose him, as my first willing kill."

It still surprises me how much I've changed. In the first three months, despite the intense physical training, I was forced to endure intense mental pain.

"Look at him." It wasn't a request, it was a command.

But I couldn't do it. I couldn't not bring myself to watch another man being whipped and cut all because he refused to share information.

His skin was replaced with blood, clothes with torn shreds of cloth and human rights with intense physical torture.

I wanted to throw up. But I know better. In the past, when I showed weakness, threw up or even fainted at the sight of a man's nails being plucked right out off his fingers, I was punished by being forced to carry out the torture by my own hands.

To my luck, I was never brought to the state of having to kill them, despite being forces to watch them suffer the most gruesome deaths and drown in my own tears.

Although, since I joined, I was never alone for too long.

When everyone was had left, and the silence gave root to the dangerous thoughts that lurked in the dark depths of my mind, he was always there.

My shoulder to cry on. Maybe that's why I learned to look up to him: nomatter how hard he pushed me, he was there to hold me together everytime I broke.

Soren rose his eyes from the keyboard with a warey look, then looked at Erebus with a hard expression.

Erebus didn't acknowledge the look by his friend, but instead clenched his jaw and turned a page from the file he was reading.

Honestly, I was shocked with my request. Killing another was something to taboo and forbidden, yet here I was requesting to take away the gift of life from someone who has nearly wronged me.

"Very well." Said Erebus coolly. "And who is this other that you wish to rescue from their embrace."

"His name is Riley. I know that I have gave promise to my loyalty, but if you can help me save him then there is nothing that I won't do to try and help repay the favour."

Soren kept his eyes on the screen during the whole exchange. The strong mask that I've been told to use, crumbled at the thought of my best friend.

"If his rescue is what you wish, then consider it done." His tone was cool, and his eyes were ice. "But I must ask, who is this boy to you that you are willing to give up everything for. " every word was thought of carefully, and laced with pure curiosity.

Who is Riley to me? It would be easier to tell someone who he is not.

My heart swells with pride when I think of my dear Riley, and the things I am willing to do for him.

"Who is he not to me? He is everything to me, Erebus."

The leader nooded his head and gestured for me to leave without a close of the anger that began to grow inside him.

I left the room not knowing the trublea I have caused for my future and walked towards the door that kept a man who's fate lied in his mouth.

A light skinned man with white hair and bloody scars that danced apon his skin, the things of pain that soaked through it was proof enough that their melody was nowhere near done.

He was my first. Those scars that spot his body came from nobody but me.

Two men in black cargo pants and white fitted shirts stood before the door, ready to catch the vile man and throw him back into his own personal hell if he tried to escape.

I nodded at them, and for they first time their eyes gleamed with respect that I have earned with every scream of pain that escaped through the cracks of the door.

They opened it to revel the man who thinks that his silence would be honorable, and that the rest of his people would sing songs and praise him for saving them. Instead his silence would only bring foward his untimely death, and his people would replace him in a blink of an eye. They would not mourn his death nor speak of his bravery. He would just be another dog put down.

His bloodshot eyes met mine, and his moth opened wide. His hands began to shake but he hid it as much as he could.

His pupils diluted with fear, as he prayed to the gods that have no control over his fate for me to have mercy on him.

Poor little fella.

***
I'm thinking of doing a POV from someone else.

Should I? And from who should the POV be from?

Next chapter at 520 reads.

~Virgo
16.12.19