ANDREW BLACK

Chapter 20

Levison Dalte

Levi's eyes were forced open by an immense pain he felt on his back. He opened his eyes to a dimly lit room.

"Finally, awake Dalte?" he heard a familiar voice call forcing him completely awake. "You'd been in an out for the past few hours, at some point you kept blinking like you were having a seizure," Faudrin said coming into the light.

"Wh-what are you going on ab-" Levi's words were cut short as the whip hit his skin. He gritted his teeth in pain. He tried to move his hands, but they were chained. He forced on the chains, but they didn't budge. "Wh-" again the whip hit his skin and again and again. The roughness dragging into his back. He tried to turn his head, but he couldn't. Again, the whip hit his back, digging into his open wound and cutting deeper into his flesh. Levi felt a shiver run through him as sweat broke out on his forehead and his breathing uneven. Faudrin raised his hand and the whipping stopped.

"I would be lying if I said I was not enjoying this, never have orders been so easy to follow," Faudrin went on.

"What are you ranting about you bas-" Faudrin slapped Levi across the face.

"Ahh sons are not to hit sons outside training," he gasped sarcastically, "but who would tell here," Faudrin concluded punching Levi in the rib, he gasped out coughing blood to the floor. "Careful Dalte or you'd stain my shoes," Faudrin laughed punching him again. Faudrin stepped back and the whips returned without giving Levi a chance to breathe. Each strike cut deeper into his skin and it was getting harder to hold his screams. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he held them in.

'35' Levi mentally calculated as the whip hit him again. Mustering all his energy to stay conscious so he knew how much to administer to his enemies when the table was tipped over. As the 40th slash hit his back Levi let out a hoarse scream. His back stung from the pain and the blood sipped into his pants. Some stuck to his waist band. The sweat and open wound danced splendidly together causing him all forms of pain. His body was shivering as the pain racked through him, but it kept him awake.

"Others would be screaming by now," Faudrin said to him and Levi lifted his face spitting blood and saliva in Faudrin face. Faudrin responded by punching him straight in the jaw. Levi felt his already swollen jaw shift some more. Another level of pain woke in his body, so much so he couldn't even scream, his breathing became rapidly unsteady. "Scream Dalte!" Faudrin commanded dragging his swollen face to him, pressing on his dislocated jaw. Levi bit his lip hard splitting the skin to keep from screaming. "Let's see how long you can last," Faudrin went on squeezing harder and Levi bit down harder, his teeth getting stained with blood. Annoyed Faudrin slapped him across the face, letting go.

"W-when this is over," Levi began gaining Faudrin's attention. "I will hunt you" Levi went on making eye contact with a smirking Faudrin "and I will kill you." Faudrin raised his hand "and I'd send you to hell" and the whips returned. "And kill you again!" Levi screamed out the last part as the whip bit into his already bruised flesh. '51' Levi thought losing consciousness.

"Guess like you'd have to wait for me in hell," Faudrin replied, "50 more," Faudrin said to the men behind him and turning to Levi. "Tomorrow would be much more fun," he smirked walking away.

"-I promise" Levi murmured out completing his threat as the whipping continued. At this rate he was going to die. He should have been scared but some part of him was jumping with glee. His lips smiled though he could barely open his eyes. '74-75-76-76-76' Levi went on loosing concentration and consciousness '76-76...'

...

Something rippled the water, and then it stilled. Again the water rippled, tiny circles spreading out to join the bigger ones. His reflection shifted, one green, one blue and both turned green. He lips shifted to form a side frown and as he did, a wet slimy hand reached out from the water and dragged him down.