War of Shadows

Yes, Captain

Chapter 10

TW: ASSAULT

I’m unsure how long I lay on the cot, readjusting my body to relieve the pressure on the sore spots under my hips and shoulders. The light above me flickers and dims, and the slow rocking of the cot beneath me begins to make my stomach roll in protest.

The only way I’m going to figure anything out is to keep myself grounded and keep my wits about me. My thoughts wander to Eli frequently, wondering if he had heard me scream his name, or if he were trying to find me this very moment- a thought that brings a slight sense of reassurance. I know he’ll come for me.

My stomach growls as the door on the far end of this little metal box swings open. Red Beard waltzes in, bouncing on the balls of his feet. My eyes catch on the bag in his hand which swings against his leg when he shuts and locks the door. I stay quiet.

“Let’s get one thing straight, girl. You disrespected me earlier, and you need to learn that it won’t fly on my ship.”

“I’m sorry, I promise-”

“Tsk tsk tsk. Wouldn’t you agree that if you were a good girl, you wouldn’t have done it to begin with?”

“I-”

“SHUT. UP.”

His bellow causes me to jump, the restraints pinching my skin. I seal my mouth shut and watch as he closes in, fiddling with the restraints at my wrists and ankles. I feel them loosen, and resist the urge to sigh in relief. I don’t move.

“Stand in front of that wall.”

I do as he says, hesitantly standing from the small cot and walking to the wall.

“Turn around. Take your top off.” He drops into a crouch and digs into his bag, revealing a rope of chain.

“What are you doing?”

He slowly looks back up to me, the predatory movement causing chills to run up my spine. “Keep ignoring orders, it will only be more fun for me.”

With a lump in my throat, tears gathering in the corner of my eyes and my heart pounding in my chest, I do as he says. I shift the thick sweater over my head and the cold air nips at my skin, but I leave my bra on. He doesn’t seem to mind, as I feel his body close in behind me, the chains clinking in his hands. With a jerk, the chain flies up and over a steel beam above my head expertly, as if he had done this many times before. I bite my tongue, afraid that if I take or move he will do something to me.

He grabs my arm and raises it over my head and wraps the chain around it.

“Keep it there,” he grunts and does the same to my other arm. I begin to tremble. He secures a lock between the chains wrapped tightly around my wrists and forearms, and with a tug, tests the durability of it, as if steel wrapped around steel was really gonna fail. I have a feeling it was out of habit over anything.

A few beats of silence pass before

CRACK!

Ice pours through my veins as the skin on my back rips open. A raw scream tears from my lips and I jolt forward only to be contained to the spot by the chains holding my arms. My heartbeat roars in my chest and my vision blurs as I plead.

“PLEASE, I promise I’ve learned my lesson!”

CRACK

Another scream tears from my throat, tears pouring down my face. I feel it slice through the previous wounds as my skin is flayed, the blood trickling down and catching on the hem of my pants.

“You don’t talk back, you will only refer to me as sir. Consider this your first lesson.”

I hardly hear his boots thudding toward the door over the rushing in my ears. I sob as he leaves me hanging there.

**********

The lights stayed on. I don’t know how long it’s been, and they haven’t fed me. My stomach pained and cramped from hunger and my lips cracked from thirst. Every once in a while, the man with the red beard came in and gave me a depressingly small amount of water. My chest burned, my vision had started to blur, my wrists and ankle rubbed raw from swaying against them. I tried to sleep- only then would the pains subside for that small amount of time.

The door creaked. I didn’t bother to open my eyes as Red Beard strolled over and poured a bit of water through my chapped lips.

“You reak,” I hear him say. A bucket thudded against the floor and I hear the slosh of water. “Open your eyes, princess,” he taunts. So I do. Red Beard crouches down by the cot and I feel a slight tug at the rope. I hiss and try my best to reduce the friction on my raw skin to no avail. The rope goes loose, and Red Beard side steps in his crouch to untie the rope at my feet. He stands, leaning over me to rip the far side of the rope through my cuffs, then does the same to the rope at my wrists.

I’ve had too many lessons, please no more. I’m being so good.

My arms are stiff as I try to move them. The movement feels foreign and my body protests, but I nearly moan at the relief when my hands settle on my chest.

“Get up,” he barks, picking up the bucket of water by the handle.

“Where are we going?” I cringe at the croak of my voice, so feeble now.

“Shower, clean bed.” I eye him cautiously. “Get up,” he barks again, louder this time.

I yield and manage to shift my legs over the cot and roll into a stand, the injuries on my back screaming in protest. My legs aren’t ready to support my weight after so long and they begin shaking as Red Beard leads me across the hallway into another room, which is identical to the other, to no surprise- besides the wide basin next to the bed.

Red Beard grabs my shoulder and pushes me to the basin. “Get in.” I stumble before stepping into the metal bowl. He locks the door behind him and crosses the room, sets the bucket on the floor next to him and digs into his pocket. He pulls out a rings of keys and uses a small silver one to unlock both of my handcuffs.

I’m afraid to move, worried that this may be a trap.

“You’re pathetic. You’re too weak to walk, let alone try to escape.” He waves a hand to the door. “Feel free to try though, truly. No? Good call. Now take off your clothes.”

I still. “I can bathe myself.”

“Now that wouldn’t be fun, would it?” He flashes a yellow smile and my stomach churns. I don’t dare argue, not while I can still feel the impact of his fist on my bones. So I take them off. I avoid his eyes and lock onto the crease where the wall meets the floor while I drop my clothing to the ground. The chilled air nips at my sore skin, but I can’t deny that I’m somewhat relieved to be able to wipe the muck off of my skin. My body odor wafted with every move I make, and I convince myself to push through this humiliation if it Helps me feel human again even for a moment.

As Red Beard runs the hot, soapy water through my hair and over my skin, I bite back a moan as the filth runs down into the basin. The soap burns at a few spots on my shoulder blades and rear, and wraps my wrists and ankles in a ring of fire at the contact. I keep silent, like a good little pet.

I’m nearly too caught up in the relief at my cleaned skin to notice when Red Beard’s sponge starts to linger in particular areas. My muscles stiffen on their own accord, and memories of what happened with the man in the bathroom flutter through my head. I’m not naive, I know what’s going to happen but I’m powerless to stop anything. Without having much to eat or drink for god knows how long, I’m weak. My senses are dulled, and I’m already fatigued by the effort it took to walk into here, let alone stand up.

“Stop.” The word hangs in the thick of the air, and he hesitates. But no, it’s not going to be as simple as telling him no. I know the type of person he is, the type of person that chases a challenge for the thrill. His responding chuckle raises goosebumps on my arms. f**k. The dread settles in my gut when I realize that I’ve given this man exactly what he wanted.

“Still got some fire in ya, huh?” My heart pounds against my ribs, but I stand as still as I can. “You know, I’ve kept my boys away from you. They’re persistent little fuckers, bless their hearts. They just need a little release, you know?” His hand clamps the back of my neck and I barely avoid tripping over the lip of the makeshift tub and he shoves me into the cot. The air is ice against my wet skin, soothing the sores and tears on my skin.

I scramble to face him, pressing myself as hard as I can against the bite of the metal wall behind me and keep my feet between us, a feeble attempt at trying to keep him away. I’m painfully aware of my nakedness and how his angry, black eyes stark against his pink face take me in.

“You owe me for my protection, you little bitch.” He whips his hand out and I instinctively flinch, my arms raising to protect my head. His slick fingers clamp over the raw flesh on my wrist and a cry escapes my lips as he jerks me off of the cot and I feel an agonizing pain flush through my shoulder and a muted pop fills the air. Cold and hot flashes cloud my vision and a scream fills the room when I land on my dislocated shoulder.

My body is fighting against the reflex to breathe, but Red Beard takes the moment of opportunity and climbs on top of me, digging his fingers into the skin of my neck. Black spots dance in front of my eyes and my lungs burn for air when a surge of panic takes over. I know this is what he wants, I know he wants me to fight back, but my body fights back against every logical thought whipping through my head. I’ve taken every hit, every comment quietly and submissively, but I won’t let him take this from me. I won’t let him do this.

I claw at his arm with my good hand and he curses as my nails draw blood on his arm. I hadn’t seen him release his belt from his pants until it swings across my face, leaving a searing hot gash from my eyebrow to my nose. The blood immediately pours into my eye.

It doesn’t matter. I’m not gonna stop.

Using my good hand and whatever adrenaline is pouring through my veins, I lurch my upper body up and swipe my nails across his eyes. He grips the front of my hair painfully, roaring as he slams my head against the cold tile floor.