Chapter 5

I went into the shower, and felt days worth of filth running down, and into the drain. The shower had a green tea theme, right down to the body soaps, and face wash. There even was an Asian pattern (it had an air different from Japanese culture), decorating the faithfully green walls.

When I finished, I grabbed a green-tea scented towel to dry off. Mmmm... I smelled like a tea set. I looked on top of the rack over the toilet for my clothes, to find a clingy black dress. I bet that thing won’t even cover my butt. I examined it, and I was like, ummm... no. I am not wearing a dress. In fact, how did they get my bra-size right?

I wrapped the towel around my body, how my dad taught me when I was three, and stepped outside the shower room.

Thaed was gone. The maid girl was waiting patiently for me to finish.

“Hey, do you have a silk red blouse, and a black of silver big belt? And where the Bejesus are my black pants?”

To my surprise, the chick, which I later learn that her name is Elfied, brought me what I asked her without question.

I rummaged around, and found mascara. I made up my eyes, when I finished shimming into the clothes. I looked at myself in the mirror. I had gelled my hair correctly. I didn’t look so bad.

Even when meeting the enemy, look decent. I think that rule goes in between rule #4 (never show the enemy your fear), and rule #5 (when you bluff, think it through.)

Elfied took me downstairs for dinner with the d****e.

There were stairs that were narrow and scary looking. I was secretly relived that we took an elevator that looked oddly out of place. Stairs like to trip me a lot, so no complaining there.

The elevator ride was smooth, and Elfied stood emotionless, but on guard. I didn’t know if we were going up or down. We could have been going straight through, and into the center of the Earth without me knowing.

When the elevator doors opened, I was greeted with the aroma of deliciousness. There was a really long table you only see in the movies, and who was on the top? Some dude.

But to that ‘some dude,’ Thaed and Eid bowed. I, on the other hand, felt it was beneath me to show respect to a d****e that handcuffed me, and ordered me kidnapped in the first place. This man did not own me. I will make sure I make his death painful in the end.

“Hello. You must be hungry,” the d****e said warmly.

Then I decided to change my persona to a dumb, happy 16 year old.

“Yes, very. I’m glad I finally get to meet you.”

“Let us sit.”

After we sat down, dinner was served. I tasted the steak, and tasted the drug contaminating it throughout my entire body. All the food was drugged. When dessert came, I was very tempted to tuck in with the roast beef, drugs or no.

The roast beef was laced with a drug that makes your tongue loose. The salad had one that made you a bit loopy, in a sense. And they say TV doesn’t teach you anything. Because when I watched it, I tested it on myself.

Fortunately, dessert was drug free.

I ate dessert slowly. (Chocolate sundae, green tea cake, very yummy.) When we finished our meal, D****e addressed me.

“You must be wondering why I brought you here.”

“Yes.”

“You must realize by now that you are the Elemental. Many before me have failed to find you.”

“Until today, I had not known that I was this... Elemental.”

“I had the order out for your search, in order for you to serve me. Your body, mind, and soul ultimately belongs to me now.”

“I serve no one. I am my own person.”

He laughed softly. There was a subtle flash of irritation in his eyes. “You do not understand. But you will learn. My word is final.”

“And if I refuse?”

He smiled tightly. “Oh, but you will not. We can give you anything you will ever want here.”

“Okay, then. I choose the obvious.”

He looked happy, and relaxed. “Just as I thought,” he said, “first-”

“Hold your horses. I obviously said no,” I interrupted airily, inspecting me fingernails.

He stiffened. I had dropped my blonde façade.

“Well,” he said coldly, “I was hoping that I won’t be forced to do this.”

Strong arms grabbed me, and I smiled.

“You cannot own fire. The earth will never tremble beneath you. Water does not clear out of your path. The air doesn’t listen to your commands. You are a fool.”

“Oh, but it will,” he replied, vexed. “As you will.”

I was led into a small room. The smell of blood and gore was strong, overlaid with a smell of bleach. It was as if the purpose of this room was stamped across the walls. This is the torture chamber.

Somebody forcefully strapped me down to the metal table dominating the room, back facing up. The metal was cold, and many before me must have screamed, bled, and died on here. I will be one of those people, but I will only add my blood to the numerous amounts of blood tasted by the cool metal table.

I heard the crack of a whip, and smiled. I had done an experiment a long time ago, where I reasoned with pain. It has no effect on me anymore. I rested my head down, smiling.

The whip lashed across my back so many times, I lost count. Hot, sticky blood covered my back and ran to the sides. I was singing songs to myself in my head to pass the time.

I could tell the one whipping me was getting annoyed that I wasn’t crying out, for he whipped me with renewed venom.

Fools. Pain doesn’t bother me.

“200 lashings complete,” my ‘whipper’ said gruffly.

The metal cuffs came off, careful not to touch my back. When we were walking up the stairs, I looked up to see who was carrying me. It was Thaed. There was a look in his eyes that told me he lost his cool. Interesting.

“Why do you not cry? Why are you not broken? Why do you not scream for mercy? Why, why aren’t your eyes full of anguish and hate? 200 lashes! You were a normal girl, and the next moment, you were kidnapped, handcuffed, and whipped. Why? Why are you not afraid?” he asked angrily, the words coming out in harsh whispers.

I coolly gazed back at him.

“It is because I am my own person. I do not give satisfaction to the D****e. Pain is strikes undeniable fear in many, but it is nothing to me. I learned how to numb and accept pain a long time ago.”

He looked at me, sadness creeping into his eyes, as well as his voice. “The first time I was whipped here, I was 16,”I he said softly. “I was only whipped with 30 lashes. I cried out, screaming for mercy. I do not understand why you do not do so, after 200 lashes.”

I laughed softly, a dryness crawling in the sound. We were silent until we reached my ‘room.’

He gently set me down on a plush, blood-red chair.

“I was ordered to watch you...” He trailed off, looking apologetic.

Too tired to care, I stumbled to the shower. Immediately finding a problem, I paused. My shirt refused to come off. No matter how hard I tugged, it wouldn’t give way. Oh, joy. This is going to be awkward. The Universe has a grudge against me, I supposed.

“Hey Thaed?” I called out, “can you do me a huge favor?” I bit my lip. He opened the bathroom door, eyes questioning.

“Erm...,” I chewed my lip. “My shirt won’t come off...” I looked at him pleadingly. Please don’t make this situation any more awkward-er.

His face was like, oh. Like surprised oh. He struggled a bit, and when he finally got it off, he stiffened, with his breath hitched in his throat at the sight of my back.

“Um... Thanks, dude. That shirt was kicking my butt.” I looked at him, my thoughts very clear on my face. Please don’t make this situation unbearably awkward. He nodded, then closed the bathroom door behind him as he exited the room.

When I stepped under the showerhead, blood ran down in rivers. The once green shower walls were now flecked and streaked with my blood. Careful not to inflict any more pain on my back, I washed off.

When I stepped out of the shower tub, I was blindly struck with another big problem. I had no clothes ready. Once again, I must step outside and receive help, with only a towel to cover me.

Thaed, immediately understanding this dire situation, threw me a random shirt, underwear, and loose pants. But when I turned to go back inside the bathroom, he stopped me.

Gently setting me down, he grabbed medical supplies. He disinfected my injuries, then rapped it with those medical cotton stuff.

When he finished, I hugged him and said my thanks. (It seemed appropriate, although I forgot about my nudity being only covered up by a plush white towel..)

Then I walked back inside the bathroom, and closed the door behind me.

Author's Note

Awkward. So awkward. Makes me want to bash my head against the desk.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I like how she took the pain and made them off balance. No weakness in this chapter. Control of element would be impossible? Thank you for sharing the story. I hope you write some more.
Coyote