Ruby struggled one last time against her restraints, before giving up. It had been a few hours since her capture at the hands of Cinder Fall who, since the Fall of Beacon, had considered the girl to be her nemesis. Ruby had been on a walk to the grocery store.

"Just a few things," her sister had said. "And be back before dark, otherwise the others will get worried."

"Don't worry sis!" Ruby had exclaimed with her signature toothy grin. "I'll be back before you know it!"

That was exactly four hours ago.

Ruby could hear her scroll ringing thoughout the room every few minutes. She had no doubt it was her fellow teammates, trying desperately to contact her. They must be scared shitless.

The room she was in was mostly barren, save for a large throne-like chair leaning against the far wall, a tall mirror in the corner of the room, and a large table and cabinet, filled with various impliments that Ruby couldn't quite make out. Oh, and of course the mattress she was currently laying down on. She would have explored the room more, if her ankles hadn't be bound, connecting them with her wrists which had also been tied behind her back.

Ruby would have jumped a mile if she could when she heard the voice of her captor.

"Good to see you've finally stopped wriggling" said the voice. It came from the chair. Ruby looked over at the chair again, only now just noticing the dark, slender figure that was sitting on it. How long had she been there? She could have sworn the chair had been empty earlier.

Ruby stared at Cinder with frightened eyes, Cinder happily staring back.

"What, are you scared?" asked Cinder, though she was certain the answer was obvious. It was on the smaller girls face, for crying out loud. Ruby didn't answer.

Cinder smirked, and looked over the girl. She was mostly naked, save for some fairly clean rags covering her chest and privates. Cinder hadn't cared about that; at least for now. No, she had other, more important matters to attend to first. She was surprised that Ruby hadn't at least tried to escape. Sure, her ankles had been tied, but even with her wrists tied as well Cinder would have though the girl would at least try to crawl. Well, it would certainly make things easier for her.

"Now," she said, "know that in your current state, I would be able to end your life with ease." She grinned as she saw Ruby wince, looking away from her captor.

"But... If you wish to live you will do exactly as I say. Is that understood?"

Nothing.

Cinder frowned and stood up, walking over to the girl so that she loomed over her. She then summoned her blades and, turning them into her bow, hit Ruby as hard as she could across her back with the blunt end, taking great pleasure in listening to the smaller girls scream.

"Is that understood?" she asked again, her voice raised, before hitting her across the back a second time, and then a third. She finally stopped when she heard Ruby plead.

"Yes! Yes! I understand!".

"... Good."

Cinder looked down at Ruby, admiring the massive welts on the girls back. Those would bruise for sure. She smiled at her handiwork.

This was going to be fun.