Her heart was pounding as she ran through the woods toward the place she knew she could find help. The men, if you could call them that, were getting closer intended on making a short end of the offending party.
She missed the root that jutted up from the ground as she ran. The root caught her foot sending her falling to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. Before she could catch her breath, rough hands were hauling her to her feet. They spun her around to face the leader of the group.
The head of the group was a tall burly man with sharp distinguishing features and dark wine colored eyes. "Honestly, did you think you would get away from us?" the man said in a warm charming tone, though to her it sounded like nails on a chalkboard. When she didn't respond, he grabbed her face, his nails digging into her skin. "Answer me!"
She sneered and spat in his face. He calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped his face off. Suddenly, a loud crack was heard that echoed off the trees as the back of his hand connected with her face. Her head snapped to the side at an ungodly angle. The cut on her cheek grew red as it began to bleed.
The man's face grew dark as his eyes flashed fuchsia. He laughed darkly, "Let's see how well you hold up then, shall we." He waved his hand at the two men holding her. They stretched her arms out as another pulled out a short bullwhip.
"This going to be fun." The short bald man said as he took aim. He flourished the whip and quickly draw it back with a hideous crack.
She tried to prepare herself for the pain but it didn't help. It was like a branding iron cutting through her and a shriek ripped from her throat. The men laughed.
"Oh, let see if we can get an better one out of you, girl." The short man laughed as he drew the whip back again.
This went on for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the leader held up his hand signaling them to stop. "Shall you beg now?"
She gathered her strength and jerked forward pull her arm free. The man's reaction wasn't fast enough to get out of reach. She managed to get a handful of his dark hair and bring his head down to her knee. He cried out in pain and grabbed her by the wrist. Pulling her from the grip of the other man, her shoulder dislocated with a sickening snap as she screamed in pain. The man threw her to the ground, grinding dirt and twigs into her open wounds.
"Damn bitch, you'll pay for that." He growled as he leaned over her. Holding out his other hand, one of the other men handed him a knife.
The man drew the knife slowly across her back causing a prolonged scream. Her voice cracked from exhaustion and his continued torture. Suddenly, screams and men trying to get away surrounded her.
As suddenly as it began, it ended with silence surrounding her. Out of the shadows of the tree line, a man stepped forward. He looked around to make sure that no one else was alive. He was tall and lean but muscular with black hair that hung over his garnet colored eyes. His eyes narrowed as he looked over to the woman lying on the ground covered in blood.
She managed to get her uninjured arm to move and pull out the knife in her boot as she heard footsteps approaching her. When she felt they were close enough, she swung her arm around. He easily caught her arm. She struggled with him, not registering who it was.
"Please stop, Reagan," he said calmly, "Shh, no one is going to hurt you now. They're gone." He continued speaking quietly.
She slowing began to recognize who was talking to her. Reagan tried to focus on the man holding her. Her vision began to blur and narrow from blood loss. She tried to look up but felt her eyes roll back. "Sebastian …" the name came out in a strained whisper as her body gave out and collapsed.
