I don't want to talk about what happened after the Commander told me I was no longer trusted. I just took the pain and returned back to my living quarters. Nothing else was said.

…

…

I mean it, that's all that happened.

…

…

Fine, it did it! I begged like a coward. I couldn't take the pain for longer than a few minutes. By then, I was screaming out my words of desperation. I needed it to stop.

"Stop it! Make it stop!" I cried out and grit my teeth in pain as I shuffled on my back, towards the wall by the door and pushed myself against it.

"I'm not convinced that you're going to behave when the punishment is over," the Commander said ominously. My eyes widened.

"I'll behave! Just make it stop! I'm begging you… p-please…" I weakened at the end of my sentence.

"Fine, I'll stop, but only if you'll drop the attitude," The Commander bargained. I narrowed my eyes at him and cursed under my breath. "Will you?"

"YES!" I cried out.

"Yes… what?" he said with a smirk.

I felt like crying, we were back to this again.

"Yes… master…" I heaved and let my body drop when the pain ceased. Then I lay against the wall breathing heavily. I wanted to get up and leave, but the ache and fatigue that remained all over my body prevented me from doing so. I began to think malevolent thoughts of hatred.

I can't even think of a revenge appropriate for this harsh level of treatment. Even if I killed the Commander slowly and painfully a hundred times over I still wouldn't be satisfied with my payback. He has no idea what he has in store for him!

I was snapped out of my thoughts.

"Now get out of my sight."

Damn it. I couldn't even move, let alone get up to leave. I didn't move despite his command. I couldn't do it. I saw his finger go over the button. I had to do it again, I had to beg.

"Please don't," I cowered. "I… can't move yet… I'll leave as soon as possible, I promise."

I'd reached an even lower low.

"Not so arrogant now, are you hedgehog?" the Commander triumphed. "Now you know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the terror."

"What do you mean? I've never caused any terror…" I said through my heavy breaths. He raised an eye brow. "Not that much terror anyway…" I cringed. I began to list the things I'd done wrong in my head.

What have I done that's so bad? Tried to destroy Earth… damn it, I'm not doing so well with this and I've only just started the list. I'll stop there… everything I ever did to the humans was either necessary, or they brought it upon themselves anyway. I'm the victim here, not them. It's me, a mere hedgehog, against a planet of selfish beings that hate me. How is it that I'm the villain here? The one on his knees, and the one who's suffered the most. That will change though, of course, when I get my revenge on these cursed humans that have caused me so much pain. Starting with the Commander, of course.

"You know you deserve this, hedgehog. You may not realise it now, but deep down, you realise that you deserve every instance of suffering that you get," he said through his gritted teeth.

"Finally decided to make your hatred for me clear, have you? I was wondering how long the kind act would keep up," I growled back.

"You get yourself closer to your return to prison island with every instance of disobedience. Keep talking like that, and I'll ship you there instantly," the Commander threatened. I glared at him but stayed silent. I figured I would get away with a glare; he couldn't punish me for feeling emotions after all. "Is there any chance of getting out of my sight yet?"

I didn't answer, I just shakily rose to my feet. I leaned against the walls by pressing my palms onto it. I used that to aid me. I caught the last of my breath and waited a moment for the dizziness to stop. After that, I finally stumbled to my living quarters. I wish I could have done so earlier to avoid the disputes that had just happened. I was leading myself closer and closer to eternal imprisonment. Sure, I was released within fifty years last time, but I was lucky. I would surely stay frozen forever if I returned to prison island again. I would not get a second chance.

By the time I arrived back at my living quarters, the guard seemed to have the keys to my bedroom door early.

"I've received orders from the Commander to lock you up for bed early today. I think you have an early start tomorrow," he explained. "You have five minutes to do anything you need to do."

Thank goodness, he gave me an opportunity to relieve myself and get some food. I grabbed some bread, water and fruit and walked to my room.

"I don't think you're allowed food in there," the guard warned. I glared at him, the results of my death glare were a lot more effective since it was fuelled by my hunger. "I… guess I can let this slip. The Commander doesn't need to know about this…" he cowered and let me go inside with my food. "Just, don't take too long, you need to use those hours to sleep."

I nodded, set my meal out on the bedside table and lay down on my bed. The door was locked and I was left with little light. I could still make out the shapes of the food on my bed side table, so I was able to pick up the right things and devour them. I got through the food slowly, thinking about the day's events. It started with an eight hour long mission filled with discomfort, and ended in pain and agony. This was surely the hardest of days that I'd had in a while.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

A much shorter chapter, but there's no use in dragging it on.

Lucy Labrador