The cell isn't dark, not really. Though the mood, the screams around you, it's all so very dark, you forget your in a brightly lit place.
I don't know how long i've been in here for. Weeks, months. I can't remember. I stopped counting after the fourth consecutive day of beatings at the hands of Thread and the others. I haven't eaten in who knows how long either, but i look at my thin arms and i know it's been a while. I'm deteriorating with each passing day. It gets harder and harder to raise my arms above my head, or to even gather the strength to crawl around the floor.
Wishing they would kill me was pointless. It had been made very clear to me that the only time death would be an option was when my body couldn't take anymore and just gave in. With each new day and new method of beating, i always think that it won't be long, but as evident i'm never right. My body doesn't give in and i live to be beaten another day. So far they've bludgeoned me batons, brayed me with their bare fists, cut me for fun and lashed me various times across the back with a leather whip. When i sleep at night i have to lay on my stomach - even if that too hurts - or the cuts and gashes along my back will send me into a world of unwanted and crippling pain.
As the regular peacekeeper comes to collect me, i start to wonder which method of torture they will use today. It can't be worse than the whipping, that is a pain i can't describe, especially when the whip is in the hands of Commander Thread. As always the peacekeeper comes in, grabs me roughly by the arm and forces me to stand up and walk on my own. Each step is painful for me, the hurt emitting in all parts of my body. Maybe today i'll finally be able give in.
The peacekeeper forces me into the chair in the centre of the white room. In the glass window above, i can make out Snows figure, stood watching me as he would whenever Thread had something to say to me. Which means the beating might not be so bad today.
"Ethan!" Thread walks over, grinning with his teeth showing. "Sorry i'm late."
I have no energy to say anything to him, haven't for a long time now.
"Not in the talking mood huh." His grin vanishes. "Neither am I."
He smacks me across the face with a baton, one that cuts my left cheek after it makes contact. My eyes glaze over for a second, blurring out everything around me and making my head pound.
Thread grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. "Where is Commander Wilks?"
That question. They've been asking me for so long and no matter how many times i told them i don't know they still asked. If they haven't heard from him or seem him then how do they expect me too? They know he's the one who had been helping me. Snow clearly didn't like it, and now he wanted Wilks' head.
When i don't answer Thread lashes me again, this time on the opposite cheek. They're definitely going to scar, that i know for certain. Still, i doubt i can look any worse then i do now, all skeletal and bloody.
"I won't ask you again!" Thread grabs my throat and towers over me.
I just look him in the eye and remain silent. He doesn't like that. His face inflames red as he gets angry and hits me again with the baton, this time on my kneecap.
I don't even scream out in pain no more. That noise is just music to Threads ears and its a song i'm playing no longer.
"Do you know how many methods i have to hurt you?" He asks. "Huh?!"
To Threads surprise a grin forms on my face and i muster my energy to say. "Go ahead." As the look of shock sets in i chuckle. "I can't give you an answer ... to a question i don't know."
Thread nods, mocking understanding, before he punches me so hard it sends the chair i'm sat on toppling to the floor, taking me with it.
From there i start crawling, only to be kicked forcefully in the stomach by Thread. After that i can't move, the pain going up my spine rendering me immobile.
"That's enough for today, Romulus." Snow says into a microphone that sounds through speakers around the room.
Thread does as he is told, leaving me to roll around on the floor until the pain is at least bearable. When i'm able to move a little more freely, Thread grabs my hair in his hands and drags me to feet.
"You'll answer one day." He growls quietly. "Otherwise i'll personally make sure everyday is hell for you."
He obviously hasn't noticed he's already doing that. If this isn't his idea of hell then i can't imagine what is.
"Move!" He shouts down my ear and pushes me along.
I limp all the way back to my cell with Thread occasionally pushing me from behind purposely, knowing my back was the most damaged part of my body. Once there i have to wait for him to open the cell door, when he has he grabs me and flings me in and i'm to weak to try and stop a hard landing. I crash into the side of the bed, back first, and for the first time in days let out a yelp of pain. Thread only locks the door and walks away laughing, leaving me unable to move cause the pain is too much to handle.
I lay there on the cell floor for hours, every time i tried to move it felt as though the cuts on my back were ripping open. In fact i'm almost sure one of them has, a specific area of my back feels cold yet warm. I try to move again, this time managing to pull myself into a sitting position. When i look behind me, the blood patches on the floor confirm my cuts have reopened slightly. Unfortunately, it's not enough to kill me.
I start falling asleep, the haziness across my vision telling me so. I'm trying to fight it, but i don't know why.
It's when i see somebody hurrying over to my cell that i wake up entirely.