It was day 4 of her punishment, and Hadarah was incredibly hungry. She was only fed every 2 days. It very late at night, but she couldn't sleep.

Just then, a guard came in with her food.

He looked at her, and then cruelly threw the bread on the ground. Then he laughed, and walked away.

Hadarah sighed. She picked up the bread, brushed it off, and ate it.

When she had finished, the door opened again. She figured that it was another guard coming in to abuse her. They had all been beating her like a rag-doll for 4 days. Hadarah didn't even look like herself. But this time, it wasn't a guard...

It was Ramses.

"Hadarah?" he called. She was curled up in a ball in the corner.

She turns to face him.

When he sees how battered and bruised she is, he is shocked, angry, and concerned. She gets up and limps to the bar so she can face him.

"What happened to you?" He asks. He takes her chin in his hand because she is hiding her face.

"They've...They've...They've been beating me." She says, looking down.

"W-What?"

"It's alright. I'm used to it."

"Used to it? How?"

"It's been happening since I was little. When I was young, I was smaller than most of the slave kids so I wasn't as strong. Whenever I failed to do something, I was punched by the guards or whipped until I got back up and finished." She says,Tears coming to her eyes because of the horrible memories. "Once, I was even thrown off the scaffolding. I broke my arm, but they still made me carry bags of sand, heavy rock, and water."

Ramses is speechless.

"Also, Ramses- I'm sorry about all this. It's my fault, and you should just let them kill me. There are plenty of other girls you can be with, and all are better than me." She says, looking at her feet again.

"Hadarah, that isn't true. I won't let my father kill you, it's not your fault, and no other girl could ever replace you because I love you. Don't ever forget that." He says with her hand on her chin still.

"