Hey, it's me again, i'm in full machine of writing this story ...hehehehe...

Thanks again to Electric Dream, you helped me so much, girl ...thank you...!

So here the next one, hope you still like it, and ENJOY!

Chapter 8

Samuel's face visibly paled as he was forced to watch the whip crashing down upon Dean's back for his punishment. Every blow produced a new droplet of blood on Dean's already bleeding body. He couldn't hear Dean's screams but he knew that Dean would never make a sound during the beating; however he also knew that the pain must be horrific. Tears ran down Samuel's cheeks and he knew he could nothing but watch, he couldn't save Dean, and there wasn't anything he could do for him.

His biggest fear, his biggest fear would be his father pulling out his gun, and squeezing the trigger as the gun is pressed tight against Dean's temple. If that happened, Samuel wouldn't know how he would survive with the guilt crushing him, if that happened he knew that Dean's death would be on his hands.

Dean's body fell limp while his head hang in front of him. He had no strength left to stand. Samuel lost all remaining colour in his face as he saw his father really pull out his gun and direct this towards Dean's head. Instantly there was a loud bang as the Master released the trigger. A bullet went flying right through Dean's skull. . His father had really shot Dean, right in front of Samuel's eyes.

"No…no…, no! NOOOO! DEAN!"

His screams brought him crashing back to reality, back to where he was. Sweat poured down his face, and his face was as white as a sheet. His breath ran fast. Pain exploded across his back and it took a little while for the young master to realise where he was. He was in his own bed. It was a dream; it was only a bad dream. What a terrible dream. Samuel had to control his breathing until it was back to normal, or he would surely have a heart attack.

"Dean?" he called out for him right away.

But no one answered. Usually Dean would show up from under his bed whenever he called. "Dean!"

"Sshh... it's alright," murmured a soft soothing voice.

"Dean?" Samuel's heart leapt in his chest.

"No, Sir, it's me Rosa."

Samuel's face fell with disappointment.

"Where's Dean? He should be here with me, Rosa."

Rosa bit her lip. Could Samuel have forgotten?

"Rosa? Where's Dean?"

Rosa attempted to calm the boy down, "He cannot be here anymore, Sir. And you shouldn't be looking for him."

Samuel bit his lip. His dream was so clear in his head; he could hear the gunshot on constant replay, he could see Dean getting punished over and over again. There was no way that was just a dream.

"I had a dream, Rosa. Cruel whipped him bad and father shot him," he really sounded like a child. No, It couldn't really have happened. Did it really happened? Suddenly a deep fear of losing Dean washed over him.

"Where is Dean, Rosa? Is he?" Samuel nearly broke down in tears. He didn't know how to cope if Dean was really ...

Rosa smiled warmly, "No, Sir, he still with us. He's hangin there, Sir. You know how strong he is."

"What happened, Rosa? Did father punish him hard?"

Rosa just nodded, Samuel's face crumpled with sorrow. "Oh, Lord."

"But he will be alright, Sir, he has been through the worst. He will make it through this time. You don't need to worry."

"Where's is he now?"

"Cruel has just sent him back to the 'house', Sir, to let someone treat his wounds."

"Father still let someone attend to his wounds?"

"Yes, has is, Sir, so don't you worry about Dean, Sir. He's gonna be okay. He will be alright," Rosa shot him a warm comforting smile.

But Samuel felt no comfort.

"Need to see Dean, Rosa," he struggled to get down from the bed as he spoke.

"No, Sir!" Rosa held tightly onto Samuel. "That's not a wise thing to do right now. You can't see him," she kept holding onto the boy tightly, and the boy had no strength left to struggle against her grasp.

"I can't, Rosa. I need to see him," he pleaded shooting her his famous puppy dog look.

Rosa tightened her grip on the boy further, refusing to let him out of the safety of her arms.

"It was my fault. I hurt him, Rosa. I hurt Dean!"

"No, you didn't, Sir."

"Yes, of course I did," tears had started to run down the boy cheeks.

Rosa wiped the tears, as she perched on the edge of the bed. Gently she took Samuel's hands into her own.

Rosa gulped, "Dean's fine, Sir," she gently wiped the tears away from the boy's wet face. "Don't worry, Sir, everything is going to be fine," she brushed her hand through Samuel's hair. "Dean will be fine, no need to worry about him. But you need to behave from now on. Don't do anything foolish which could put him in a bad position again, Sir. That's the only way to keep Dean safe. Stay away from him and he will be fine, and be a good son for Lord Master, he loves you."

"He doesn't love me, Rosa."

"No, Sir, your father loves you very much; you are the most precious thing in his life, that's why he is overprotective of you."

"I never wanted that. I wished I died alongside my mother in that fire."

Rosa stared at him, stunned, "You would never mean that, Sir."

Samuel didn't reply.

"Now, go back to sleep, Sir," she pulled up the blanket, covering the fragile body. Samuel was still in the process of his breakdown.

"I want Dean..." He cried out with his eyes staring into space as tears rolled out of the corners.

Rosa didn't respond. Her heart was broken already.

"I want Dean...," Samuel kept saying. "I want Dean...," he repeated again, till his eyelids drooped due to his exhaustion and soon he was plunged into an unrestfull sleep.

Rosa drew in a deep breath, and continued to caress the little boy's head.

SPNSPNSPN

Dean lay painfully on the cold hay. They had finally taken him out of that chamber an hour ago. He had been blissfully unaware that he was being dragged back to the 'house until his abused body had come into contact with the hay. He had struggled through the torture, his back stung viciously and he knew infection would have settled in already, not to mention the new brand imprinted on his hand, and his bruised legs. He couldn't even move his legs, and he knew that it would be sometime before he was able to stand on them again. The treatment had been unsuccessful due to how messed up his back was already. He couldn't count how many lashes he got today, but he belived it more than 60! And through the haze of his settling fever, he wished for death to come and grab him in its icy grasp.

Other slaves had tried to make him better, but he seemed like he didn't want to get well. There was no one he stood for. Family? No he had no family. He had been alone from the moment he had been born. He had nobody in his life. Samuel? The one who encouraged him to survive through this constant cruelty? No, he had lost him. Lord Master wouldn't let Samuel see him again. He wouldn't see Samuel again. So what use was it if he survived or not?

SPNSPNSPN

The next morning

Samuel woke up the next morning still feeling hollow. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave his chamber so he remained laid on his bed. He guessed there wouldn't be any training today.

"Good morning, Sir," Rosa said as she entered the room carrying a tray of breakfast.

Samuel felt disappointment wash over him along with the realization that it wasn't Dean who brought him his breakfast.

Samuel remained quiet as he refused to answer or acknowledge Rosa.

"How are you doing today, Sir?"

Still no response from the little boy.

Rosa sighed.

"How's Dean? Have you seen him?" Samuel quickly asked.

Rosa didn't know what to say. Samuel wasn't supposed to ask after Dean again. He had to get over him.

"Yes, Sir, Dean's just fine. He's resting now, at the house. He's a strong boy. He'll live," Rosa said hoping to provide the boy a small form of comfort. "Come, let's have your breakfast."

"I'm not hungry, Rosa," he turned his head to avoid the loving maid.

Rosa looked at the boy in pain. She knew how close her master was to Dean. Dean was like his brother, tending, protecting, and loving him since he was 8 years old. The boy had so much depending on Dean. She know how broken the young boy must be.

"Alright. I leave the food here. Eat it when you feel hungry."

There was no response. Even Rosa had started to feel the young boy's pain and misery.

"Master Samuel…"

But Samuel turned his head, avoiding her once more.

There was nothing Rosa could do now but leave.

"I know this is hard for you, Sir, but please…leave Dean alone for good." With that she took a little bow and walked out. But she was stopped in her tracks before she walked through the door by her Master's voice.

"I never saw him as a slave, Rosa, I only see him as my brother, a brother that was always there for me, and I love him, Rosa. You don't know how it feels to love somebody that has suffered for you, because of you. You don't know how much that hurts inside, so do not stop me from doing what I'm gonna do," he said bitterly still refusing to look at Rosa.

Rosa just sighed, "Yes, I do know Sir, I know you don't see him as slave, but he is still a slave, and you better do something good for him, Sir," she muttered as she left the boy alone.

Samuel turned his head towards the door as it closed. 'Need to see Dean now, no matter how dangerous that could be' and jumped up from his bed. He winced as pain shot through his back, feeling the bruises from the fall yesterday call out for his attention. But he didn't care. He needed to see Dean now...

TBC

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