Chapter 10 "Revenge"

Gin stirred slightly. Consciousness returned to her in waves of pain. Her head ached unbearably, her right wrist was throbbing, and Gin had the distinct feeling something was out of place, which brought sickening fear almost worse than the pain. Everything was a dull ache, even her hair seemed to hurt. She opened her eyes but realized then that she was blind folded. A very strong odor surrounding her consisting of sweat, urine, burning candles, and sex. She could hear moans of passion coming from somewhere, though it seemed to be from a different room. She wiggled her uninjured left wrist and found that it was in an iron cuff, and bound to something unyielding by thick rope. In her fear and panic she shook her wrist desperately to no avail, bringing only more pain to her body.

She sobbed in despair, knowing not what hideous fate awaited her. Each minute brought another twisted vision of her possible futures. She did not know how long she sat there, enduring fear induced nightmares of pain and degradation. She wanted to wrap her arms around her knees, but her right wrist lay useless on the ground, and her left was on too short a chain. She wanted Nin's arms around her, to comfort her and deliver her from this hellish situation, but he was far away, and probably still unaware of where she was. She felt drowsiness creeping on her and in her despair she did not fight it. She had no will to fight, and was witless. She allowed the waves of pain to drown her into the blackness.

She awoke to movement. She reacted in cringes of helpless terror, which out matched her physical pain. She managed not to cry out, though her lips trembled. She sensed a figure nearing her, and then felt and smelled warm sour breath in front of her. The blind fold was pulled off roughly, and she looked into the eyes of the archer who had tried to kill her at the signal tree. She gasped in her terror and began to moan uncontrollably. The man sneered at her hatefully, and snickered, "Oh don't you fear me now you stupid bitch. He he he, oh no I did not come here to hurt you. I know better now, death for you would have been a mercy. Just you wait whore, soon you will wish to see me again, and beg for death at my feet!" Gin barely heard his threatening words. His mere presence and the odor of his breath overwhelmed her, and she squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. The man turned away from her now and drank deeply from a large mug in his right hand. Going to the corner of the room, he unbuttoned his trousers and relieved himself in the corner, adding to the cocktail of foul scents in the room. Gin refused to look, and in her thoughts begged desperately for help, from anyone, even her father.

The man finished peeing and sat down on a bench along the wall and stared at Gin hatefully, though he did not touch her. Minutes passed during which Gin's feared continued to grow as she pondered his threatening words. The moans of passion had stopped, and suddenly, Gin heard footsteps in the hall. She shrank further back both physically and mentally. Into the room came Barach. He was naked from the waist down, and wearing a very satisfied evil grin. Gin refused to look, she felt her conscious mind sinking further down, numbing her. She did not want to be there for was potentially about to happen to her.

Barach smiled at the crumbled girl in front of him and turned to the other man, "Did you do anything?" "No, I did not harm her as you said." He answered, and Barach nodded being pleased. He walked up to Gin who still did not acknowledge him. He remained upright so that when he stood in front of her his moist, soft, penis hung in front of her. Faintly in Gin's deeply retreated mind she was aware of the strong scent of his genitals, obvious just used in the brothel. He spoke, "Who is your father girl?" His voice held the confidence and nonchalance of someone completely confident and in control. Gin heard him somewhere in her recess, but did not answer. After several seconds had passed, Barach reached down and seized the girl by her hair.

The shock of the sudden violent action dragged Gin back to the surface of awareness, and she managed only a brief gasp as Barach glared into her eyes. "When I ask you a question you answer me bitch." He hissed at her, spittle flying into her face. Then he struck her hard, dazing the terrified girl as the sting spread across her face. "Understand?" Asked Barach calmly, his cold emotionless demeanor returning. Gin managed a brief nod and a squeak of fear. She cowered before the half-naked man, barely able to remember the question. After a few seconds Barach raised his hand again, and Gin cowering back screamed out her father's name as tears ran down her face.

Barach's slightly round face wore a look of concentration as he pondered over the information, wondering what he could get from the father of the girl he held captive. He set this thought aside and returned to the subject of the Nin, the son of a bitch who infuriatingly eluded his men. Pride burned within his black heart followed by an evil joy that he now had a means to ensnare the boy. Though his own lust was sated for the moment, he knew the henchman next to him would not leave this girl unspoiled, and that was a satisfying thought. Turning to the archer he commanded, "Do what you want with her, but leave her alive for now. She may still prove useful." The archer sneered at these words, and Gin began to hyperventilate.

Barach turned and left the room, musing on his good fortune and plotting his next move. He had a suspicion that the boy may come for this girl, and he planned to use this to his full advantage. He heard the sobbing coming from the girl as his servant began to cut her clothes off with a long knife.

Nin approached the market with caution. The main gate was now under close guard under Barach's orders, and Nin predicted that the eastern gate was now less heavily watched than usual. The market was surrounded by a wall made up of wooden stakes sunk into the ground. The entrances were guard by two watch towers, one on each side. Nin snuck around the east side, keeping his distance. The land was very open save for a few tangles shrubs and small trees which made a direct approach impossible. Nin watched, planning a route that may allow him to the approach the wall of the market.

He put the arrow he had fitted away, and set off, crawling on his belly in places that were the most open, and darting from shrub to shrub, keeping his eyes on the two guards that watched the eastern gate. They were both on alert due to Barach's orders, but Nin was very skilled in hiding, and slowly he drew closer to the wall. He was ducking behind the last shrub between him and the wall, and preparing to make a dash for the wall itself. He planned to hug the wall as tightly as he could and sneak close enough to shoot the guards. He waited for an opportunity, watching the guards with furious eyes.

At this time, a messenger from Barach came to the guards and told them of Barack's desire to trap Nin as he tried to come after his captive friend. Barach had not predicted that Nin would come so soon and with such speed, and inadvertently had given Nin the chance to elude his trap. As the three men conversed atop the tower, Nin sprinted to the wall and silently pressed his back to it. He waited a few seconds to gather himself and slow his breathing. As silently as he could he crept along the wall towards the gate, and re-notched the arrow to his bow.

The messenger climbed back down the tower ladder and began to walk away. The second guard had come over to the tower closest to Nin in order to join the conversation, leaving the far tower empty. This was also to Nin's advantage as he was now able to sneak right up to the foot of the tower without being seen. He peeked inside of the gate, and saw the messenger walking away. He pulled out a second arrow and put it in his teeth. Quickly he drew his bow and aimed carefully. Nin released the arrow, and with true aim it struck the retreating messenger square in the back. The messenger managed only a brief shocked cry as he fell, but it was enough to alert the guards in the tower. They turned away towards him, just as Nin had hoped. He quickly notched the second arrow and darted back away giving him the angle he needed to aim up at the tower. The second arrow pierced the first guard in the back of the throat, and he fell forward out of the tower, unable to make any sound.

The last guard was now fully aware of an enemy, and began to shout for aid. Henchman and other overlords rushed out to see the wounded messenger bleeding out in the dirt. Frantic eyes scanned the gate for the shooter, but Nin had not hesitated. He was already sprinting down the inside of the wall, and managed to turn the corner behind a large tent. The second guard was also looking frantically around, and managed to catch a glimpse of Nin as he ran. He pointed in the direction Nin had gone as several other henchmen gave chase.

Meanwhile inside the brothel, Barach had heard the shouts that an intruder was in the overlords' district. He sneered with fury at the news. Nin had spoiled his plan with his swift action. He dressed himself quickly and grabbed a long scimitar that lay nearby. He walked swiftly out of the brothel in the direction of the commotion with furious purpose. Inside the room he had left, the archer had cut all of Gin's clothes away, and was preparing to take his revenge. He did not hear the shouts coming from outside, being focused on the naked girl before him. Gin was now sobbing uncontrollably as she lay exposed before the man. She did not fight when he forced her legs apart, and when he entered her, she let out a scream of pain and despair.