Chapter 22

I still don't know how long it has been since I got here. Time was impossible to keep track of. I'd say it has been over a moon. Grasstail said something about how Wingstar announced me dead at the Gathering the other day so no one would be coming for me, so it's definitely been over a moon as that was days ago. How many days I was unsure, but more than one day. The only thing I was aware of revolving around time was that I had no concept of it at this point.

I was covered in more wounds than ever, all of them hurting. Some newer wounds still accompanied with dry blood from where they finally stopped bleeding, others showing the beginnings of infection, and others that I knew were infected and had no idea how to deal with. Some of my smaller, older ones had healed though so that was definitely good.

Overall, I was doing horribly. I was getting to the point I was too weak to do anything, saving all my energy for dealing with Grasstail and Coldclaw. It's not like my pads didn't still hurt from where Grasstail tore them open. They were actually one of the places I was pretty sure was infected. I hadn't tried any more escape attempts after the first which you'd think would make my life easier, but it didn't. I was beginning to think it didn't matter if I listened or not and they'd just hurt me anyway.

I winced as light began pouring in. I opened my eyes and looked up to see Grasstail and Coldclaw once more. I tensed up, preparing myself for what was to come.

"Relax, you have a visitor," Grasstail told me. A visitor? I knew it wouldn't be a friendly face. There was one cat I've been surprised hasn't seen me yet.

"Nice to see you, runt," Flurrytail said, walking into view. I figured. "So, how's she been doing?"

"She's actually been listening surprisingly well," Grasstail answered. "Only tried to escape once. Other than that, she's really just done as told."

"Really? That's a surprise," Flurrytail remarked. "I'm not sure I believe you."

"Aren't you gonna say hello to your guest?" Grasstail asked me. "And sit up."

I didn't feel like getting up, but sat up anyway. After all, it didn't matter how I felt. Well, it did, it just mattered in the opposite way. I needed to be in pain and uncomfortable.

"Hello," I murmured.

"Oh, wow, you really did teach her to listen," Flurrytail laughed. "Even Lightstar said she had problems with that."

"It's been surprisingly easy," Grasstail responded. "She's quiet and obedient, the perfect little play-thing."

"She just lets us do whatever, it's pretty funny," Coldclaw added.

"Maybe I should test that out," Flurrytail said.

I whimpered, flinching away. I don't want to get hurt anymore. I don't want anymore pain. I just want to be left alone.

"What?" Flurrytail asked. "Do you not want me to?" She looked at me expectantly, wanting an answer.

"No," I murmured. "Please don't."

"Don't be rude and deny a guest!" Grasstail told me.

"I'm sorry," I responded. "Do what you want."

I hated acting like this, having to agree with whatever they say, do whatever they want me to. I was their toy and I hated it. More than anything, I hated how I let them turn me into this. I hated myself for being weak and giving in. I was terrified of them, however, and terrified of making things worse. I had to do as told.

"What do you think I should do first?" Flurrytail asked.

"Whatever you want," I answered.

"I was asking for your opinion," she told me. "What would hurt you the most?"

I didn't respond for a moment. Things would be worse if I didn't answer or if I lied. I didn't want to admit how I've been hurt. I didn't want to have to answer.

"No claws or fangs could ever hurt me as much as knowing I'm truly alone and belong to some other cats, being their's to do what they please with," I answered. "I hate it. I hate myself for being too weak to fight back. I'm terrified and that has allowed you all to do whatever you want with me. I have no hope. I have no strength. I'm not sure how much longer I have until I die. Part of me wants to die to get out of this! It's tearing me to pieces! You want to know what you can do to hurt me? This. This is all you need to do."

She laughed. "Are you really that scared of us? Pathetic! Absolutely pathetic! I didn't realize you were that weak!" She walked up to me until she was right in front of me and looked down. I cowered away. "Do I really scare you that much, kit? Are you really that terrified?" I whimpered. She lashed out, scratching my muzzle. She then walked a few steps away. "Come on, stop being a pathetic little kit! You're acting ridiculous. For one, stand up!"

I stood up, trembling. "I'm sorry," I murmured.

She turned back around, slashing my muzzle again. I stumbled backwards. "I thought I said stop acting like a pathetic little kit!" I whimpered again. She raised her paw again to strike. I pressed myself against the back wall.

"Please stop," I whimpered.

"Please stop," Flurrytail mocked. She scoffed. "How much more pathetic can you get?"

"Just— Just leave me alone!" I told her uncertainly.

She drug her claws against my side that was facing her. "Don't talk back to me," she snapped.

"What do you want me to do?" I whimpered.

"I just want you to suffer," she responded. "Nothing you can do but that will please me."

She clawed my side once more for good measure and I cried out. She then turned and walked away, leaving me cowering against the wall. She looked back, studying me. She looked dissatisfied. Hungry for pain. She was just calculating how she wanted to do it.

"You two, leave. I want some quality time with Deathfire," she told the two toms. "I'll close up when I'm ready."

"Okay then," Grasstail agreed.

"I'll see you around!" Coldclaw told her lovingly.

Once they left, she fully turned back to me. "Okay, here's the game. I do whatever I want until you're begging for mercy and then some," she explained. "Sound fun?" I shook my head. "Good!"

I began whimpering uncontrollably as she walked up to me. StarClan, I hated myself. She pushed me to the ground and stood over top of me. She dragged both sets of front claws down my back slowly, digging in as deep as she could with each. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing how much she hurt me. I refused. Except I already was. She turned me over and did the same with my underside, although not as deep. She wanted me alive. After all, I can't suffer here any more if I'm dead. I still held strong enough. She got off me. I rolled back over so I was upright. She walked around, biting down on my tail and yanking. I cried out this time, but kept it mostly together. She stood back on top of me, holding me down. She grabbed my good ear and pulled. I cried out once more. She pulled harder.

"Stop it!" I exclaimed.

She let go, letting my head fall to the ground. She buried her teeth into my back, attempting to rip out flesh, biting down harder and harder.

"Let go!" I shouted. "Please! Just stop!"

She let go. "Fine," she responded. "Let's just rip some flesh out of you stomach instead."

"No!" I screamed. "You're gonna kill me! Don't! Do something else, go back to what you were doing, please!"

She laughed. "Relax, I'm not stupid. I'll be back in a moment, don't go anywhere."

She disappeared out of the den for a moment. I would try to escape if I didn't know I wouldn't make it anywhere. It was just easier to lay there, bleeding heavily. She returned with a sharp rock she held in her mouth. She set it down.

"Straighten out your tail," she ordered.

I grew stiff, but did as told. She grabbed the rock and dug the sharp piece in just below my tail-tip. I cried out as she repeatedly hit it. I looked back only to see a small bit of my tail no longer connected. She set down the rock.

"Again?" she asked.

"No!" I exclaimed. "What do you want me to do? Is there anything I can do to get you to stop? Please, just leave me alone! You've hurt me, now please leave! I'll do anything to get you to leave, please!"

"Then keep still," she told me.

She picked the rock up again, repeating what she did before just a little farther down. She eventually set the rock back down.

"You know, I learned about that from how medicine cats have to do that when a cat's tail gets stuck in something," Flurrytail told me. "Interesting, right?"

"Yeah," I agreed, just wanting her to leave.

"I must be going, I have deputy things to do," she informed me. "Bye now! Hopefully I'll see you soon!"

"Bye," I responded.

She left, pushing the large rock in front of the hole. I began grooming myself the attempt to clean my wounds. I looked over to see the rock Flurrytail had used and the two pieces of my tail. I felt almost sick. I was going to have to attempt to bury those later. The rock could stay, it wasn't like the prison wasn't somewhat red with my blood. I wasn't sure much longer I could handle this though. Not with cats that just wanted to make me miserable.

Author's Note: Yay, torture! Is it really one of my books if I don't torture a character or two? It's odd, I enjoy making my characters suffer but it also tear me to pieces. On one hand, interesting plot to write. On the other hand, NO MY BABY. You know? Anyway, leave a review if you'd like! It's always appreciated! And have a lovely day! Until we meet again, my dear fellow mortal beings.

-Rowan W.