Warning - violence
Life In the Shadows – Part Five
The noise of people moving and speaking in hushed tones penetrated their quarters. They'd heard the bells sounding out for work to finish and now they assumed everyone was making their way back to their quarters after their labours.
They'd kept inside the room, worried about straying too far in case someone came with news of Jack, but they weren't hopeful. The noises eventually died off as people were obviously ensconced in their quarters. They'd tried to sleep, but the worry kept them awake, Daniel jumped when the sound of the bells rang out once more.
They went to the doorway and watched as people began to move through the tunnels, all in the same direction.
Reena appeared within a few minutes. "You must come."
"What's happening?" enquired Daniel.
"We are summoned to the main hall, I think you are about to see your friend."
Somehow the words didn't give them any relief and Sam felt her mouth go dry. She took a breath and cast a look to Daniel; the expression he wore offered her no comfort whatsoever.
Reena led them through the tunnels and before long they were entering the area Reena had referred to as the hall.
The people already standing around, but parted as they saw SG-1 and allowed them to move forwards unhindered. The whispered words and looks gave no doubt that they were the centre of attention for the moment. Finally, SG-1, minus their leader, stood in front of the large raised platform, empty at the moment save for a single post erected at the edge.
The murmuring from the crowd ceased as Kane entered the hall. He strode onto the platform, his manner both confident and aggressive. He stood tall, his dark eyes roving the people, until he found SG-1. He eyed them with contempt and not just a little amusement. The crowd waited in complete silence. His gaze wandered around the hall again and then came to rest back on SG-1 as he spoke, causing Sam's stomach to lurch in trepidation.
"You are summoned to witness the punishment. O'Neill struck a guard and attempted to escape."
A murmur rose up in the crowd, but Kane held up a hand to silence them. He gave a signal to a guard at the side entrance from where he'd come in. The murmuring rose again as more guards entered, this time dragging something between them.
Sam's heart constricted tightly when she realised that the something they were dragging was the Colonel. Sam heard the sharp breath Daniel sucked in and felt his hand tighten on her arm. She didn't look at him though, her gaze was pinned to the Colonel.
Kane stood to face Jack and pulled his head upright by his hair. He was held between the guards and looked to be barely conscious, his face bloody and beaten, his body limp, his eyes barely open.
"You will receive fifty lashes," said Kane, his face twisted in obvious delight at the state of the man before him. "Prepare him," he growled to the guards before striding to stand next to the post.
The shackles were quickly removed and the Colonel's jacket was dragged off his shoulders. They hauled his unresisting body to the post and lashed his wrists high, pulling him upright to face against the post. His t-shirt was pulled upwards and ripped open from hem to neck, exposing his back.
Sam stood helpless. She balled her hands into fists, her fingernails biting into her flesh as her stomach turned as she watched.
Another guard joined the platform - he carried a furled whip and once given the 'nod' from Kane, he took his position and unfurled it. The cruel leather was cracked to find the distance and the man adjusted his position accordingly.
The air was electric, not a sound was heard until Kane gave the signal for the punishment to begin.
The first crack of the whip hit high across Jack's shoulders, drawing blood instantly, causing him to flinch and gasp.
Daniel jumped and his grip on Sam's arm tightened painfully, but her eyes never left the platform. She swallowed the rush of bile that threatened to rise, her throat constricting tightly as she struggled to keep the rush of emotion buried.
The next lash cut through the Colonel's flesh again. This time he didn't make a sound, only the tensing of his muscles showed he felt it.
The guard struck out again and again. A moan came to Sam's ears, from herself? She tried to swallow, but couldn't, her tongue felt thick in her mouth, her throat dry. As the punishment progressed silent tears began to track down her cheeks.
The Colonel didn't make a sound until the nineteenth lash - a moan of pain was gasped out and his body slumped completely. Kane stopped the guard from taking another stroke and strode to the post. He yanked at his victim's hair to pull his head up. "Wake him!" he ordered, stepping away.
A guard, carrying a bucket of water, moved in to comply.
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Jack felt the icy water drench him, bringing his senses screamingly alert. He tried to lick at the moisture as it ran down his face to ease some of the dryness from his mouth. The movement pulled at his lips, already swollen and bloody where he'd bitten down from the first lash.
The first stroke caught him by surprise again and he couldn't stop the cry of pain as it erupted from his throat.
He was better prepared for the next, but a groan still came out.
His nerves were screaming agony to his brain and his back felt like all the fires of hell were there, searing his flesh. The urge to scream was strong, but when he did speak,
his voice was a hoarse imitation.
"O'Neill, J, Colonel. USAF 66-789-7876-324." The lashes broke his words up, but he heaved for breath and carried on, chanting them over and over.
He wouldn't allow another thought to enter his head; he blanked everything except for the mantra he was chanting.
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Sam felt the wetness rolling to her chin, before it dripped to her clothes. The silent tears slid helplessly down, with each crack of the whip her tears bled even more. With every stroke of the lash she felt Daniel flinching besides her. The whipping seemed to go on forever; each stroke sent a shaft of agony through her to join the broiling sea of sickness in her stomach.
At last the guard signalled the last lash and Kane ordered the prisoner to be cut down. Once freed from the post, Jack fell down boneless; the blood running freely down his back in scarlet ribbons, glistening darkly in the light from the lanterns.
Kane stood staring for a moment and then turned to face the crowd. His gaze lit onto Sam.
"You may claim him if you so wish," he said, his eyes showing his victory, his satisfaction.
The moment Kane left the platform everyone began to leave, still talking in hushed tones. Teal'c jumped quickly up onto the platform to kneel down besides the prone figure with Sam and Daniel only a beat behind him. The fear rose in Sam's throat as she watched Teal'c reach out and check for a pulse.
"He is alive," said the Jaffa, his eyes holding nothing but sympathy as he directed his gaze to Sam.
The quick surge of relief at Teal'c's words was soon replaced by the horror Sam felt as she gazed down onto the bloody mess of the Colonel's back.
Reena hadn't climbed up, but she had moved closer to the platform. "Quickly, take him to your quarters. You remember the way?"
"I do," said Teal'c and began to lift Jack gently, cradling him as though he were a child.
Reena nodded and turned to leave, "I will see you there. I will fetch what I need to help."
Daniel was staring numbly at the battered body Teal'c held, until the Jaffa roused him.
"Fetch O'Neill's jacket, he will have need of it later."
Seemingly glad of something to focus on, he did as Teal'c bid, before following the others off the platform.
Sam bit down on her lower lip as the movement caused the Colonel to moan with pain.
"I am sorry, O'Neill, we shall not be long," said Teal'c as he hurried out.
Sam tried to swallow the lump in her throat at the gentleness with which the Jaffa had spoken, but fresh tears still came to her eyes.
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