A/N: So, uhhh, I'm back. I feel really bad for making you guys wait over a year for this but I lost like all of my motivation for everything. I said in my last author's note that I was getting help with my depression but that stopped as soon as I was 'better' so I spiraled back down and never got up the courage to go back. So my schooling suffered, my writing suffered, my social life suffered. But I'm (mostly) graduated now. So anyways, here's the next chapter. Sorry it's so short.
Also warning for the torture stuffs which ironically was torture to write because I have no idea what I'm doing with this. I'm way better at fight scenes than this shit, 'cause fight scenes I can play with in my head, and I don't read much with this stuff. LMK if it's any good. So anyways, if depictions of violence trigger you, proceed with caution.
Thank you to Guest, lotr-avengers-ninjago-httyd15, No one, and Mystery for commenting.
Thank you to PixelChamp, Shastelly, phantommist13, Angel of the Honey Bees, Aquabubbles936, LilyTheNinjaGirl, Solivant, Elentiya celaena, teachergirl0811, crow-tit, Demiwitchwoodwalker, LorBellNinjaSpider, lotr-avengers-ninjago-httyd15, ASTRAYA06, hannah-matheny06, townsgirl, Nealina, Mimi-inwood, kitty-ally-93, LunarMn, Cleopatra Phitides, malufenix, FiestaPotato, Eluneth, and Kyricu5 knight7 for following
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Y'all are awesome and helped me continue writing this.
While Haggar was focused on Keith, Lance was shouting obscenities in every language he knew at Haggar, yanking at the chains that kept him trapped against the wall. All it did was make the manacles dig deeper into his wrists, leaving bruises that would last for quite a while.
Haggar didn't even look at Lance, not reacting to anything he said or did. She had eyes only for Keith as she wielded the instruments of torture expertly. Keith, for his part, managed to keep his reaction down. Haggar seemed frustrated with the lack of reaction and grew more brutal for it. The cuts inflicted through knife and whip, though shallow, wept blood constantly, leaving Keith even paler. Then the witch had the guards bring in a bucket filled with transparent yellow, gelatinous liquid. Keith's eyes widened at the sight of Haggar's evil smirk, and he barely had time to brace himself as the guards dumped the entire bucket on him.
At first Keith couldn't feel anything different, other than the slimy, viscous texture of the mysterious liquid, but as it seeped into the numerous cuts and welts on his skin, he could feel pain ignite. It was unlike anything he had ever endured. He knew the pain of burns, of lashes, of broken bones. He knew stab wounds and sliced skin. This new pain was far beyond all that. It was like salty lemon juice was ground into the wounds, but multiplied by a thousand. Keith's nerve endings were on fire. He couldn't think, or move, or even breath. Where the liquid had splashed onto the sensitive membranes of his eyes, nose, and mouth, it felt like acid eating through the skin. The pain overloaded Keith's senses, and he involuntarily whimpered.
Keith couldn't see it, but Lance had a front row seat to Haggar's glee. Seeing Keith in such pain made Lance feel sick to his stomach, but watching Haggar's victorious sneer made him want to throw up.
"Stop it! Why are you doing this?" Lance shouted, tugging futilely against his restraints. Haggar turned her attention to him and stalked closer.
"I'm doing this," the hag stated smugly, "because I want to. You paladins have been a metaphorical thorn in my side for long enough. It's time for me to be a literal one for you." With those words, Haggar spun and threw her knife at Keith, striking him solidly in the side. This new pain was the straw that broke the camel's back and Keith let out the most heart-wrenching sound Lance had ever heard.
The last thing Keith heard before the world went black was Lance shouting his name.
A/N: I refuse to give up on this story. I despise when writers just up and leave and never finish so I will continue to plod along with this. If you have suggestions on where to go next, please tell me because my inspiration has been drier than a desert. Give me escape plans or rescue plans or dialogue or anything you want to see. Life sucks but writing makes it suck less so plz help. Thanks.
Answers to comments on last chapter
Guest: Yes, there will always be more. I don't know when I can get the next chapter out but it will happen.
lotr-avengers-ninjago-httyd15: Thank you, and I felt bad when they dropped me from Honors but I honestly think they did me a favor. I don't think I could have written a thesis and do student teaching. And I will continue!
No one (guest): Sorry to keep you waiting! This will be finished eventually!
Mystery (guest): I'm trying! I'll finish eventually!
