I opened my eyes, to see I was in a dimly lit room. The tortured souls of the departed hovered around me, forever tortured in death as they were in their final moments of life. I noticed that I was strapped down against a slab. The leather straps rubbed my bare skin raw. My skin was cold and clammy against the warm restraints and cold metal buckles. I was worried about what they had in store for me. I couldn't move my arms to undo the straps so I tried other methods. I began to draw some power from the earth and air but there was none to be found and my powers were being blocked by a strong force. I had a nasty feeling that they wanted something from me.
My mind was tired of all the tricks people played and I just wanted to be home with no worries like a normal person. There really was no point in wishing otherwise as we can't change what is but lying alone there caused me to think more and more about it.
My thoughts were disturbed when a seemingly old man entered the room. I tried ignoring him not wanting him to gain any satisfaction from my reactions. I kept my face as blank as possible as he circled the slab. He walked slowly and almost gracefully to the table in the far corner. He picked an old leather suitcase from under the table and slowly placed it upon the table, like he was savouring the moment. He slowly opened the tarnished gold clasps and flipped the lid back, allowing me a full view of what lay inside. The knives lay upon purple velvet within the case and were glowing faintly in the dimly lit room. I could feel their power hit me in thunderous waves. They sucked the remaining warmth and magic from the air, making the room more ominous with its chilly atmosphere. I tried so hard to keep my face blank and show no emotion, to hide my fear. His face was strained in concentration as he examined to see which one the tools he was going to use on me. I felt calm coming off him and passion for his 'craft'. I had so many questions to ask but knew I wouldn't get any information unless they wanted me to know it.
So I waited patiently for him to talk. I was shivering in the freezing room and goose bumps were all over my exposed skin. He took his time choosing his weapon, like it was an art form. He finally picked a four inch blade with a serrated edge and a black handle. The air around it was entwined with ancient runes. I had believed that kind of power no longer existed in our modern world. I marvelled at its power, it seemed as strong as ever. He slowly walked towards the slab. His mind surprisingly blank which startled me as he struck me as a man who enjoyed the pain of others, after all it was the main element of his job. I wondered if he was going to stay silent for much longer. He slowly raised his weapon above my stomach with the precision of a surgeon. He slowly slid the blade lightly along the line of my rib cage meeting the burnt hand imprint upon my skin. I gasped at the sharpness of the pain. The blade seemed to freeze my skin yet burn my insides. It was unlike any pain I felt before; it reached the very core of my being. It burned like a raging hot fire and it never stopped. Blood slowly seeped out from the relatively deep wound. It wasn't so deep that it could cause my death but deep enough to cause immense pain. I knew it was only the start of the never ending pain and I whimpered quietly. In his eyes, I saw a flicker of joy which soon faded as he looked into my eyes and heard my whimper. Something was off; this was more like a warning. Why didn't they just kill me?
My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pain by my collar bone. His face was so close to mine, I could feel his breath upon my skin. The pain burned my throat causing my eyes to water. He carefully cut parts of my body that would pain me the most when moving. He cut near my joints quite deep but not deep enough to end the everlasting pain and burning sensations. He cut along my thigh; reaching from my knee to quite high up. The loss of blood and pain was causing me to lose conscience but with each new pain I was brought back.
Suddenly he just stopped cutting me and I sighed in relief. The pain of the cuts was still fresh but felt like background noise, like they weren't really affecting me. I felt peaceful and quiet. My breathing was slowing down. The sounds of ruffling awoke me from my dazed state. I tried turning my head to see what he was doing. He was lighting a fire in a fireplace which I could have sworn wasn't there before. I must be losing my mind. He picked up something that looked very similar to a screwdriver. He stuck it into the heart of the hearth. The flames dance around the metal and flickered blue, the metal glowed. Cutting I could handle but I wasn't so sure about burning. What did he plan to do with it? Brand me? As that horrible thought settled in my head, I wished to be anywhere but there. I wanted to leave the anchor of which was my body and not feel the pain no more. As he approached me, I felt everything slowly melt away and I was no longer attached to my body.
I could see what was happening but not feel it and for that I was grateful for. I looked in a bad state. My skin was extremely pale. I stared at myself and wondered if that was what I really looked like to others. I seriously was in need of some food; my bones were beginning to stick out. I had been so wrapped up in things that I hadn't thought to care for myself as I should have been doing. My eyes were closed and I was slowly breathing in and out. He grabbed my left wrist and artfully drew the same symbol upon which lay upon my shoulder using the burning hot rod. Bile arose within me; it felt as though my body was being used for something beyond my control and I didn't like that. I could feel the cold magic coming from the burnt symbol and wondered what it was for.
He put down his tool, suddenly and looked frantically around the room. The door swung open fast. I was instantly pulled back in my body and the pain washed over me afresh. I tried to focus on what was going on but the pain absorbed my attention. I saw him frantically talking to someone. He turned but I couldn't see to whom he was arguing with. He whistled, a sharp shrill sound, and a figure I instantly recognised appeared in the room. She wore what seemed to be a dog collar around her neck but I could feel the negative energy pulsing from it. She was trapped and forced to obey.
"Keep an eye on her", he said. His voice was quiet yet full of authority. It was eerie; it sent shivers down my spine like a bad memory from long ago. He left the room quickly. I was left alone with her; I wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to help me let alone if she could.
"Long time no see, Ruby", I said as normally as I could.
"We have got to get you out of here", she replied. It seemed this wasn't the time for pleasantries. She quickly unbuckled my restraints and helped me off of the slab. My entire body was sore. My knees buckled as soon as I tried to stand but she supported me up.
"Where is everybody? Where are Sam and Dean?" I asked as I tried to stand up without support. I drew all the strength I could to stand up on my own. Ruby gave me a blanket to cover my bare skin.
"Can you walk?" She asked. I tried to walk and pain shot up my leg but I could walk alright enough. We quietly walked through the door and crept through the corridor. I was surprised by the serious lack of guards, something wasn't right. The air was filled with panic and chaos. I followed Ruby slowly, limping slightly. I hated to show any sign of weakness and tried to walk without showing any signs of discomfort. We stopped at an unfamiliar door and she unlocked the door. Inside lay people's belongings and at the front I could see my clothes and bag. I looked inside to see that all the potions were there and untouched. She closed the door behind me and turned around to face me.
"Sam and Dean are within this building, you have to get them out. I am forbidden from going near them. They don't know that I know you. You have done a good job of shielding those around you from those who threaten you. A few floors down you will find them and you will find a store room down there with magical supplies. You need the protection charms and reinforcements. Quickly get dressed as they won't be distracted for long."
Whilst she spoke, I grabbed my clothes and began dressing. There were no bandages to cover my bleeding wounds; I just hoped the charm that I put on my clothes previously would last and the blood wouldn't seep through. I pulled on my black fitted jeans, wincing as the material brushed against my fresh wounds. I pulled up my micro suede long boots as quickly as possible, ignoring the searing pain shooting up my leg. I had to change quickly otherwise my chances of escape would go from slim to nonexistent. I put on my necklace over the cut upon my neck and grabbed my athame. I grabbed my bag and turned to her. She gave me the directions to where they were being kept and how to get out of the building from there. I snuck out of the door, checking the coast was clear but not before looking back and regretting leaving her behind. She was as much as a prisoner as I was only minutes before.
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