TITLE: Messing with Love – Chapter 2: "Waking up in hell."

AUTHOR: Too_beauty.

PAIRING: Alexander and Hephaestion.

RATING: NC-17

CATEGORY: Historical Alternative Universe.

DISCLAMER: I don't know the people involved; they belong to History and to themselves.

WARNING: Mentions of m/m relationship, physical and mental torture, insulting vocabulary, male rape, angst.

NO BETA so all mistakes are mine.

READ WARNINGS BEFORE YOU START READING!


Hephaestion tried to open his eyes but it hurt too much, he waited for some minutes and tried again, but he saw nothing. He was accustomed to see in the dark, long hours of walking with the Army had trained him well, but it was pitch black inside.

Apart from that, his eyes hurt too much. Taking a trembling hand towards his face, he realized his eyes were swollen and his right one had a cut along its eyelid, which continued upwards up to his eyebrow. His throat was dry and he didn't have enough saliva to wet it. He wanted to speak, to call for someone but his voice faltered.

Every bone in his body ached and he could feel one of his feet numb. He leaned over and touched it. A muffled cry escaped from his lips and he realized it was broken. He tried to remember when this had happened and it was when he was dragged from the lake shore by his hair and thrown onto a horse; he fought back and jumped off the horse but his foot hit a hidden rock. This was also what helped his capture as he couldn't stand up again.

He set his hands on both sides of the foot and tried to fix it, even though he knew he could pass out due to the pain but the fixing should be done as soon as possible before the bone found its way to start healing in an odd position.

So he grabbed the hem of his chiton, put it inside his mouth, bit it and moved his foot, by pulling the ankle downwards until he listened to a sharp sound. A shrill cry invaded the place and darkness invaded his head.

Some time later, someone entered the place and kicked Hephaestion to wake him up. The kick connected with one of his ribs, and even in his state of numbness, he could hear the rib crack. Another kick, this one now to the pit of his stomach, made him curl up into a fetal position while listening to his captor calling him names.

"So you are not dead, lapdog. Do you think your king is already missing you?" he said laughing and kicking him once more. "The rats ate your tongue? You aren't so willing to speak and shout now, you big mouthed brat!"

"Water, please" whispered Hephaestion while his tongue travelled over his cracked lips.

"Ah, his Majesty's whore wants some water; of course Sire, wait there" the man mocked him but went out of the cell.

The man returned with a pitcher full of fresh water, took a goblet and filled it up to the brim. Hephaestion lifted his hand to take the goblet and the man threw the full content on the dirty and muddy floor.

"Oh, my mistake General, but here you are again" the man said.

The tormentor repeated the action three more times and so Hephaestion realized he was being played.

"What will you do for a glass of water, slut?" asked the man but Hephaestion just turned his body round and faced the wall.

"More days with the rats in here will change your mind" threatened the man while taking his leave.

Hephaestion sighed deeply and tears ran along his bruised cheeks.

"I don't have to crack, I am a Macedonian General; my men need me, my King needs me, we haven't reached our dreams yet" he thought trying to give himself hope.

Hephaestion breathed deeply but the musty smell of stale air made him sick; however he couldn't throw up; his last meal had been a very light lunch the day before. "Was it yesterday or today morning? My mind is so confused that I cannot remember clearly and this cell is too dark so I cannot see the outside"

The brunette looked around again to make recognition of the place and now he could discover that the cell was really small; he could reach both walls if he stretched his arms wide open and if he lay down, he was sure that his feet would be near to the front door. Being a tall and well-built man, he could barely move, that's why his tormentor was able to catch him so easily.

Hephaestion lay down onto the opposite side of his cracked rib and tried to relax; he knew he would need all his strength to fight his captors, survive this torture and go back to his King.

"Please Alexander, don't forget me … again" whispered the exhausted man before sleep claimed him.

TBC