I got dragged for quite some time before we came into a large dark room with pillars, and at the other end of this long room, Ulquiorra sat on a tall white throne that was cracked in several spots. I'd resisted being dragged to make this observation but the Arrancar roughly jerked my arm, causing me to fall forward and once again, I'm being dragged towards Ulquiorra. As we got closer, every instinct in my body screamed at me to resist, fight the one dragging me, and run away. To where? I had no idea, and I doubt I could make it far without Ulquiorra knocking me out with his spiritual pressure again.

I'm dropped on the ground in front of Ulquiorra and my chains are bound to the floor, though it was impossible to see what was binding them there. All I knew is that because of the chains, I couldn't move. I didn't dare to look up at Ulquiorra, mostly due to fear and maybe in his eyes it was a sign of defiance. It would probably only bring punishment on me in the end, but I really didn't care. I wouldn't do whatever it was he wanted me to do.

"Leave us." He hissed at the Arrancar who brought me in.

I heard the footsteps leave and waited for Ulquiorra to say something. He didn't. Instead I heard him step down from his throne, his feet appeared in front of my face and he put his hand under my chin and jerked my head up, forcing me to look at him. He just observed me with an unreadable expression on his face, then dropped my head and walked back to his throne.

He spoke a few moments later. "I want to see the hollow."

I tensed up. "No. She is not allowed out."

"Bring her out."

I looked up at him with hate burning in my eyes. "I said no! I am not going to let her out."

Ulquiorra looked a little annoyed but covered it up pretty quickly. "You will bring her out, or I will make her come out."

I glared at him in defiance. "I will not let her out."

He stood up, approached me, and hit me across the face hard. I saw a flash of light, the room spun, and there was ringing in my ears and I fell on my back. Black spots appeared across my vision. I blinked them away and sat up. Suddenly he kicked me in the gut, sending pain up my spine into my neck and I was forced onto my back again. The hollow was pushing her way into my consciousness but I shoved her back, refusing to give into Ulquiorra's demand. I wouldn't give up. He must've understood I was resistant because he ripped the chains free, lifted me by my neck, and threw me across the room. I slammed into one of the pillars with a loud crack and I fell forward onto my face, the pillar crumbling to the ground. I pushed myself onto my knees. He sent a kick into my side and I gasped in pain at the crunch I heard. I was sure one of my ribs was now broken, but that wouldn't stop him. He jerked me to my feet, and decked me in the face again, sending me staggering backwards. That wasn't a full force punch, otherwise I would've gone flying across the room. My nose was gushing blood and I could feel one of my eyes beginning to swell shut. My ears started ringing again.

"You are pathetically stubborn." He growled.

I spat blood into his face and he hit me in the head again. I staggered back, and collapsed. I watched him approach me, but everything went black when he went to hit me again.

I woke back up in my cell, aching and sick. My stomach rolled, upset and my left eye had swollen completely shut. My hollow must've come out, she had to have. But I hadn't felt her take control as I was losing consciousness. I groaned and leaned up against the wall. Ulquiorra's face appeared in front of the cell.

"You are very stubborn. I will force that hollow out of you someday." He left after that.

I was feeling strangely relieved. My hollow hadn't betrayed me and come out when I'd lost consciousness. I wondered why. I tugged against the chains again, and nearly screamed I was in so much pain. Breathing was agonizing, that confirmed the broken rib. My face really ached, as did my nose. I wondered, did he break that too? I have no idea. I couldn't move too much, my stomach rolled nastily and I felt like I'd puke. I tugged on the chains again, and had to bite my lower lip to prevent myself from screaming.

The cell door opened and Ulquiorra came in, and crouched in front of me. I flinched when he reached out to touch me and his hand paused mid air. He dropped his hand, shook his head, and left the cell, slamming the door behind him. Okay, that was weird. I didn't want to know what he did that for, when I thought about it I shuddered. I guess it didn't matter; I wasn't going to survive this if I was going to take this much of a beating. I let my eyes slip shut and I sank into oblivion.