Taiwan—Tek-ko-kui [The White Terror, 1947]
Japan was done for, and the victors said to Taiwan that she would have a new master from then on, told her she would be now under the direction of someone who was not a damned psychopath like him...or could stand, at least.
That someone was China.
As if he was in a much better condition, after everything Japan had done to him.
That was why she thought she could have things her way this time.
Even though Taiwan had been forced to help Japan in his plans, she had not received a quarter of the damage he had, and China was like a cracked bamboo stick. A little more pressure and he would break. When she organized demonstrations in the streets and protested in his face, he seemed to listen with stoicism, and she was sure he wouldn't want to get in more trouble.
But he then snapped his fingers, and his soldiers started shooting at her people in the streets.
Taiwan only had the time to gasp. Before she could even think of doing anything, she was hit from behind and they put a bag on her head. She felt she was dragged away. When she had it removed, she found herself in a dark, dirty room. Two of China's men hanged her from the wrists and stripped her clothes off.
China slowly approached from behind.
He didn't give her a discourse, or any cruel remark. Why bother? There were times when words were completely unnecessary, and actions spoke much louder.
Taiwan tried to free herself, but, in that posture, every move she did could only dislocate her arms and shoulders. She gasped in fear, feeling China was grazing her back with a bamboo whip, delaying the punishment to exasperating levels on purpose.
They said Japan was a very disciplined man, and she would now know where he got that from.
The flogging, he did it himself. And he most probably let off the steam he had been keeping inside after everything he had had to endure in the last years. With each hit, he seemed to be aiming to kill her. Though Taiwan tried to bite her tongue, she couldn't help letting out screams and crying. Many times she wished the pain would make her lose consciousness. But China was an expert in inflicting pain. He knew how to make the most out of the experience. Every time he saw Taiwan reaching her limit, he paused, let the aching sink in, and when she was able to fully feel it, he went back at it. It probably kept going for hours. Or not. Taiwan lost all time perception.
At some point, China stopped, muttering something about how sore his arms were. He ordered his men to get her down and dragged her to her room.
Again, he didn't say anything. Like a spirit in a bamboo forest, he just gave her a last cold glance before disappeared quietly, leaving her to despair, for there was no way out.