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Sigma was unaware of their past, having woken up in the desert just a few days earlier. They’d been taken in by a group of soldiers, and accidentally used their ability on one of them. It had led the leaders of the small army to come to them, and they were questioned on how their ability works.
Fearing the soldiers, Sigma told them everything about his power that he knew. It wasn’t much, as his memories only started a few days ago, the rest of his life being nonexistent. However, the soldiers didn’t accept that they didn’t know much about their own ability. So, they came up with a way to make the dual haired boy cough it all up.
They were using whips to beat him, getting out their frustration on the poor soul who they’d captured. Sigma often spent their time begging to not be beaten again, sobbing, while bowing their head to their captors. All they knew was pain, until a use was found for them.
“Hey, come with us,” Sigma was dragged along, their hands and feet still chained together.
This was the first time outside of their cell since they arrived, and as much as they wanted to enjoy the change of scenery, it meant something was going to happen. That feeling grew as Sigma saw the guards unlock another cell down the long corridor, opening it and pulling them in. Another prisoner was there, dressed in a uniform unlike that of the soldiers that ran the army base. Which meant he was their enemy, and they likely were torturing him for information too.
“Use your ability, and then tell us everything he knows on his army's plans,” the soldier ordered, throwing Sigma to the ground.
“But-” they started.
A hand slapped them across the face, “Do it, or you’ll be punished.”
That made them scared, so they forced themself back to their feet and walked over to their fellow prisoner. Placing a hand upon the man’s forehead, and using their ability. Memories flooded their head, and they wondered what he got from them.
“They plan to ambush you from the west tomorrow,” Sigma lowered his head, feeling guilty for spilling the secrets of another person.
“Anything else?” the soldier grabbed them by the chin, forcing them to look up at him.
They shook their head, “No, that’s all. It was mostly just how they were supposed to attack in the battle.”
That got them smacked again, “There has to be more. Use your ability again, and don’t stop until you know everything.”
As much as they wanted to run, they could only take small steps with the restraints. So, doing as instructed, Sigma touched the prisoner again. Another unpleasant rush of foreign memories flooded into their head. It increased their picture of what was going on, and they dared to take some of the happier memories of the man’s too. They wanted something positive to think about while they rotted in their own cell.
“There is nothing left to get, I’ve got it all. They have plans to plant landmines just outside this base to kill anyone who exits,” Sigma hated knowing so much about the war going on around them.
“Alright, you may return to your cell,” the soldier walked them back.
—
The cell was uncomfortable to live in. Sigma wished their chains weren’t locked to the wall, as the constant position, and lack of walking made their body cramp up. Cramps only added to the pain they were in at all times. Ever since they helped with reading the mind of the enemy to the soldiers, they had begun to be beaten less. However, the punishments for not getting all the information were far beyond what the beatings ever were.
For this particular day, they knew that the punishment would be bad. All day, Sigma had heard shouting and gunshots going off. It meant they were under attack, and he hadn’t been able to gather that from their newest prisoner. So, whenever the fight was over, as long as they won, he would be beaten to the point he would wish he was dead.
Eventually, when the sun stopped coming through the small barred window by the ceiling, did the shooting stop. Things went quiet, and they hoped that their captors died, despite knowing that was a terrible thing to think. Unfortunately for Sigma, they weren’t that lucky, and one of the many soldiers came into their cell.
“You cost our soldiers their lives today,” the man was oddly calm, and that made them even more terrified.
“I didn’t mean to! I thought I got everything that guy knew, and maybe he didn’t know about the attack today,” Sigma desperately tried to make up reasons.
A knife slid out of the soldier’s pocket, “You have to be punished for your failure.”
They pushed themself against the wall closest to them, crying out, “No! Please, don’t hurt me!”
Their pleas were ignored, and soon after Sigma felt the blade against their thigh. The fabric of their pants had ripped under the pressure from the blade, and then it started cutting into their flesh. Screams echoed throughout the cell as the soldier continued to cut into their legs.
—
After what felt like a lifetime of screaming as they were cut into, Sigma found that their voice wasn’t working anymore. Their throat was sore from screaming, and they could still feel the tears streaming down their face. Blood was dripping onto the floor, and they wished the pain would stop.
For as often as Sigma tried to think positive, the thoughts of death lurked in the back of his mind. Tempting him to find a way to die and escape his torture. It would be better than the pain he was suffering through for his failure, despite it not being his fault. If someone does not have the information, he cannot steal it.
So, sitting in his own blood, Sigma dreamed off death. Screams going quiet, despite the continued torture. They were too tired to scream anymore, and their throat ached too much. It wasn’t worth it to try.