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The cell was cold, damp, and dark. It smelled like mold and rotting food. There was a small hole in the corner where a thin stream of light filtered in, barely illuminating the space. The walls were rough, made of stone or concrete. The only furniture in the room was a small wooden chair in one corner and a dirty straw mattress on the floor. The boy lay on the mattress, his body curled up into a ball to try and keep warm. His name was Reiko. He had been in this cell for months now, ever since the war started. He had been captured by the enemy and orphaned in the process.
He couldn't remember much about his life before the war, but he did know that he missed his parents dearly. He wished they were here with him, protecting him from the cold and the darkness. He often dreamed of the warmth of their embrace, of the way they used to sing to him as they tucked him into bed at night. Those memories were all he had left now, and they were the only thing that kept him going.
He shivered on the floor, his bony frame wracked with cold. Hunger gnawed at his insides, making every breath a struggle. The only thing he had to eat was the occasional rat that scurried across the floor. Sometimes, he could catch one and eat it raw, but most times, they were too quick for him. He wished for some water, even dirty water would be better than nothing. The only liquid he could find was the occasional drip from the ceiling, but it was hardly enough to wet his lips.
The pain in his ribs ached with every shallow breath. It had been hours since he had been beaten, but the bruises never faded. The dark cell was his world now, and he knew every inch of it by heart. He had spent hours scratching random lines into the stone walls, hoping that someone would find him one day. But no one came. He was alone.
A soft whimper escaped his lips as he curled up tighter, the chain around his ankle rattling in the process. He tried to ignore the cold and the hunger. His body trembled uncontrollably as he fought off sleep, afraid that he might not wake up if he gave in. The moldy straw mattress beneath him was his only comfort, but even it couldn't keep the chill at bay. He longed for the warmth of his mother's embrace, for the sound of her voice singing lullabies to him as he drifted off to sleep.
As the hours dragged on, the darkness began to feel like a living thing, closing in around him, and suffocating him. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be buried alive. The damp air made it difficult to breathe, and he found himself coughing more and more frequently. Each cough sent a sharp pain through his ribs, reminding him of the beating he had received.
As he lay down again to try and get some sleep, he heard what sounded like yelling in the distance. It was faint, but it was there. His heart raced with hope. Maybe it was someone coming to rescue him. He forced himself to sit up, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and strained his ears to listen. The yelling grew louder, clearer. It sounded like it was coming from outside. His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, his body shaking with anticipation.
He stumbled over to the cell door, his fingers tracing the cold, rough metal. He had tried to escape so many times before but always failed. He looked at the two large doors that led outside, praying someone would bust it down.
As he listened intently, he could hear shouting, the sound of weapons clashing, and thunderous footsteps running through the corridors outside. It was happening. They were coming for him. His heart soared with hope as he pressed his ear against the cold metal door, straining to hear more.
He didn't know who they were, but he didn't care. All he knew was that they were there to rescue him. He could feel it in his bones. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come, and the happiness he would feel when he was rescued.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, echoing through the corridors outside. He could hear shouting, and commands being given and obeyed. The air seemed to vibrate with the energy of their approach. His heart raced with anticipation as he waited, barely able to contain his excitement.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, followed by the sounds of metal scraping against stone. The doors flew open, revealing a group of armed men in battle armor. Their faces were grim as they took in the sight of cells.
"It's clear, sir!" one of the men shouted.
The boy's heart leaped into his throat as he saw the armored figure step forward. He was much taller than any of the others, with a broad chest, scaly skin, large horns, and a fearsome helmet that obscured his features. In his hand, he held a massive axe, its blade glinting in the dim light. The boy couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and terror as he stared up at the man.
Reiko retreated into the corner of the cell, his heart pounding in fear. The man with the axe was huge, towering over the others, and his presence filled the small space with an aura of menace. The boy didn't dare move, unsure if he should trust these new arrivals or not. His body shook with terror as he watched the group of armed men spread out through the cellblock, their weapons drawn and their faces grim.
They moved throughout the prison, their boots thundering on the stone floor. The boy watched in as they inspected each cell, their expressions growing more grim with every turn. He could feel the weight of their presence, the tension in the air. He wanted to believe that they were there to rescue him. He crawled over to the bars, a nearby candle illuminating his dirt-streaked face. “Hello?” He called out, his voice trembling.
One of the men, not as large as the axe-wielding figure, turned toward him. He had a kind face, almost gentle. His eyes seemed to soften at the sight of the boy. He looked over his shoulder. “General Shao!” He called, motioning to the child.
The General stepped forward, his armored form casting a long shadow over the boy. He rested his axe against his shoulder, studying Reiko with a cold, calculating gaze. "Hmph, a child,” he growled. He looked to the soldier who had called him over. "Pay him no mind.”
Reiko's heart sank. “A-are you going to help me?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper, tears beginning to well up in his eyes.
The General looked away. “What do I look like, A babysitter? I have no use to bring a child along with me.” He replied coldly.
Reiko's bottom lip began to quiver as he struggled to hold back the tears. "But... I don't want to stay here. I don't want to be alone. Please..." His voice cracked, and he fought to keep from sobbing openly. The General's expression softened slightly, but only for a moment.
"I'm sorry, boy. But you are no concern of mine. You are nothing but a liability." He turned his back on the boy, signaling for the group to continue their search. The soldier who had spotted earlier cast a sympathetic glance in his direction before following the General. The other men resumed their patrol, their weapons still drawn as they moved through the darkened cellblock.
Reiko felt his heart race as he reached his tiny arm through the rusty bars of the cell, desperately trying to get the General's attention once more. “Please, sir! I don't want to be left here! I'll be quiet, I promise! Just please, don't leave me alone!" He sobbed, his voice barely above a whisper. His small fingers dug into the dirty floor of the cell as he struggled to contain his emotions.
The General crossed his arms as he glared at the small child, he leaned against the wall before letting out a laugh.
The fucking bastard laughed…
The sound of the General's laughter filled the cell, and Reiko's heart shattered. He felt a hot tear slip down his cheek as he watched the man, the man who was supposed to help him, laugh at his plight.
"Hah! You really are a pitiful sight, boy," the General said, still chuckling. "But I suppose there's no point in wasting my breath. You'll just have to learn to fend for yourself." He turned away, his armored back now facing Reiko as he walked back to the group of soldiers. “Let’s move out.” He ordered.
Reiko felt a knot form in his stomach as the men began to file out of the cellblock. The sound of their boots echoed through the empty hallway, fading into the distance until it was nothing but a faint murmur. His fingers were now wrapped tightly around the bars, his arms violently shaking with the effort of holding on. He let out a sob that transitioned into a scream, his small body shuddering with the force of it. He was alone now, truly alone.
He banged his fist against the wall over and over in frustration, tears streaming down his face. The cell seemed to close in on him, the darkness pressing against his skin like a physical weight.
“You damn son of a bitch, you're going to pay for this, you hear me?!" Reiko screamed, his small fists pounding against the cold metal bars. His breath came out in ragged gasps as he fought against the despair that threatened to overwhelm him. "I'm going to find you, and I'm going to make you suffer!"
The darkness of the cell seemed to close in on him, pressing against his skin like a physical weight. He curled up into a ball on the floor, his arms wrapped around his knees, and began to rock back and forth. His sobs echoed through the empty cell, reverberating off of the damp walls. “I can't be alone... please, don't leave me here..." He whimpered, his voice barely audible above the sound of his own heartbeat.
Time passed, and Reiko's sobs slowly subsided. He forced himself to sit up, wiping the tears and snot from his face. The anger that had fueled his earlier outburst had given way to a deepening sense of despair. He knew he couldn't simply give up, though. He had to find a way out of this place.
He pressed his head against the bars, trying to make out what was on the wall beside him. A tiny hook with a bundle of keys dangled right out of his reach. He could just barely see it, but they were definitely there. He crawled closer to the edge but the chain on his ankle grew taut, yanking him back. He tried to wiggle the chain free, but it was no use. He looked around, searching for anything else he could use to free himself.
His white eyes darted around, looking for something, anything, to free his foot. He paused as he eyed a disregarded rock lying on the floor. It was small, but maybe...oh jeez, this would be brutal…He stretched out his free hand, fingers curled around the rock, and pulled it to him.
He leaned his frail back against the wall, holding the rock with trembling hands. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to steady his nerves. His lip quivered as tears fell from his eyes. He focused on his ankle, trying to muster up the courage to actually go through with this gruesome act.
“Come on, Reiko...you can do this...you have to...you're strong...you're so strong..." His voice cracked as he repeated these words to himself, trying to summon the courage to use the rock. He took a deep breath and swallowed hard, feeling the bile rise in his throat. He couldn't think about the pain now, couldn't think about anything but getting free…and then getting his revenge.
With a deep intake of breath, he raised the rock above his head, holding it tightly in his shaking hand. His fingers curled around the makeshift weapon, knuckles whitening with the strain. He brought the rock down as hard as he could, feeling it connect with his ankle with a sickening thud. He screamed in agony, the pain coursing through his body like fire.
Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his injured ankle, sobbing uncontrollably. But he had to keep going, he had to free himself. He grabbed the rock again, this time with more determination, and struck his ankle once more, feeling a fresh wave of agony washed over him. He screamed and cried as blood splattered on the rock and his face.
“Fuck!” He sobbed, looking at his now bruised and broken ankle, he tried to pull it out the cuff but the bone was still intact enough for the cuff to not slip off.
“Fucking hell..." Reiko whimpered, tears streaming down his face. He leaned his head back against the wall, trying to catch his breath. He grasped his foot at an angle and took a frantic breath. “Gods…just do it.” With a bloodcurdling scream and a bone snap, he twisted his ankle as hard as he could, feeling the broken bone grind against the muscles until it fully broke with a loud crunch.
He let out a pained moan, unable to believe the agony he was in. Blood pooled on the floor beneath him as he tried to move his foot, testing its mobility. The pain was unbearable, but it was better than before. He looked down at his mangled ankle, barely recognizable as part of his body now. The flesh was mangled, bruised, and swollen, and the bone protruded through torn flesh, but it was enough to free it from the metal cuff.
With a shaking hand, he reached out and tried to pull the cuff off, grimacing in pain as it scraped against the raw flesh of his ankle. It took several agonizing moments, but finally, the cuff came loose, clattering to the floor. He let out a shuddering breath, the pain still washing over him in waves.
Reiko's breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to steady his shaking limbs. He pushed himself away from the wall, using his good leg to hobble over to the door. He reached for the keys on the wall, holding himself up by the bars, his small fingers grazed the metal but couldn't quite reach them. He leaned forward, grunting in pain as his broken ankle took his weight, and stretched again, his fingertips inching closer to the keys, until he managed to wrap his index finger around one.
With a grimace of effort, he pulled the keychain off the hook and quickly unlocked the door. It swung open, and he fell out of the cell, landing heavily on the cold stone floor of the dungeon. He lay there for a moment, gasping for air and trying to steady his spinning thoughts. His ankle throbbed with pain, and blood-soaked through the tattered remains of his pants. He looked up, glancing at the doors that were his ticket to freedom.
With a groan, he began to crawl, using his hands to pull himself across the floor. He let out yelps of pain whenever his ankle was jarred or moved too far, but he forced himself to keep going. The dungeon doors loomed ahead, seemingly untouchably far away. He could feel the blood pooling in his foot, making it slick and heavy, but he refused to give up. With each agonizing inch, he drew closer to freedom.
As he crawled, he still was in a state of shock, unable to process the thought of leaving a child, who was begging for help, to rot and suffer because he was a ‘liability’ it was all just too much for him to take in. He thought soldiers were supposed to protect people? Not leave them for dead? His mind kept replaying the events that led up to this moment, the raid, the orders, the boy's pleading eyes, and the despair he felt when they turned their backs on him…especially the General, the one who should have saved him, comforted him, but instead laughed in his face and left him there to die.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of crawling, he reached the doors. His hands were raw and bloody, his knees scraped and bruised, but he didn't care. He grabbed the handle, wincing at the pain that shot up his ankle and pulled the door open. The dungeon's musty air mixed with the cool night breeze as he slowly dragged himself out into the darkness.
He couldn’t explain the rush of relief he felt when he made contact with grass and the intake of fresh air was like a balm to his senses. The world outside the dungeon was dark and quiet, the only sound the distant howl of a wolf. He tried to stand, but his ankle gave out beneath him, sending him tumbling back to the ground. Pain shot through his body, and tears welled up in his eyes…but he did it…he was free, he just wished his parents were there to celebrate with him.
He smiled for the first time in what felt like forever, feeling a small spark of hope ignite within him but also a taste for revenge that dammed General, that selfish coward that left a kid to rot and wither away, no, no wouldn’t stand for that.
He looked at a nearby puddle of mud and dipped his fingers into it, rubbing it on his eyes, trying his best to make an intimidating shape without the help of a mirror, and let out a raspy laugh. The sound of it was unfamiliar and terrifying. He looked up into the moonlight, his white eyes almost appearing glowy, and vowed that one day, no matter how many years go by…he would have his revenge.