Unleashed

Welcome to the Dungeon, population - You

Aliyah

While my knees quaked in fear of what was to come, I knew better than to say anything. I simply followed like the little black sheep that I was, down the steps into the dungeon. My body was begging me not to go, not to take another step, but I was too scared to defy him.

“Get in,” he commanded, and I cautiously stepped towards the cell. Trying to remain as calm as possible, I refused to let him see me cry. Holding my head up high, I stepped inside and turned to look him in the eyes. I’ve been through this before, I can do this again.

*****

“Aliyah.” A voice roused me from my sleep, and I blinked a few times before trying to sit up. “Aliyah.”

I sat up faster upon hearing my name a second time and regretted it immediately. Its’ been two days since I have eaten or drunk anything, and my body ached from the cold hard ground. The hessian mat used to make it appear like a bed, was anything but a comfort. Its itchy material dug into my skin leaving me lined like the scales on a fish. My throat was rough from lack of moisture and I smelt worse than a rogue wolf on a hot summer’s day.

“I brought you something,” Ralph whispered as he rolled an apple through the bars.

“Ralph, you can’t be here.” I begged him, “Please, go now before he catches you.”

*****

Ralph

The lighting in the dungeon was poor and I waited for my eyes to adjust. She looked so small and peaceful when she slept, I almost felt bad waking her.

“Aliyah,” I whispered, attempting to wake her without announcing to anyone within the coven I was down here. I saw her stir, but I wanted to make sure she knew I was here. I wish I was the one in there, not her. Her strength will forever astound me.

Calling out to her again, she shot up, grabbing her head from dizziness. While she was a healer learning the ropes to extend her powers to healing others and not just herself, I could still see the cuts and bruises from her body missing nourishment to repair quickly.

Her hand went directly to her throat as she unsuccessfully tried to clear it from dryness.

“I brought you something,” I whispered as I squat down to roll an apple in through the bars. When she reached out to pick it up, I saw the magic burns around her wrist from the chains. Thinking of my own parents, I could never understand how her father could treat her this way. She was more than a warrior and weapon. Why couldn’t he see that?

My eyes raked over her one last time before coming to a stand. She wasn’t like the rest of us, she was destined for bigger things. “One day, things will be different. I promise you that, Ally.”

Hearing the clang of the door being opened, I looked around in distress. I couldn’t let him find me here, and not for my sake, but hers. Darting to the right, I dove into the cupboard and my stomach instantly came up into my throat. I could hear his footsteps nearing and there was no other choice. I used my magic to make myself invisible and prayed it would be enough.

“Good you’re awake,” he commented as his footsteps became louder the closer as he neared. “we can commence todays lesson.”

When the cupboard door opened, you can bet I nearly soiled myself, but thankfully, he merely retrieved a pouch hanging inside the door and walked back over towards her.

“Chain yourself.” He commanded. Whimpering as she weakly got to her feet, she did as she was told. I watched in horror as she walked over to the wall and began restraining her ankles with the clamps attached to short chains. Next, she firmly pressed her back against the wall, and I watched in horror as she hesitated, then slid a neck collar around her throat with shaking hands. On the outside, she was a mask of strength, but if you watched long and hard enough, you could see the telling signs of fear and defeat in the sluggish movements and slight tremor of her hands. She managed to chain one wrist, but the other remained free by her side, no longer capable of finalising the job.

As her father stepped into the cell, he flicked his wrist and her second hand was now chained to the wall as well. Rotating his wrist above the pouch in his hand, he stepped forward reaching into his pocket and pulling out a picture, as the pouch followed by his side floating at elbow height.

“What is this?” his rough voice commanded, and my heart beat frantically, but I was proud to see she didn’t even flinch.

“A wolf.” she returned firmly, holding her ground.

“Why must we hunt them?” he challenged, aggressively.

“To survive.” She followed resolutely.

“And if you fail?” he turned to open the pouch beside him and looked at the tools available.

“They’ll kill us instead.” She finished looking down to the ground in exhaustion and acceptance of what was to come.

“They will not hesitate to rip your throat out.” He sliced a line along the base of her throat, and I could smell the flesh burning from my position. The knife was obviously laced with magic because no ordinary blade would have such an effect. I could hear the almost silent gasp in pain as blood began to slowly spill from the cut. It takes a brave woman to not scream at such brutality inflicted, or perhaps someone accustomed to the sensation, which was equally depressing.

Trying not to gag, or yell out in horror, knowing he could kill me with the simple swish of his hand, I forced myself to sit and watch. While my body wanted to bow down, close my eyes and cover my ears to avoid hearing or seeing anymore, I knew I had to remain strong for her. This was my punishment too, for causing her harsher punishment.

“Just like they did to your mother as she picked flowers in the meadow. She risked her life for yours, and you must return that favour.” He stabbed the knife into her side, just under the ribs and I cringed as if I could feel the blade stabbing into me as well.

“Will you avenge her, as she requested on her dying wish?” he questioned as he drew the blade of the knife slowly, deliberately, down her arm.

“I will,” she promised as a lone tear escaped, slipping down her cheek.

“Your weak,” he stated as he turned to walk away, but not before throwing the final blow, “you are no daughter of mine.” With that, he waved for the pouch to return to its position on the back of the cupboard door and left the dungeon.

Making sure the coast was clear, I ran out of the cupboard and towards my friend still bound to the wall. “Aliyah, I’m so sorry. Let me-” I started, but she didn’t allow me to finish.

“Leave.” She requested sounding broken. Her eyes refused to meet mine as I stepped into the cell.

“Let me just untie-” I reached forward brushing my hand against the metal when her voice boomed over mine.

“Leave!” her eyes flashed up to mine and what I saw shocked me to my core. Her eyes were red as the depths of hell and a strength I’ve never felt before was radiating off her in waves. But it was the speed in which her neck began to heal, that had me searching her arm and body where her other wounds were starting to heal as well.

“Amazing,” I whispered to myself as the wounds healed. I’ve never actually seen her heal herself before and I wondered if it was painful.

Hearing the rattle of chains, I looked up to find her slumped forward, the only thing holding her up were the chains, already burning the delicate skin of her throat as exhaustion took over. The culmination of lack of food, trauma and self-healing taking the last vestiges of her energy. Wanting to help but concerned for the impact of doing so, on her behalf, I removed my shirt and began ripping it into strips to reduce friction burns and add a layer between her skin and the metal biting into it. Quickly whispering my apologies, I slunk out of the room, feeling every bit the failure for not protecting her better.