Hellbound With You

When Iryz opened her eyes, she found herself sitting and bound up in a chair. A bucket of ice and water that had been poured over her head had jolted her awake so rudely and suddenly that her entire face was still dripping from the ice-cold water. r

Shocked at receiving such treatment that she had only thought happened in the movies, Iryz belatedly struggled to free herself from the chains, but of course to no avail. The chains did not even budge one bit. Whoever was it that had captured her had done a great job in making sure her restraints were perfect.r

"Stop struggling, little lady. Your efforts will all be futile." A cold voice echoed out from somewhere in front of her. r

She lifted her eyes and saw a man. He was not wearing a hoodie anymore, but she could tell this was the same man who had kidnapped her and brought her here. r

"Who… who are you?" Iryz asked, not sure why this was happening to her right now. She did not remember offending anyone dangerous. Ever.r

He squatted before her, smiling. "Young lady, I don't want to hurt you. So be a good girl and answer my questions, okay?" he sounded so gentle but Iryz's heart still trembled in fear. No matter how sweet his voice was, she could see nothing but cold bloodedness in his deep dark eyes. Looking into his eyes just caused her to shiver with dread. "Now tell me… where is the book?" r

Iryz stiffened when she heard his question, but she tried her best not to give herself away and feigned confusion. "Book? W-what book?" she managed to say as normally as she could. She did not understand what was going on. But what she knew at least for now was that this man was also looking for the same book Zeres was looking for. Why? Why would this man look for it too? Was he going to use it to bring back someone he loves as well? "Do you need to find a book from my bookshop?"r

The man snorted. "No, no… don't you play games with me, little girl. You don't wanna do that…" his voice was still smooth like the sweetest honey. "I am going to ask you just one more time, baby girl. And I am warning you. Give me the answer I want, or you might not even live to regret it. Understand? Now answer me, where is the book?"r

"I'm sorry but I don't know –" Iryz insisted on not knowing.r

His hand was suddenly in her hair, gripping a handful so hard that Iryz screamed out in pain. Her eyes were tearing up from the sharp pain of the roots of her hairs almost being ripped out.r

"Bitch! I told you should not try playing games with me!" he hissed. The sweet voice had turned into venomous sharp blades. He gripped her hair even harder like he was really planning to uproot them. "Answer me. Where. Is. The. Book?!" his voice thundered into her head, causing her entire body to shake from fear. r

"I… I really don't know. If… if you're talking about the book Zeres is looking for, we still could not find it." she replied in a shaky voice, tears falling from her eyes. She no longer had the courage to keep pretending as though she did not know what he was looking for. This psycho might do away with her even without a warning.r

The man let go of her hair and stood up. But before Iryz could breathe out in relief, he struck her face. His hit was so strong that Iryz felt her whole right cheek go numb. r

"What a little liar." He grabbed on her face and pressed on her numb cheek hard. When he made her look up at him, she saw his eyes were red and his fangs were pointing out from his mouth. "Such bitchy liar… I am going to tell you, my secret. I can detect lies so if you value your life, tell me where the book is. Now."r

"I… am telling you the truth –" Iryz sobbed out. r

Another hard strike hit her face. She was seeing bright spots in her vision now. r

"Fine, you bitch. You left me no choice. I shall take the words I want from your mouth by force then." He said and he kicked her right in her stomach. She and the chair she was bound to tumbled to the floor as she gasped desperately for breath that seemed to have left her body and did not want to come back. r

When she could breathe again, she found herself tied up in a standing position this time. Her hands were held above her head, and she seemed to be suspended from the ceiling with her feet just barely touching the floor. r

Then without warning, another hit took her breath away – not in a good way. A whip. Someone had whipped her back so hard, so strong. r

"Speak now, bitch. Tell me. Where is the fucking book?" she heard him shout at her again, demanding the answer, while grabbing at her face. And when she could not open her mouth, he struck her. Again and again. The blows landed on her face, her head, her back. Her whole body. It never seemed to stop.r

She could hear her own shrieks and tortured gasps echoing in the dark and enclosed room. r

Iryz was so shocked at this torture that her mind and body seemed to have turned paralyzed now. Why… what happened? What was going on? Why was this suddenly happening to her? Was this just a nightmare? But it was painful… so painful that a part of her started wishing someone should just kill her now to end the pain. r

"SPEAK NOW BITCH! TELL ME!!! I am running out of time so tell me now before I kill you!" he roared. The man sounded like a madman now as he continually whipped her, not even giving her any chance to breathe, much less to speak. "OPEN THAT DAMNED MOUTH OR I WILL SLASH IT OPEN!!"r

Her body was already limp as she dangled loosely from the rope when he stopped and threw his whip on the floor. Then he walked up to her and grabbed at her face, forcing her to look at him.r

"Now look at you. Poor baby girl. I told you not to play games with me." he tsked and spat to the side. "If you don't want to go through that again, tell me now. Where. Is. The. Fucking. Book?!!"r