Execution Room

"S...stop please, Andrei!" I plead as he strangled me with a rope. He bound my hands and feet and tied them together. I was naked and freezing in the middle of his paved garden.

From my peripheral view, I saw those ghouls taking videos of their master's sexual splendor. They pleasured themselves as they watch Andrei's assaults.

"I hate liars the most. Do you understand?" he muttered in my ear. I couldn't even understand what he was saying because I started to get light-headed.

"Where. Did. You. Go?" he asked. In every word the rope tightened. I twitched and shuddered. I felt my face got numb, my tongue began to cramp, and my eyes widened as my hands struggled to take his hands off my neck. My fingers curled in excruciating pain. I could feel every breath that escaped from my lungs. Then everything turned black.

When I woke up, I was in another room that I had never been to before. It was covered in black wallpaper, from the wall to the ceiling, even the carpet was black. In contrast, the drawer and the bed were all covered in blood-red velvet. There was a giant mirror facing the bed so I could see the horrendous mark around my neck.

My voice was even coarse due to the strangulation. Whatever Andrei was planning for me, I had no idea. But, I couldn't just sit here doing nothing. I have to think. If I couldn't defeat him in physical combat, I have to outsmart him. All I can do now is behave like nervous prey.

No food was given, not even a drop of water unless I admitted something I didn't do. He insisted that I went out of my room to meet some men. All my attempts in explaining were ignored. Instead, he punished me. He tortured me. Whether I admit or not, I'd ended up beaten.

"How are you?" Andrei asked as he entered the room with some food and a medicine kit. There were flowers too.

"This is for you! I am so sorry," he said, sounding so remorseful as he handed me the flowers. I took it from him and forced a faint smile.

"Let me see your wounds," he gently said. I showed him my wrists, stinging from the tight binds. He cleaned and dressed them then moved to my ankles and my neck.

"I'm so sorry. Allondrah, I love you so much. I'm so sorry," he repeatedly said. "You shouldn't lie to me, baby. Never."

"Okay, baby. I'm so sorry!" I replied in a faint voice. My vocal cord was aching so much.

He nodded. "Don't worry. I won't do that again. Just don't make me angry again," he said as he hugged me. I rested my head on his chest as he caressed my hair. "Look at us, baby. Aren't we perfect? We complement each other so well."

I stared at our reflection and it was revolting. Behind my smile, my fury piled up, brimming, waiting for an explosion. There, we were in a loving embrace, but I looked like prey under the claws of my predator. He was smiling widely, satisfied by the control he had in me.

The following days were more appalling. He repeatedly abused me physically. The scars I tried to hide were torn. He lashed me. I was just thankful that his fetish was oral sex. Had he known that I was still a virgin, I might have ended up a cold corpse feasted by voulchers tossed in the deep ravine.

He took pleasure watching me gagged so he put a leather leash around my neck that tightens whenever he yanked it. I looked like his pleasure puppy, whimpering in a corner, and waiting for my master to feed and pet me. All the time, I had to put up with it and pretended that I enjoyed it. He became more and more savage. I begged for his mercy and I was losing my mind.

"I've heard a lot of things about you, Allondrah! You're a bitch!" he yelled. He was punishing me again for talking to one of his men.

"How could you say that? I just answered his question. You're the only I love, the only one who touched me," I replied.

I jolted when he whipped the bed. With my hands bound and suspended, I felt so defenseless. I cried.

"Liars. Don't. Cry!" he snarled. The sound of a whip and a torn flesh made him laugh. I huffed. I closed my eyes and bit my lips hard not to scream. Soon, the metallic taste of my blood touched my tongue.

"Say! Some! Thing!" he pulled my hair. I stood up automatically. Then he smelled my bleeding flesh like a crack. He kissed me hard, causing my lip to bleed even more. He was sucking my blood and I was so horrified and in so much pain.

"I'm. So. Sorry," I whispered in between his kisses. He let me go. My lip stung. He smirked as he licked his bloody whip. My stomach churned at the sight.

"You know why I chose you?"

"No, baby. Why?"

"Coz you remind me of someone, I should have had."

He walked to and fro as I held my breath. I was so nervous at that time.

"Shit! Does he know? Does he recognize me?" I panicked inside. If he does, my years of preparation to take him down would go in vain.

"W- who is she?" I asked. I gulped as I waited for his answer. I felt better when he released me from my suspension and carried me lovingly to the bed.

"A woman I dearly love and you are no match to her beauty. No one is," he answered before shutting the door close, leaving me in tears.

I had to think. I had to think fast. If he kept me here longer, I would lose my sanity. No. I had a lot of things to do. I had to remain sane and strong.

As hope seemed bleak, an unexpected turn of events happened. I rejoiced! Whoever was helping me, I would find and thank him or her. Would it be gods? I don't believe in any deity. But, they did exist, I was willing to repay them no matter the cost.

I smiled as I watched the snowfall from my window. The white terrain looked magical as I kept repeating the news in my head.

"Andrei is severely injured after a fatal accident on his way to the castle!"

"Lalalalalalalala!" I sang, creating the rhythm in my head. I danced like a maniac as I laughed.