"My dear guests!"
I couldn't see who spoke.
But I knew who the voice belonged to.
John.
"Today, there is a special event for you to witness! One of our young lambs has broken the rules and hidden a dangerous weapon beneath his bed. A knife!"
A pause.
"And such behavior must be punished."
His tone turned lighter.
"And because I know what a lovely crowd you are, I decided to let you spectate it as well! A small appetizer before the fights begin!"
Another pause.
"And the punishment…"
He let the silence stretch.
"Ten whips."
The moment he finished—
Slash.
The sound of leather cutting through air echoed behind me.
My entire body shook, flinching violently.
Instinct took over and—
Clang.
I tried to move.
Away.
Away from that sound.
Clang.
But the chains held tight, clanging as I tried to pull my hands free.
While my hands were bound, my legs were not.
I wasn't able to free myself, but I could at least turn my head.
I didn't know why.
But I tried to look back.
To see what they were doing.
When—
Or how—
I didn't know.
I couldn't see.
That uncertainty made me even more scared.
My head twisted sideways, almost bending the chains binding me, but all I could see—
Was the crowd.
They smiled.
Cheered.
Waited for what was about to happen.
John's voice rang out again.
"So be our guests today and count with us!"
Then colder.
"Begin!"
The word's echo hadn't fully settled when—
Slash.
"AGHH!"
Leather cut through the air and into my back, tearing through my flesh.
Pain spread across my body.
Thud.
My chest was pushed against cold stone, the impact was enough to force all air out of my lungs.
My legs shook and bent, but I stood, keeping myself upright.
"Ghah!"
I gasped for breath.
Haah.
Fire.
Haah.
My back burned.
Haah.
As if they had set the whip on fire.
Something warm flowed down my back.
Blood.
"ONE!"
The crowd shouted, starting the count.
I hadn't even regained my breath when—
Slash.
"AGHHH!"
Another scream tore out of me.
The second strike hurt even more than the first.
Thud.
My body pressed against stone.
The pain was too much, overwhelming my senses like the crashing of a wave.
My lungs stopped working for a moment, and all strength left me.
My knees slammed to the ground.
But—
Clang.
The chains tightly binding my wrists had stopped my knees from crashing into the sand.
Pain exploded through my joints as if my hands were about to be ripped off.
My body hung uselessly in the air.
The count continued.
"TWO!"
Not even a breath passed—
Slash.
"ARGHH!"
The leather cut another line across my back, tearing flesh and skin apart.
Unbearable pain wrapped itself around me.
My eyes closed on their own, darkness taking over.
"THREE!"
The crowd's shout snapped me out of it. My eyes opened, and light returned.
Just as I regained my senses—
Slash.
The whip struck again, hitting one of my open wounds.
"AGHH!"
Thud.
Pain exploded through me upon impact, pushing my chest against the stone as my body tensed.
Before—
I fell backward again.
Clang.
The chains cut deeper into my skin, keeping my knees from touching the ground.
"FOUR!"
The count continued.
Slash.
"AGHHH!"
I screamed until there was nothing left.
Screaming made the pain feel bearable.
My throat burned, voice slowly fading.
"FIVE!"
My eyes closed as I braced myself for the next strike when—
"Stop."
John's voice echoed again.
Shish.
The raised whip dropped to the ground.
That brief moment of silence was enough for me to gather my strength and force my trembling legs straight again.
The pain was immense as I moved, but at least the metal stopped cutting into my skin.
For—
For a moment....
I felt relieved.
Even hopeful.
Until—
"My dear guests, I just had an interesting idea that you would like."
Murmurs rippled through the stands.
"Before we continue with you just spectating... how about participating yourselves?"
Silence settled as everyone waited for John's next words.
"We have five strikes left."
"Does anyone wish to land the next?"
A pause.
As if they hadn't realized the meaning of his words.
Then—
"Me!"
"I want to!"
"Let me try as well!"
"No, let me! How much!"
"I will pay to land the next!"
"One hundred!"
"Two hundred!"
"Hey! Don't start betting!"
"Four hundred!"
Their shouts grew louder and louder.
Just like the fear inside me.
"Oh... I didn´t know there was so much interest! But what a shame—there are only five strikes left!"
He paused as if contemplating.
Then—
Clap.
A loud clapping sound echoed.
"The only fair way to distribute them would be a spontaneous auction!"
The crowd roared, some in approval, others in denial.
John continued, nevertheless.
"If you check your betting devices, you will see that we have added the auction as an option. We start at one thousand for the sixth strike. The time limit is one minute before we start with the next strike."
Even through the agony, disgust churned in my stomach as I heard their murmurs.
They were bidding.
For the right to land the next strike.
It at least helped me to forget the pain for a moment.
The five minutes passed in a flash.
And displeasure rose.
"No!"
"One more!"
"Make it six!"
"I will pay extra!"
I flinched at their shouts, fearing the worst.
John's voice rang out again, silencing their shouts.
"My honorable guests. I must express my sincerest gratitude for your eagerness, but our five winners are now decided. It wouldn't be right to add any extras now."
No matter how disgusting I found it, I couldn't stop the sigh of relief escaping me.
"I want to congratulate our winners!"
John continued, voice echoing through the arena.
"Number 276 won the sixth strike for 16.000 Fortis!"
"The seventh strike was won by number 647 for 34.000 Fortis!"
"Strike eight goes to number 1396 for 57.000 Fortis!"
"And the ninth goes to number 4 for 82.000 Fortis!"
"Lastly, our final winner is number 14 with 112.000 Fortis!"
The crowd broke into another wave of roars and applause, cheering for the winners.
But all I felt at the wave of applause was disgust and anger.
"For the winners—please wait near your seat. Someone will come and escort you into the arena where you can take your prize!"
The huge sums of money they bet at the auction made my stomach churn.
But that feeling didn't stay long as a gust of wind brushed against my exposed back.
Pain flared up at once, making me clench my jaw not to let out another scream.
Soon—
Step.
My time of rest ended as footsteps drew closer.
Followed by the voices of the guards and strangers.
"Sir, you are number 276, right? Congratulations. Here is the whip. Do you know how to use one?"
"Oh, thank you, it's my first time, but it shouldn't be too difficult since I was quite the swordsman when I was younger. Haha."
I twisted my neck but couldn't see what was happening behind me.
"Let me try it out a few times to get a feel for it."
"Of course, sir. Take your time."
Slash.
The leather cut through the air before slamming into the sand.
My body instinctively flinched at the sound.
"We have extra whips prepared, you are free to practice a few swings."
"Thank you."
"I will take this one."
"Can you show me how to do it? I have never been good with weapons."
"Of course, follow me, my lady."
Slash.
The practice strikes continued.
Slash.
My body tensed every time, not sure whether I would be hit or not.
"I think I am ready."
"Yes? Please start whenever you want, sir."
Slash.
My eyes closed as the leather cut through the air.
But—
There was no pain.
Slash.
Again.
Slash.
And again.
Slash.
The practice strikes behind me didn't stop, making the whole situation even more disturbing.
Slash.
When?
Slash.
Now?
Slash.
I didn't know when the next strike would come.
Slash.
Was it a practice strike or a real one?
I didn't know.
Fear wrapped itself around me.
Slash.
The uncertainty of not knowing was even worse than knowing.
I pressed my chest tightly against the stone and closed my eyes, bracing myself for whenever the strike would come.
Slash.
I flinched.
Slash.
I had clenched my jaw so tight my teeth hurt.
Slash.
My breath stopped for a moment.
Then—
SLASH!
The whip cut so deep into flesh it felt like it had touched bone.
"AGGHHH!"
A scream tore out of me as pain exploded through my body.
Clang.
My knees gave in, bending, and I fell back again. The chains tightened around my wrists, cutting into my skin.
Darkness spread across my vision as I opened my eyes.
It felt like I lost consciousness, but the pain brought me back.
"SIX!"
I barely heard the crowd's count through the ringing in my ears.
"I can start whenever I want, right?"
"Yes, my lady."
Slash.
My body shook as the leather cut through air.
Another practice strike.
A sigh of relief—
SLASH!
"ARGGHHH!"
Pain overwhelmed me so much that everything turned dark.
When I woke again, a shout echoed.
"SEVEN!"
I couldn't hear what they shouted.
It wasn't that my ears rang, but just that everything turned muffled and distant.
My eyes opened and closed—welcoming darkness and light with every blink.
The pain was so intense—
That it faded.
Not because there was no pain.
There was just too much.
Everything hurt.
And—
At the same time, nothing.
I grew numb.
I didn't feel the blood flowing down my back.
Not the burning of the wounds.
Not the searing pain of the chains cutting deeper.
I only felt cold.
My chest, pressing against the stone, felt cold.
My back.
My hands.
Slowly, even color vanished from my vision, turning everything grey.
SLASH!
The next slash came, and I only registered it as my chest was pushed against the stone.
But—
I didn't scream.
Because there was no pain.
"EIGHT!"
I barely clung to my consciousness.
I had to stay awake.
I couldn't fall here.
SLASH!
Exhaustion crept in.
I felt drowsy.
I couldn't sleep much, right?
A strange warmth bloomed inside my chest, spreading.
I didn't know where it came from, but it felt...
Good.
It felt as if I could sleep if I just closed my eyes.
Sleep...
I was really tired.
Some sleep would be good.
I should take a rest.
Just for a bit.
"NINE!"
My eyelids grew heavy.
The warmth deepened.
That rest I so desperately wanted.
It was right here.
In front of me.
Close enough to reach for it.
My eyelids slowly fell.
Closing.
Descending into my well-earned rest.
Then—
As they almost closed.
Something appeared.
And—
My eyes snapped open again.