Averet stepped back into the room and saw Dashiell sitting on the floor crying hysterically. He hurried over to his side, knelt down in front of him, and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“What happened?” he asked softly. He could feel Dashiell’s body shaking under his touch, but he didn’t pull his hand away. “Dashiell, talk to me!”
“He will kill me!” Dashiell cried. “He will torture me and then kill me!”
“No,” Averet said, trying to catch his eyes. “He wouldn’t do that. Breathe, Dashiell.”
“Yes, he would!” He pulled away from Averet, frantic. “I need to get out of here! Please, you need to help me get out of here!”
“I can’t,” he answered. “Just take the deal, it’s an easy choice!”
“No!” he yelled and got to his feet. “It’s not that easy! You expect me to kill another person, Averet! I can’t do that! I can’t live with myself if I take the life of another person!” He took a couple of deep breaths and tried to collect himself. “I’m not a murderer! I’m not like the prince!”
“He won’t hurt you!” Averet said. “He might seem cold, and he might threaten you but he’s not evil!” Not evil? Wanting to tear the skin of my back, break my bones… that’s not evil? “Just take the deal! We will train you, and I will help you. If you can’t finish the job, I promise I’ll be there to help you!”
“Why can’t you see that he’s a monster? Are you so blinded by his status and beautiful face that you can’t see what’s lurking behind it?”
Dashiell wanted to scream. To run. He’d never been this scared or felt this lost before.
“He is not a monster!” Averet snapped. “Someone is trying to kill him! He’s afraid, just like you are now! He will not hurt you, Dashiell, he just wants to scare you! If you say no, then he’ll probably just keep you locked up in here until it’s all over. If he wanted you hurt… he wouldn’t have exiled Eudon.” He pulled Dashiell into a tight hug, which surprised him. He’d never expected him to do that, but he didn’t pull away. He wanted to feel safe. Just for a moment.
“I won’t do it,” he whispered into Averet’s shoulder. He felt rather than heard Averet sigh, but he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, his arms wrapped around Dashiell’s slim waist, letting him cry into his shoulder.
Dashiell was on his bed trying to collect his thoughts when the servants came with food. He wasn’t hungry anymore, but he forced himself to eat a little bit. He was going to escape this place tonight and he needed strength to do so. Averet thought he was stupid and stubborn for not taking the deal. And maybe he was. But he knew that he would never be free if he did. His best chance was to escape.
It was night now and he knew that there was a guard stationed at his door. He wouldn’t be able to sneak past him. He considered climbing down from the balcony, but it was too far down. If he slipped, he would definitely die.
Dashiell had never been good at planning anything and he was getting frustrated with himself.
He could only think of one thing to do, and it was the most stupid plan, but it was likely his only chance.
He opened the door and simply, walked out.
“What are you doing?” Erat asked.
“I need some fresh air,” Dashiell said with an easy smile.
“You have a balcony, do you not?” Erat raised an eyebrow.
“I wanted to go for a walk… in the fresh air.”
“In the middle of the night?”
“I love the night! Everyone loves the night! What’s wrong with that?”
“Nice try. Go and get some sleep.” Dashiell stared at him for a moment. It was now or never. He took a deep breath and then he just ran. He knew how stupid it was, but he had to try. His body ached with the sudden burst of movement, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t care, he had to get away, no matter what.
Erat was running after him, yelling for him to stop, and he was fast. But Dashiell wasn’t giving up.
He made it through the prince’s quarters and down to the castle grounds. He was close. He was so close to freedom.
“Stop him!” he heard Erat shout from behind, and three guards appeared to surround him from all sides. No! Dashiell wouldn’t give up. One of the guards grabbed him as he tried to dodge past, throwing him to the ground. He tried to fight his way out of his grip, but he wasn’t strong enough. His hands were tied behind his back before he was pulled to his feet. Two guards were holding him, one at each arm. He squirmed and screamed, but they didn’t react. Erat stepped close to him, shaking his head. “Go inform the prince of what has happened,” Erat ordered, the third guard nodded and began walking towards the Castle.
“NO!” Dashiell screamed.
“And get the captain out here!” he was looking right into Dashiell’s eyes. “Why did you do this? It was so stupid!”
“Please, Erat. Let me go! Please!” Dashiell begged
“I can’t. I’m sorry,” he sighed. He looked sorry. Dashiell was crying as he kept begging him to let him go. Begging him to help him. He could see that Erat hated to see him like this, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He was desperate. All of the guards were loyal to the crown, no matter if they wanted to be or not. Erat grabbed a hold on his arm and dismissed the two other guards. It wasn’t a painful grip, but it was firm enough that Dashiell wouldn’t be able to squirm himself out of it.
“You’ll get punished if you do, right?” he whispered.
“If someone helped you escape; they would face execution,” Erat said. Dashiell nodded. He wouldn’t want any of them to get executed because they were good men. They were just doing their jobs. He tried to stop crying, to breathe calmly, but he was too scared. He knew that he would get executed for this, and the prince would enjoy it. He just hoped that it would be fast and painless. He felt sorry for all the trouble he put the guards through, especially Averet. He knew that the prince would force Averet to fulfill the execution. It would be his revenge, and it would be painful for Averet to do. ‘It’s never easy to kill someone… not even for me,’ Dashiell remembered his words clearly, and now he’d be the reason that Averet would have to kill again.
He looked up at the night sky, he wanted to take its beauty in just one last time. But his tears were making it too blurry. He closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the feeling of the wind on his face and how it made his tears feel cold. He focused on the quiet sounds of the night. If this was going to be his last night, then it was perfect.
Dashiell felt as if he’d been frozen in time for a moment. He didn’t know how long he’d been standing there in the courtyard. It could’ve been seconds, minutes, or hours - he didn’t care. At this moment, he felt nothing at all. No fear, no sadness, no happiness. Just nothing. Everything was so quiet. He could hear Erat breathing next to him, and it made him feel calm. He wanted to press himself against Erat’s chest, to hear his heartbeat too, and to feel close to another person, just one more time. But he didn’t do it. He stayed as still as possible.
“What the hell happened!” Dashiell was pulled back to reality when he heard Averet yell. He ran towards them stopping in front of Dashiell. “Why did you do this!” he yelled, but he didn’t sound angry. Only sad.
“I’m sorry,” Dashiell whispered. “I just wanted to go home.”
“You have no home.” A cold voice came from behind Averet.
“Your Highness,” Averet and Erat said in unison. Erat let go of Dashiell’s arm to kneel in front of his prince, but Averet stayed on his feet.
“I see you’ve made your choice!”
“Your Highness, please!” Averet pleaded. “He’s afraid. Just give him some time! Let me talk to him.”
“No. I’ve lost my patience with this.” Dashiell felt like the dark eyes of the prince were looking straight into his soul “Take him to the cross.”
“Isandros, please, don’t!” Averet cried, looking at his prince. Isandros? I must be the only living person in this country, who didn’t even know his name… or at least I was… he thought.
“It’s an order, Captain!” Isandros sneered. Averet caught Dashiell’s eye, he looked just as terrified as Dashiell felt. Erat wrapped his hand around Dashiell’s arm mildly.
“Come on,” he said, his voice low.
“Please don’t do this!” Dashiell cried. He didn’t struggle against Erat’s grip. His body felt too weak. He was exhausted, his head was pounding from all the crying and his heart was beating faster than ever. He was going to die today; he would be punished for trying to escape, after being imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. He knew that he would face the whip now, he just hoped he was weak enough for it to kill him fast. He looked up at Averet, his beautiful odd-colored eyes, wide and overflowing with tears. “Please, don’t do this to me.”
Averet pulled his gaze away and started walking.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
He was led through the castle, back to the dungeons, and into a large room where a wooden cross was stood ominously in the middle. Isandros settled himself down behind it, so he’d be able to see the skin getting ripped off Dashiell’s back.
“Please don’t do this, please,” Dashiell whispered as Averet and Erat tied his arms to the cross. “Please. Don’t hurt me,” his voice was so low, that no one was able to hear him. Erat pulled a long knife out, cutting Dashiell’s shirt open to expose his slim, boyish back. Dashiell rested his forehead against the harsh wood, crying soundlessly. What have I ever done to deserve this? Why me? He thought as the tears flowed down his cheeks.
“Gag him,” Isandros ordered. No one said anything, but Averet stepped forward and put a cloth in his mouth and tied it behind his head.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered once more. Dashiell just nodded, before Averet stepped away from him. Dashiell knew that their eyes were on him, and he hated it. He hated it when people saw him break down. His stomach was twisting, and he had a hard time breathing through his nose since it was broken and after having cried so much. He closed his eyes tight, took a slow, deep breath, and clenched his fists. Stay strong.
“How many?” Averet asked quietly.
“Start with 15,” Isandros’ reply was cold, “and let’s see if he can take more after that.”
Averet stepped closer to him once more, and Dashiell braced himself for the pain. Breathe! Just breathe, he thought, but when the first lash hit his back, his mind shut down. He screamed, though most of the sound was muted by the gag. The pain was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. It was burning so much as if his back was being lit on fire. “Again!” Isandros barked, and another lash fell on his back. He clenched his fists so hard his nails were puncturing his skin, but he couldn’t feel it, only the licks of fire tearing up his back.
He sobbed and tried to struggle against the ropes around his wrists as if he’d be able to break free.
“STOP! PLEASE!” he screamed, but they couldn’t make out his words.
“Again!” The third lash made him lose his footing. He felt dizzy and disoriented. He couldn’t take it anymore. But it didn’t stop. “Again!” Isandros barked. “Again! Again! Again!”
Dashiell couldn’t stand on his legs anymore, and he wished he would just pass out. Tears were running down his face, and painful, screaming sobs were drowned by the gag. The pain was making him nauseous, and he couldn’t focus on anything. “Is he still awake?” Isandros asked.
“Yes,” Averet said. His voice was hurt and shaky.
“Well then, continue! 20 lashes this time!” Isandros said, glee lacing his words.
“Your Highness, that could kill him!” Erat was the one speaking up, which surprised Dashiell.
“Continue!” he said, ignoring Erat completely. Dashiell was about to beg for mercy when another lash cut down his back. He tried to summon as much strength as possible. He needed it to stop, needed everything to stop, no matter what it’d take. He couldn’t help but scream and beg despite the gag, while fighting to get free. He needed them to hear him, to remove his gag so he could talk.
“What is he saying?” Isandros asked. Averet carefully removed the gag from Dashiell’s mouth and met his eyes.
“I’ll do it,” Dashiell rasped. His voice was gone, but Averet heard him.
“Well?” Isandros stood up and walked towards them.
“He said that he’ll do it,” Averet repeated, avoiding the gaze of his prince. Isandros took a strong hold of Dashiell’s hair and pulled his head back a little, the movement made his vision blur.
“I’ll do anything,” he whispered, “I’ll do anything. Just make it stop, please.” Isandros dropped his head and stepped away, looking between his guards.
“Take him back to his room, take care of his wounds, and get a healer to look at him,” Isandros ordered before leaving the room.
Erat and Averet freed his hands and he collapsed into their arms. The movement was so painful, a scream tore from his throat, before he finally, gratefully, passed out.
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