Page 755 of Coal Hearts

Every Master brutalised me to the point I no longer even knew my own name.

I hung there.

Bleeding.

Gasping.

Twitching.

I lost track of time again.

I skipped in and out of awareness as pain became heat, and heat became ice, and ice became numbness.

My body shuddered as each man took his turn.

My bare feet slipped on the spilled blood painting the podium floor.

I didn’t know how many Masters were in residence.

I didn’t try to match faces with their strikes.

I didn’t care.

The sooner this was over, the sooner I could pass out.

You can’t pass out.

The guard...remember?

He’d whispered something...

Christmas is in two days.

Had he told me that to add yet another layer of torture?

I no longer kept track of the clock or calendar. I didn’t want to know how much time kept ticking past.

But...he’d risked his neck to whisper in my ear.

He’d said it with hope instead of mockery.

Christmas is in two days.

What was I supposed to do with that information?

Help plant bombs again?

Light the fuses?

I groaned as a Master struck me particularly deep. A bone-deep slice throbbed over my ribcage hinting he’d split yet another area of my skin.

Heavy footfalls pounded up the steps of the stage. My heartbeat roared in my ears as the man came closer, closer.

Fuck, now what?

My pulse pounded in every wound. My blood poured faster down my legs.

A cruel fist landed in my hair and yanked my head back.