Ghost -- Chapters 1-4 (2) Mr. Smith entered the room with a candle held high, he knew he had heard something, and when he found the door open, instead of locked, he got worried, he looked at his table which was normally piled with gold, silver, and bronze pieces, and only saw a note, going to the table feeling more and more cold, he looked at the letter… I got to be more careful of what I wish for thought Taylor as she watched Mr. Smith’s face go from pleasantly terrified, to positively, delightfully scared out of his mind. Then again, it does have a certain good feeling to it, to see his expression… Taylor would have laughed if she could without getting caught. Taylor watched as Mr. Smith ran out of the room and started yelling at the top of his lungs that he had been robbed. Dam it! Thought Taylor waiting patiently till she was sure that Mr. Smith was around somewhere were he wouldn’t see the door open. She silently slid through a narrow gap in the door and started to work her way through the maze of corridors that made up Mr. Smith’s home. As she hugged the walls and watched guard after guard after guard ran past her she cursed, they were blocking nearly all the exits, and she knew it was deliberate because all the good widow exits were blocked as well as exits only an experienced thief would know. Think brain think! Thought Taylor as she crept past different guards, but no matter where she looked, there were only two things that she could do, either she could give herself in, or she had to kill someone… She looked over and saw a man, a guard, he probably had a wife and children, how could she take away his life? How could she take a husband and father away from his children and wife? As she watched the unsuspecting man she shook her head and turned away, and begun searching for another exit, there had to be one somewhere… When Taylor got back to the tavern it was nearing morning as she slid under her covers and started to drop off to sleep. “Taylor wake up!” Taylor groaned and tried to get away from those hands that attempted to wake her up “Taylor!” There was a warning in that voice but she ignored that warning, and got the shock of her life because of it. The annoying hands picked her up and dumped her in ice cold water, she woke up immediately but she didn’t scream, she didn’t scream as a baby and she wouldn’t scream now, instead of screaming her outrage she leapt out of the cold water and kicked the source of her rage in-between the legs, and fled backwards before the hands could grab her. “Dam it Taylor!” moaned Craig clutching his man-hood, in answer to that, Taylor shook her head, trying to get the freezing water out of her face and hair. “You didn’t h-h-have to d-d-dump me into f-f-freezing c-c-cold w-w-water!” exclaimed Taylor shivering, her lips blue. “You didn’t have to steal last night” replied Craig straightening himself while Taylor opened and closed her mouth trying to find an excuse but knowing that it was a little to late when she saw the look on Craig’s face. “You know that you are not aloud Taylor, you disobeyed me” said Craig shaking his head. “I can’t h-h-help it Craig, I know I d-d-don’t have to…b-b-b-ut…s-s-sometimes…I just can’t help it…” Taylor struggled to find the right words “I know Taylor, I know” Craig opened his arms, and Taylor obediently went to him, letting his arms come around her slim body “Now you get washed and into dry clothes, just because your tired doesn’t mean the day stops, and next time I expect you to hear me like you always do, whether a thief is tired or not, death is always waiting to embrace you, do you understand Taylor?” “Yes Craig” replied Taylor as Craig walked away. “Taylor! For heaven’s sake, where in the devil have you been,” exclaimed Mara looking up from the drink that she was pouring. “Alas! I fear I needed a bath! Or Craig decided I needed one!” muttered Taylor to the laughing Mara “I wondered why he was limping” she said between laughter “But I guess you were the cause of that!” Taylor shook her head and walked right past the laughing Mara, she walked straight outside to the waiting Craig, drawing her blade, she immediately started to fight. Latter that day the thieves who watched the two would say that it was unlike anything they had ever seen, for the first time in an age Craig had actually tried, for the first time ever Taylor had actually come close to beating Craig – one of the finest swordsmen. Chapter Two Two Years Later Taylor’s eye’s opened to the night… A noise had woken her up, the slight tell-tale creek of a floor board… There it was again, Taylor shoved her bed covers aside, a dagger in her hand, she soundlessly got of her bed, sticking to the shadows she crept out of her room, following a stupid thief. Did they not know who lived here? Obviously not, instead of scolding the man for his stupidity she decided to scare him, she followed, her feet lightly touching the ground, she waited patently as the man drew out his picks to open the a locked door, she smiled, creeping up behind the man, and putting her sharp dagger to his throat. “Not a word good sir” she whispered in his ear “instead let me tell you, that we here at this fine tavern do not appreciate thieves, epically thieves that make so many mistakes” then she felt a dagger against her throat and hand over her mouth… “Hello, beautiful” whispered a voice in her ear “see we don’t make mistakes, we make sure we get what we want, and we like women more than money. Now I don’t mind women without tongues either, so don’t move or I will cut yours out” Taylor dropped her dagger, and the man who had been at the tip of it got up, shaking his head, his eyes laughing. “Very pretty” he said running his hand along her cheek, personally Taylor had, had enough, so she bit the man who held her from behind, as well as bringing her foot up between his legs, when he let go she elbowed him in the stomach, flicking her dagger up off the floor with her feet, she let a high pitched whistle, immediately two black dogs appeared out of no where cornering the two men by showing off there sharp teeth. “Rapists? Not thieves? Ah well…” Taylor stretched showing off her body to the two men, the shirt that she wore to bed was short, and made from very thin material, she laughed as the men looked at her with obvious hunger in there eyes. “You know that you are only alive for one reason, and that reason is that my Uncle Craig, is out robbing a house right now, you should know Craig, though silly me, Craig most well known as one of the ‘The Tigers of the Night’, have you heard of them?” the men’s eyes were wide with fright “Yes I think you have…” Taylor’s eyes narrowed and she heard footsteps “How many of there are you?” she said sharply looking at the two men that were now smiling “How many?” Taylor’s voice was small, as she heard more and more footsteps “Thirty, we do know your uncle love, in-fact I believe he has already been captured” suddenly two arrows shot from behind Taylor, striking the two black dogs that had been guarding. Taylor paled as she heard swords being drawn and felt rather than saw the men behind her; she bit her lip as the two men in-front of her got up off the ground drawing there own blades, blades she had failed to notice. Her eyes narrowed as they approached her. She wouldn’t go down without a fight she thought as she threw her dagger at one mans throat, ducking under an arm, she stole the dead mans sword, turned and started to fight. An hour later she was captured, she had cuts all over her arms and legs, but she didn’t care, she had bruises from where the men had tried and failed to capture her after she broken her sword, but she didn’t care, she didn’t care that the men were literally dragging her to some place, she didn’t care that she had killed men, the only thing that she cared about was the fact that apparently Craig had been captured. “Can’t we have a bit of fun with her,” said one man “No, our orders were clear, capture her and the man Craig, and then bring them un-harmed” said another, who was obviously the leader “He wouldn’t know” the man persisted “No, suggest the idea again and you will be killed” Taylor looked up at the leader he was an old man, who had a long scar from his forehead and over his eye, he glanced at Taylor, in that moment she saw a flash of pity in his eyes, she didn’t have to wonder why it was there. Taylor lost track of where they were long before they arrived at a castle, which she had never seen in her life, her captors lead her through a maze of corridors till they got to a room that spoke of richness, a man sitting at a table, glanced upwards for a second before lowering his head to continue working. While he worked Taylor’s captors forced her to her knees, the man looked up and met Taylor’s eyes, Taylor studied the man, he had black hair that fell to his shoulders, fierce gray eyes, and a hard face, his body was well muscled, and he was taller than most of the men in the room. “I see you finally found her” he said, his voice was harsh and unforgiving “Yes my lord,” replied the captain “Where is the man?” “He is outside, my lord” the captain’s stance was neutral yet Taylor could see that he was beyond neutral, he was scared. “Put him in the dungeon, as for her, I want her broken; I want to hear her scream for mercy, I want her tears all over the floor, but, I do not want anyone to bed her.” Taylor looked at the man, how could he be so full of cruelty? “Yes my lord, I shall see to it at once” replied the captain stiffly “shall I put them in separate cells, or shall I put them together?” “You shall put them apart, I want her chained on the wall arms and legs, while he…he can be chained on a wall, but he can walk” the man turned back to his work while the captain led Taylor away, it was then that Taylor noticed that the captains hands were shaking. “Do not worry about me captain” she said with a smile, the captain said nothing to Taylor, just started to order his men about. Taylor lost track of the turns that led to the dungeon that would be her new home for awhile. Just when some strong men forced her into a small, damp, dark cell she felt a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder from the captain. His men hung her up on a wall, her feet couldn’t touch the ground, so her arms felt like they were getting torn out of there sockets. The next day a torturer would begin work on Taylor… A man opened up the cell door, with a loud bang that echoed through the cold halls, he and a few others unlocked the chains that bound her to the wall, there faces were expressionless as they carried her to a chamber, they hung her from some chains in the middle of the room, a man with a mask came in, all she could see was his mouth, and his eyes, his eyes were cold, heartless… She felt his gloved hand caress her body… Then a painful pinch… Her world became a pattern… Caress… Pain… Pleasure… Pain… Her world became the meaning pain, nothing but pain; she didn’t know when the torturer started to use his tools… Pain… She didn’t cry out, she didn’t scream… She didn’t know how long she spent in that room; it could have been a minute, an hour, a day, a year, for an eternity… She would never know, but when five men came to collect her she was beyond grateful… A week later man came into her cell, he had a tray of food, but she knew something was different about it, she didn’t know how she knew, she just did… Over the week she hadn’t screamed, she hadn’t cried, the only thing she had ever done was laugh… “Open your mouth,” said the man a hard edge to his voice, she refused to “Open it or I will shove this down your throat” she still refused, she knew the food didn’t contain poison, it contained a drug, but she didn’t know what. “Last chance, open your mouth” Taylor turned her head away from him, even though it hurt to do so… He used her hair to pull back her head, another man that she hadn’t noticed forced her mouth open while yet another shoved the food down her throat, he closed her mouth, and she was forced to swallow, they repeated this, till all the food was gone… An hour later she felt the effects start… At first she felt double the pain she would normally feel, as she tried to move…Kelayuras – pain enhancer She felt like her mind was clouding over…Trinatias – used commonly on slaves, to move them from one place to another also enhanced pain Taylor shook her head, and gasped in pain…then men came to deliver her to the torturer… She didn’t know how long since she had first arrived here, there had been three different torturer’s, but they had kept her on the drugs Kelayuras and Trinatias, but still she didn’t scream, or cry…it was a small victory, but a victory none the less. A man came into her cell, she looked at him “How long have I been here?” she said her voice horse from disuse. “Every month the lord gets a different torturer…you have been here three and a half months” he replied, he moved slightly and Taylor saw the tray of food, instead of opening her mouth, she turned away, like she always did, and like always, they stuffed it into her. Five men came into her cell, like always, at first she thought they were taking her to be tortured, but instead they led here up through a maze of corridors to the same room she had first been showed. The cold man was still at the desk writing, like before she was forced to her knees, like before he looked up and studied her. “Why don’t you scream?” he said his voice harsh, Taylor didn’t reply, didn’t move he nodded to one of the soldiers who punch her in the face, her head moved with the punch, lessening the pain. “Answer me!” said the man coldly “I never will scream you will never break me” whispered Taylor meeting his eyes “Take her back down” he said in reply going back to his work, Taylor just laughed as the men who held her lifted her up. Five men carried her to the torture-chamber the next day, but instead of hanging her off the chains in the middle of the chamber, they hung her off a wall at the back of the chamber, so she could see everything in the torture room. Taylor looked around trying to figure out, if it was a new method… But then they brought in Craig… The Grey-eyed man followed and walked up to Taylor, turned and watched as Craig, was hung up in the middle of the chamber… “I don’t care if he bleeds, I don’t care about permanent damage” Taylor looked down at the Grey-eyed man, how could one so handsome be so cruel? “No!” Taylor shouted struggling against the chains that bound her “Craig!” Craig looked at Taylor… “Never give in Taylor, never” he said simply, and got a punch in the face for his troubles. “Craig! Please don’t, please” she begged the Grey-eyed man “Taylor! You know better, never beg! Never give in!” Shouted Craig, but then the torturer started. Taylor didn’t cry, in a way she didn’t know how… By the end of it Craig had passed out at least a dozen times… By the end of it Taylor felt cold, so cold… By the end of it the Grey-eyed man was laughing… They did it everyday… After Craig was tortured and back in his cell, they tortured her… And the Grey-eyed man always watched both, man and girl tortured… Taylor’s world became pain… Anger… Hate… Pain… But she never felt fear… But one day, they didn’t torture Craig… That day she thought they were just healing him… But a week passed… Then a month… A new torturer… No sign Craig… The Grey-eyed man laughed at Taylor’s distress… “He is dead, girl, and if you had of submitted then he wouldn’t be, it’s your fault he is dead” Matthew looked up to meet his captain’s eyes; he had been called over and was unsure why… “Matthew,” said the captain clasping Matthew’s shoulder, “You are to guard a prisoner, understand?” “Sir, yes sir” replied Matthew immediately “Good, go down to the dungeon to receive further instructions” Matthew looked the captain in the eyes, (one eye had a scar running across it) those sharp blue eye’s held something in them, something that Matthew couldn’t place… “What am I guarding captain” Matthew asked silently “A girl” whispered the captain “she has been here for a year, Lord Crac has been trying to break her, all that time…she came with a man, the man died on the fifth month…it was like something inside the girl died with the man…she will amuse Lord Crac, once she is broken…but not till then, the girl is strong, yet I fear for her…” the captain sighed rubbing his eyes, with a wide eyed Matthew staring at him “Why?” Matthew whispered “I don’t know, but she has never screamed, or cried…Lord Crac has decided that when she does scream or cry, that she will be broken. Now go down there soldier, and good luck to you” the captain saluted Matthew then turned around and walked away. Matthew stood there for a second before walking down to the dungeons, when he got there, an old man with hard, cold green eyes looked him up and down, and the old man had grey hair and a body that still had some muscle left on it. “I suppose you are the new guard,” it wasn’t a question yet Matthew nodded anyway “Tis’ a tough job this one, even though you do little” said the old man, Matthew nodded again not able to trust his voice “I am Kilor, you are?” “Matthew, sir” replied Matthew “Good, now, your first job is to get the prisoner to eat, we normally have to force the food into her, but you wont have to do that, sometimes I wish she would just eat it, then again there are more drugs than food” the old man led Matthew to a cell, and stuffed a tray into his hands, there were two guards standing either side of the iron door one of them got some keys out of his pockets and hurriedly opened the door, Matthew went into the chamber and just before the door closed Kilor said “If you need us just knock on the door, ok lad?” “Yes sir” replied Matthew turning to see a woman hanging off the wall Taylor opened her eyes and looked at the new guard; he was well built like all the guards. He had deep brown eyes, and shoulder height brown hair.
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