The sun shone down upon the wooden stand in the center of the compound. On a platform stood two men, suspending a girl between them by the arms. Another man stood behind the girl with a whip in his hand.
“Twenty lashes for failure to obey orders,” the man with the whip drawled. He raised the whip high into the air. No remorse or hesitation could be seen in his eyes. A loud thud rang out as the nine-tailed whip connected with the girl. She trembled violently and blood splattered the ground, but she did not make a sound.
The young girl being whipped was Deidra, a slave. A deep tiredness could be seen in her eyes. This was not the first time she had been whipped. Her mind drifted, running away from the pain.
“Was that twenty?” the man holding the whip, Gregor, questioned. The men holding Deidra shrugged. They weren’t counting.
“Better do ten more then,” Gregor laughed. Deidra didn’t respond. She knew perfectly well that she had already received twenty lashes, but resistance would be futile.
After the whip descended for the thirtieth time, Deidra was dropped to the floor. None of the nearby slaves ran over to help her. They continued about their business as usual. The hestus mines were an unforgiving place. If they attempted to help her, it would be their turn to get lashed.
Gregor turned to the fallen Deidra
“You better come to my room tonight,” he said with lust-filled eyes, “Don’t try to run away again. Next time I’ll kill you.”
Deidra nodded. After seeing her consent, Gregor smiled and walked away. Once Gregor had disappeared from sight, Deidra used her remaining strength to stand on her feet. She slowly limped towards her room located in the lower levels of the mine.
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As she walked the sound of pickaxes striking stone filled her ears. The workers were mining hestus, a stone that was ground into powder and used in healing potions. Ironically, injured slaves would never get the potion used on them.
Her pupils dilated as she circled down the ramp that led to her home. In the center of the spiraling ramp was empty air that continued downwards for miles. The workers referred to the hole as The Pit. Waste and corpses were thrown into it, never to be seen again.
After walking for numerous minutes she entered the shack that was her home. The second her foot crossed the threshold a hate-filled voice yelled at her.
“Stupid girl,” a woman snarled, “Look at the mess you’ve gotten yourself into. If Gregor orders you to go to his room, you go to his room.”
“I’m only thirteen grandma,” a tired Deidra said in a quiet voice.
“Don’t call me that,” the woman said, releasing a vicious kick that sent an already injured Deidra to the ground.
“Yes Martha,” Deidra said weakly, crawling towards her bedding.
“Lazy girl,” Martha sneered, her hands on her hips, “You have two hours to rest. After that you’re back to work.”
“Yes Martha,” Deidra nodded her consent. Martha snorted before exiting the hut.
Deidra laid on her side, her entire body was wracked with pain. She didn’t feel it though. She had become numb to such torture long ago.
“Why am I alive?” Deidra wondered, “Why is the world so cruel?” Tears fell down her face.
“I wish it would just end already.” She hated this world. It was full of nothing but suffering. From the moment she was born she had known nothing but sorrow.
As she finished her sentence a chord struck her brain and she struggled to her feet. That’s right she thought to herself. She could end it anytime she wanted.
She exited her house and walked towards the railing that separated her from the abyss. It would be easy, she thought to herself. All she had to do was fall over. Hesitation flickered through her eyes. Did she really want to kill herself?
Just as the thought crossed her mind she felt a pair of hands push her back. As her body fell over the edge she turned and saw the cruel eyes of her grandmother staring back at her.
“The world really is cruel.” Deidra said sadly, just as her body plummeted into the darkness.