It's been a full day since the torture. The drips remained echoing in my head as I hung helplessly in my chains.

I feel broken. I feel useless for giving in.

I stared at the dirt, sifting it between my toes. My stomach growled and grumbled that it was hungry. I haven't eaten anything for three days.

I wish I ate more of that tasteless glob they called dinner that day...

I took the food for granted. I thought, "Eating less today won't hurt. I'll just eat seconds tomorrow."

It's that thinking that got me to this point; the point of starving. I glanced over at Shelby, seeing her sickly figure made me mentally kick myself for cursing my last meal, a meal she never got.

I might not look broken on the outside, but I feel it. I fear he's going to come back. I fear he'll hook me back to the folding table that's only inches from me and drop more water on me. I fear that a rain drop might fall through the grate and set off a panic attack. I fear him.

I feel defeated.

I let this monster get what he wanted, all because of water. Ironically enough, life's most essential need drove me insane and broke me down.

Familiar and distinguished thuds sounded from down the dirt corridor, followed by the screech of the metal hatch. Henry appeared soon after, carrying a rag and a small, leather pouch. He picked up a stool and set it in front of Shelby.

Shelby retracted, fear coursing through her veins, tears in her eyes. "Please, no more..." She begged.

"It's your day today, though." He cracked a grin and unfolded the pouch. He pulled out the shiniest of tools with a small, precise blade; a scalpel. "Stay still now. This requires a steady hand and a still subject. The slightest wrong move could be hazardous." He laughed, readying the blade against the fleshy back part of her arm.

He pulled the blade lightly across her skin, causing her scream in pain. I closed my eyes tight and looked away, I didn't want to see or hear this. As he went for another cut, she again pleaded as she gasped in between breaths.

"Leave her alone!" I yelled. This made Henry's hand stop right above her skin and he turned in his seat to look at me.

"Leave her alone? Alright." He stood up and walked over to me. "I need to practice on at least one of you today. Hey Shelby," he hollered over his shoulder, "Alice has delightfully taken your place today. Consider yourself lucky to have such an amazing friend." He retuned his gaze to me, grinning from ear to ear.

I backed up as far as I could, flattening my back against the wall. I shook my head as if that was going to stop him from advancing.

"Remember, don't move. I might knick a vein that way." He gave a low chuckle as he readied the blade for me and took ahold of my wrist in a tight grip. He placed the blade atop the skin on the back of my arm, grinning as he pulled the blade.

The small, sharp blade sliced my skin like a hit knife through butter. I screamed in pain, deafening my own ears. It felt as if someone took a red hot needle and prodded my skin with it. I felt the blood trickle down my arm, making the escape I couldn't take.

"One." Henry said with a grin.

"You're counting?!" I spat.

"I wouldn't want to lose count. You wouldn't want me to either." He gave a sly look.

He wasted no time dragging the blade a second time, right above the first incision. He pressed a little harder, making the blade sink deeper than the first. The pressure was light, but that made a big difference with the sharp blade. I felt the blood drip and began to get dizzy. The pain was too much, I shut it out with the rest of everything else. I passed out.

♦♦♦♦♦

I awoke later, the sun shining directly down the grate, warming me with its heavenly rays. My arm was on fire and when I inspected it, I saw why. Henry made three more cuts above the two I was awake for. Five equally long, different depth cuts. Each deeper than its predecessor. The blood had dried in the way it flowed out. The cuts on top leaked into the ones below, creating a miniature crimson waterfall.

As my eyes adjusted, I looked around the room. In front of me, I saw a sight for sore eyes; a drink. A medium sized glass sat in the dirt, holding a dark liquid. I glanced at Shelby and sure enough, hers was empty. This is when I noticed our chains were slacked. I didn't notice it when I checked my arm, but now I can bring my arms down in front of me instead of them being held up.

What if it's poisoned or something? Henry wouldn't do that though, he likes to watch his subjects cry in pain, not pass away. But just to make sure I'm not drinking oil or something...

I reached for the glass and smelled it first. The sweet concoction of water, sugar and artificial flavoring tingled my senses; black cherry kool-aid. I pressed my chapped lips to the glass and let it run to my mouth, tasting only a little bit for extra measures.

Drink slow, and save some. You'll never know when we'll get another drink...

The rush of flavor burst in my mouth, making me salivate. I let the drink rest in my mouth, tasting the flavor again and again. The feeling of this mix travelling over my dry throat was indescribable. I was more dehydrated than I realized, because soon after that first sip for a taste test, the glass was empty. Before I had the chance to stop, I was tipping the glass up and my head back to get the very last drop to race down the glass and into my mouth. I set the glass down and beat myself up for not drinking it sparingly.

And there goes saving any of it... But it was so good and refreshing...

"Why did you do that?" Shelby's voice startled me.

"Do what?" I asked. I might have had a clue if my brain wasn't clouded by the experience of kool-aid. It was like I had it for the first time.

"Take my place. You didn't have to do that." Shelby casted her eyes to the ground, embarrassed and sad.

"That's what friends do for each other, Shelbs." I gave a soft smile, whether or not she could see it was another story.

"Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that." A tear slid down from the corner of her eye.

I didn't know what else to say. I've never had a true friend before, let alone taken someone's place for torture. The rays of the sun were blocked out suddenly, when I looked up, the rays shone around the silhouette of a head.

"Psst." The voice called out.

"Who's there?" I asked, turning my body different ways to try and get a better view. No luck, the face was shadowed out.

"It's me, Timothy. The boy you met on your first day." Timothy tried his best to give the best description. It worked, I remembered him.

"Ah, television boy. The one with a worried look on his face all the time." I winced at my own words, they sounded harsh.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't tell you sooner about this place, I tried... Anyway, how you holding up?" He obviously hasn't been down here, otherwise he wouldn't have asked such a question.

"Mighty fine, it's like a party." I shook the chains, rattling my sarcasm across.

"You're lying aren't you?" He asked.

Of course I'm lying. This place is horrible! I'm being held captive in a dungeon-like place, being tortured with water and sharp knives!

"Why are you here Timmy?" I asked. I settled my thoughts and took a more polite route.

"Timothy." He corrected, "and I brought you something. It's not much, but here." He slipped his hand through the grate and dangled something. He let go and it fell to the floor.

I picked it up and almost cried. Almost, because it's a silly thing to cry over. In my hand, was a single piece of toast. It was golden brown and it smelled fresh. I dusted the dirt off from the side and almost downed it whole.

"Where's Shelby's?" I asked, not taking my eyes off this wonderful piece of toasted bread.

"Sorry, I could only manage to bring one." He whimpered.

I saw Shelby's eyes fixed onto it as well. Her eyes wide and if her mouth wasn't shut, she'd probably be drooling. Her eyes were glued to the toast like a hungry lion gazes upon a gazelle. I didn't even hesitate.

"Here, Shelbs." I tossed the toast to her.

It bounced and flipped, landing perfectly at her feet. She picked it up and wiped the dirt off.

"Are you sure?" She asked, switching looks between me and the toast she held like a treasure in her hands.

My stomach growled a protest. "Yeah, I'm sure. You need to keep your strength up."

I wanted that toast so bad, but I remembered she has been here longer than I have. She's been without food longer than me. While I sat at a table in my pretty dress, filling my belly with food, she sat down here all chained up eating nothing, but dust and dirt in the air. Even though my body wanted that single piece of bread, Shelby's needed it.

I looked back up to Timothy, who was searching around above ground. I didn't have to ask who or what he was looking for, because I already knew. Henry could be anywhere, and Timothy was risking his freedom for us.

"Why did you do this? You could've been caught." I asked.

"I almost was." He said, still searching.

That isn't something to say so casually, Timmy!

"And as for why? I heard what you did for Shelby. I... I heard it. I heard it all, but I couldn't do anything. Then you stepped up and helped her. You saved her, like a hero in the movies!" He was looking down at me now.

It's not like I asked to be tortured in her place, I just wanted him to stop...

"Timmy..." I started.

"Timothy." He corrected.

I sighed, "Timothy. I'm no hero."

"You are to me and Shelby." He said sternly.

I had nothing to add to that, so I changed the subject. "So why the bread?"

"Because it's all I could sneak out, and because I wanted to help out too." He said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I'll get you more soon, I promise." He said, starting to sound cautious again.

"Don't rush it. And most importantly, don't get caught." I smiled. I felt happy having someone on the outside.

"I won't. Talk to you later. Hang in there!" And with that, he was gone.

If only he knew how much of a pun "hang in there" was right now... I hope he never has to find that out...

An itch crept its way to the back of my head. Since my hands were free to move that far now, I took advantage of it and itched. My hair felt so greasy and matted against my finger tips. As I ceased the itch, I ran across something hard in my hair. I smiled and traced the bobby pin. Newfound excitement and anticipation pumped through my body. Hope had slipped away, but was now resurfacing in even brighter colors.

All it took to spark hope back alive was one simple gift of bread. Thank you, Timothy.

"Hey, Shelbs. Remember when I promised you we'd get out of here?" I ask.

"Yeah?" She said, licking her fingers to get the final crumbs of toast.

"I plan to keep that promise."

_______________________________________

*Author's Note!*
This was, by far, my favorite chapter to type up yet! I feel it's powerful and inspirational. (Has toast ever been described this way before? 😂)
Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story so far. The next chapter is about to be lit!
If you liked this chapter, could you be so kind to hit that Star and comment on your favorite parts, it'd be much appreciated!

And as Always,
Happy Reading!

~ZeB