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The prisoners watched with a mix of anticipation and horror. Nobody spoke a word while Colin paced back and forth. He got a sick sense of satisfaction out of it. Teasing his vengeance. He would draw this out as long as possible. It was like he could smell the terror in the air.
The man thrived on the fear in their eyes.
Colin cracked the whip in the air and the sound made several people jump, including Eli. He looked terrified and Nik felt a pang of guilt.
It’s not my fault he’s in this position. I tried to get him to stop. I did everything I could. I did everything I could…
It was going to get much, much worse. If only Colin would get it over with.
He cracked the whip in the air once more with a sinister grin. It was sickening to watch. He got off on terrifying people.
The next crack of the whip landed in the middle of Eli’s back. He hissed and his face contorted in pain. His hands strained against the rope binding him to the wall. His whole body thrashed like a trapped animal before he stilled and readied himself for the next blow.
Nik had trouble swallowing the lump in his throat. He and the other guards watched with stony faces. It would be a sign of weakness to turn away or show any sign of disgust or sympathy. Instead, he snuck glances at Ali, hoping she would look away. Hoping these images wouldn’t haunt her for the foreseeable future. It made him nauseous to see her fidgeting with shaky hands and wide eyes. She shouldn’t be watching this. He couldn’t even comfort her the way he wanted to.
Another crack of the whip. And another. And another.
This went on for several minutes, and each crack elicited more nauseated looks and groans from the crowd. It was hard to watch. Eli’s back turned from stripes of pink, irritated flesh to dark red gashes cut deep into his skin. His tattoos were unrecognizable, and blood started to trickle down his mangled back.
Colin turned around to the crowd with a look of irritation. “Why are you all so quiet? This is prime time entertainment here. Ungrateful bastards. Can I get some applause or something? Or do I need to beat every one of you?” He pointed a finger at the crowd, pausing on several prisoners who flinched and retreated from his attention.
The other guards threw quick glances at one another and slowly brought their hands together in approval. Two or three of the prisoners joined in, terrified they would be next.
Nik sighed and clapped apathetically. He braved a glance in Ali’s direction and the anguish hit him like a rock. Watching Eli take a beating was painful, but he knew the hurt he caused by giving his approval, even if it was just for show. She looked more broken than ever. Her cheeks were pink from the cold and her eyes bloodshot from crying. He wanted nothing more than to hold her. To let her cry on his shoulder.
He held her gaze, trying to speak without words.
You know I don’t mean this. Please, don’t look at me like that. I’m so sorry. I’m on your side, please.
He turned away from her judgmental glare, afraid that he might throw up if he watched her any longer.
“How about you, love?” Colin pointed to Ali, and Nik’s entire body turned to ice. “Ah, I remember you, sweetheart. You look so pretty when you cry.” He ran a thumb across Ali’s cheek and Nik flinched, stepping closer to them. He wouldn’t let Colin hurt her.
But Ali was more than capable of taking care of herself. She stepped out of Colin’s grasp and gave him a cold glare.
“Aw, don’t be that way, love. Is this your friend? Your lover? Should I slice him open like I did your mother?”
He might as well have sliced Nik open. Nik hadn’t asked about Ali’s family. He knew she didn’t have one. Not anymore. He hadn’t wanted to think about why her family didn’t exist. To acknowledge that Rysburg had taken that from her. Colin had taken that from her.
Nik missed whatever Colin said next, but he seemed to grow bored with her and returned to his punching bag.
“Turn him around.”
The guards untied Eli’s arms and turned him to face the crowd.
Colin shook out his arms and dropped the whip to the ground. Then he landed a punch to Eli’s face followed by a second and a third. Eli’s skin was blue and purple, his eyes already swelling. The general punched him again and again and then threw a few more into his stomach for good measure. In his grand finale, he grabbed Eli behind the head and yanked it down into his knee. There was a sickening sound of bone crunching, and Eli fell to the ground.
Several people gasped. Several others cried. Ali ran forward and Nik moved instinctively, ready to stop her or protect her, but it wasn’t necessary. Colin was already walking away. Without his direction, the guards made no move to stop her.
Nik knelt to assist her. “Here, let me help him up.”
“Get away! I think you’ve done enough,” she snapped and pushed him square in the chest.
“Ali,” he protested.
“I don’t want your help!” She cradled Eli’s head in her lap and cried over him. Blood streamed from his broken nose.
A few of the other prisoners stepped forward to help her, easing between Nik and Ali. He felt a heavy weight on his chest.
