CHAPTER ELEVEN: THROES OF TORTURE

“……..ing through the northwest lane post. I believe we have been granted authorization for unchecked passa….”

“…..straight for the North wing….”

Drowned ears struggled to catch those conversations that seemed to hold over a time-lapse; one accompanied by what he could only identify with the sound of an engine and dim white light overhead, and the other through bustling movement.

“Sun-blessed this late noon to you, Third Pillar.”

“Where is she?”

“Being attended to by the doctors. They’ve been on her for about five minutes now.”

“Diagnosis?”

“I checked seconds ago; she’s exhausted and requires recuperation.”

“Do you have the reports?”

“It will take a while.”

There was a lengthy silence that left the atmosphere in brisk tension.

“The finalist?”

“Both the dead and injured are receiving due care.”

Etanai's eyelids have never felt as heavy as they currently do. Though the muddled voices traveled back and forth with calmness, it didn't stop his racing heart from wondering what was going on. An eye scrunched open with enough will to catch the bright light flooding in, forcing him to shut it back up. He tried again a few seconds later to find the surroundings in a blur, and he was quite certain he was getting a ground-level view. The softest touch of wool on the side of his face made him realize he was currently lying on the floor wherever he was. The intense grip wrapped from his shoulders to his legs made clear he was bound. He grunted as he attempted to shake himself self and the footsteps that followed indicated he had drawn his abductors' attentions.

“So this is the cause of all the unfolded chaos. Are you sure he was never associated with the temple?”

“None of the paid or serving profiles matched, and rough inspections insist he must be a civie.”

“I believe your men are on it?”

“Rest assured, Third Pillar. We should have his identity by the end of today.”

Etanai continued to struggle against the chain that seemed to emit golden light as it upheld its restraint. He turned on his back to catch about five blurred figures looking down at him. An attempt to ask who they were resulted in slurred groans that were immediately followed by a desperate retching of a substance that felt thick and slimy. He felt bloated and an intense wave of headache had him hunched as he whimpered. He couldn't help himself as he managed to rise onto his knees to give his vomit as smooth of an outlet as possible. The voices overhead became distant echoes as images flooded his brain with another intense wave of headache.

The first Zeal-leacher that dealt him his first experience had ended up with a torn-out tongue. He recalled the horrifying scene of his family he’d witnessed and his heart ached with fear, yet he helplessly consumed the illusion. Against the execrable mark that invaded him, he had managed to pull through the chaos; deep-scarred mind and all.

“Vi…..Aunt Vi.”

Etanai kept his eyes shut against the assault of scenes flooding his brain. He barely picked up on the voices now yelling what his occupied mind could only assume were instructions. His mouth felt numb against the incredibly bitter taste that burned well into his taste buds as he felt a couple of hands lifting him off the regorged pool. His back dropped onto a soft cushioned surface and each blurry peek from his heavy lids confirmed he was being moved about whatever space he was in, and away from those shadowed figures. Every inch of him felt heavy and the restraints over him didn't help in the slightest. He was afraid as he could feel himself slipping back into another minimally conscious state when another wave of memory hit him.

 The muscular man who had knocked him out within a few seconds of him coming back to his senses had a look of momentary uncertainty on his face before he acted. The scenes that followed then showed he was the aggressor. In his lunatic state, he had found them a threat as they kept running behind him. Then he recalled falling, yet again, into the world of anguish as another Zeal-leacher had successfully attached its tongue onto his face and he was forced to witness everything once again.

Zeke Ighala and his gang crew had decided to take action against a low-rate courier such as himself. The notorious gang leader's visage remained within the shadows as his men set fire to his family's home. The dread on the faces of the group of three bounded and kneeled before him consisting of a man, a woman, and a young girl. This was the only family he had, and he found himself unable to move or even shut his eyes against the bloody acts Ighala's gang rained upon them. He was heaving as he witnessed bullet holes and stab marks all over the non-vital parts of their body. He screamed as he watched in turmoil his family bleeding to death.

Then another wave of darkness filled him and he allowed himself to take in every ounce of hopelessness and pain with open arms. Then a sudden feeling of calmness and relief had washed over him. He watched the scene slowly fading into dust to the vast spread of space, leaving him astounded as he struggled to comprehend what was going on. Following that, he had found himself in a sphere formation of blue and white stars. He felt the chaos dancing within shoved to a closed pit by the warmth that embraced him.

“Welcome, my……Oh, You’re an interesting one.” A voice that soothed his soul fell into his ears. “Welcome, my child.”

                         ……………………………………………………………………………………..

 Etanai woke up this time to a quiet surrounding.  He groaned at the bright light forcing his eyes shut; it seemed they would be of no use today. Fortunately, his nose had become far more sensitive and he scrunched his face in displeasure at the pervasive stench of antiseptic. A quick yank at both hands gave him no surprise as he found himself strapped to what his cushioned back confirmed was a bed. The monotonous beeping sound from the electrocardiogram to his left was the last proof he got.

“Uhhh! Hospitals.”

“You’re not just in any hospital, boy.”

Etanai jerked his head to his right at the feminine that preceded clackings that moved ever closer to him. He caught the presence of several people “Who are you? Where am I?”

“Relax, young man. I do not entertain conversing with anxious people. Mathew, lower the lights.”

There was a trace of command in the voice that had Etanai complying. He took a minute to calm himself. “Who are you?”