Karma feels himself falling down into endless darkness. He sees nothing, just screams and cries, fire and BLOOD.
Maybe it's a dream, but it's the dream that has been haunting him for 7 years. A dream where he sees wailing children tied in steel chains being dragged, a heart-wrenching cry comes out of their mouths as a whip knitted with iron nails hits and coils over their bodies like a snake. Tearing their soft and untainted skin, breaking their yet-to-harden bones like some dried twigs.
That same hunter now turned to him and Snapped–
He jolted awake, startled by the nightmare that had just shaken him from sleep.
"Haargh—ashhh!!" he groaned. Huff—Huff
He was still in the zone, his sight was blurry, and his body was stiff and numb.
(Oh! Yeah, I fell down from the ceiling. Did I break all my bones, or might my skull have cracked open? My chest feels heavy… I can't breathe.) He choked as he tried to breathe hard.
Tap- Tap- Tap He heard some footsteps heading towards him. Maybe someone is coming to help him, he thought.
The feet stopped just in front of him, his vision cleared a bit, he saw a woman's thin but sturdy bare legs in short heels, which tapped the ground twice.
"Um... I can't breathe—" he tried to ask for help in a wailing broken voice. But his breath cracked again.
The legs were standing straight in front of him; a foot was dragged behind and lifted, and the ankle was bent to stretch it to the extent. Zapakkk.
"Aack!!" (What happened?! With extreme force, something just hit his head. What was that?!)
Karma was suddenly pulled out of the numbness, as a strong blow on his face made his nose bleed out.
(Did she just kick me? On the face? Why?) He raised his head clenching his teeth, he wanted to see the face of the idiot woman who broke his nose, he pushed himself to stand and shout at her,
But couldn't. He was tied by some laces of a bathing robe to a strong, sturdy pole; his chest was being tightly tied down by these same restraints.
His eyes widened in confusion; he could not understand what was happening to him.
"Hmm, you look like you're breathing fine to me?" he heard a feminine voice directly over his head, she was leaning just over his head, her voice was sharp and tight; she was definitely upset. "You look fine to me if you are still alive, I should've tied it at your throat."
"Eh?" Karma was confused. Hot blood was gushing out of his nose. His chest was puffing out to get some air. Meanwhile his mind was trying to understand the situation he found himself in.
Maybe he should apologize, he does not know the mistake but maybe there is a reason, so it's better to just rub off pride than get into some random bizarre situation. "Hah- hah… hey Miss, I don't know what I did, but I am sorry"
Another blow followed, even harder than before, this time it busted his left eye, sending him almost into darkness… Her loose red hair floated wide in air, her soft looking leg now was made of cobblestone same as the floor,
She grabbed his hair and a fury of punches was directed at his face, she was without any worry peeling off his face, cracking his nose. Releasing all pent up frustration.
"Hey, talk again and I am gonna rip off your jaw."
It was Mona, not the usual happy-go airheaded, kind Mona, but a mad, pissed off Mona, Her face muscles tightened in disgust, and her eyes were like looking at cattle waiting to be slaughtered.
"You bloody barbarian, you dare tarnish the body of princess, you slave dare to hold their master, and attempt to hurt her " with every word she released a punch, her arms were cobblestone she absorbed just now.
"Demonic flame blood, you dare stain the pure ice,, Die,,,,, begone, you filthy animal… begone "
Blood was flying like fountain water, trailing down the floor,
"Mona!!" Behind her in darkness on a massage bed sits Neena, on her lap unconscious Mia rests. She was breathing heavily as Neena pets her head and tries to comfort her. "Calm down Mona, you are disturbing the princess's sleep."
Mona paused her fists while she gritted her teeth. She turned to look at Mia's face. "Haa…" Neena let out a sigh, "Get him to talk, already and finish it." she whispered to Mona in a serious tone.
Mona grabbed the bloody mess she made herself, by the neck, tearing off all the bondage he was in, and again digging him into the pillar. Karma was barely breathing, barely alive, his head was spinning. His ears were buzzing and ringing like a million bells. His body was on fire, and his lungs might have already been punctured.
Mona sat down, grabbing his throat, "Hey bastard!! You know right, that you are going to die here, but let's make it easier and less painful." she tightened her grip on his throat, as he flicked like a fish.
"Tell me!! Who sent you to attack the lady, and how many are with you, and where are your friends, what is the plan?" she again lifted him and pounded him down digging even deeper into the pillar.
"I—dd–t " "Huh?!" Karma whispered something coughing out the blood, but it was not audible enough. Mona brought him to her ear, "What is it?!"
Karma's jaw shook as he gulped down the whole blood, his body creaked and screamed in pain, as he even moved a single muscle. He whispered faintly."Who"
"Who are you, sicko bitch?!!" And swiftly headbutted her, but he was broken, his struggle was weak. This attempt didn't even stumble Mona, only left a blood stain on her face. But it was enough to piss her off. Mona lifted him in air, and tightened her grip, almost ready to break his neck. Little by little, she tightened, giving him as much pain. Karma tried to scratch her arm, but only his nails broke off on her stone hardened sleek arms.
It is over. He will die today. If just it was still night, he could have survived, but the sun was already up. Night had already ended, but other darkness had started covering his eyes,
"Stop!! There" a soldier ordered Mona. "Young lady!! Put him down." the soldier continued
Mona stared at the law enforcement badges on the soldiers' jackets. Though she had all the rights to execute the assassin who attempted at a royal blood, but this is Ashram.
A free city, where no social hierarchy is allowed and each and everyone whether royal or peasant should follow same and equal rules. She lost her chance to finish him off.
"Young lady, put him down we will take over him. Murder is a heinous act and will not be justified in any situation, we will do the justice. So stand down."
Neena knew that it was out of their hands now and she cannot handle the aftermath too. She called out to Mona.
Mona though unwilling threw him to the ground.
Karma lies unmoved, an officer checked his pulse, though faint but he is still there. Soldiers rushed and threw him on a stretcher, and rushed towards the medics.
A remaining soldier gathered everyone's reports, while handling the situation and calming down the crowd.
Hours passed…
Mia was rushed to her dorm in an unconscious condition, experienced and famous healers were dragged to her checkup. Meanwhile in a public facility three doctors tried their best for hours to patch up the God knows how living boy, his body had lost a lot of blood, and his skull and chest had severe fractures. His eyes were bleeding and his arm was almost torn.
The sun set twice, another day rose.
Karma was alive, but he had some serious cases of attempt to assassination and several other cases. He was sentenced and shifted to a cell. But he had yet to open his eyes. His wounds were yet green. But he was stuck in some past nightmares.
Life is a challenge for those who will to live.
The more you will, the more you suffer.
The more you desire from it.
The more difficult it gets.
–Christopher Millington Eve.