Chapter 5: The Dungeon's Whisperer
The morning sky was grey, no rain, no sunshine, just clouds. It was as if the day held only sorrow. Jamral left Lira sleeping , her small body curled under a thin blanket, and stepped outside into the bustling street. The city stank of sweat, smoke, desperation, poverty, and frustration. Jamram pouch was empty, his mother's burial had taken most of the silver. The rest was used on food and rent. If he didn't work soon, Lira would starve. Jamrak went from shop to shop, knocking on the doors, bowing his head.
Each time he was chased away, "a thief like you", one butler smirked. "I heard you were caught stealing from the princess, be gone!" Another man spat on his face. "Your mother raised a disgrace". Jamrak tightened his jaw and swallowed the insult. Though each word cut deeper than any blade, he had no choice, he would endure. At last, a tannery at the end of the market took him in. The master didn't ask questions, just pointed to the piles of hides. "Scrap them, boy, don't complain." Jamrak walked in silence, the stench of raw flesh burning his nose. The other workers, rough men with hard eyes, walked around him like wolves.
" He was the boy who refused the princess, eh?" One laughed, "thinking he was too good for her". Another added his laughter and mockery. Jamrak ignored them, his hand steady on the blade(he was saving money and using the rest to buy food and other items at home). But they didn't stop. They insulted him every day, mocking his mother, his sister, and their poverty. They shoved him, poured him dirty water, spoiled his work, as Master cursed him instead. It was bearable not until one said "No wonder your mother died. She couldn't live with the shame of you". Jamrak froze. His vision blurred. A howl growled. A low growl vibrated in his chest. A soft sound, not his own. The workers laughed." What is this, boy? Gonna cry? ".Something snapped. His muscles tightened. His blood surged. His nails lengthened. His teeth edged. His skin burned. Hatred poured through him like fire. A savage desire to tear, to reap, to kill. His heart was no longer his own. The man scoffed away. Their laughter increased as Jamrak's eyes turned gold blue. "Monster", one whispered. Jamrak stepped forward, angry, ready to go. His breath raised. He felt the wolf rising inside, eager for blood.
Then …
A hand grabbed his shoulder ," enough "a voice whispered .Jamrak blinked, the world steadied.The fire in him cooled though it still lingered ,anger still fueling him. He turned .The old man stood there ,the drunkard everyone mocked .His beard was wild ,his clothes ragged ,but his eyes burned with a strange light colour."You're awakened",the only man said quietly ,"do you know what you carry ,boy ? "Jamrak shook his head ,now trembling."What … What is happening to me ?The old man's lips parted but before he could say anything,a sharp whistle through the air .A spear thrown out from the shadow .It struck the old man ,pierced his chest ,his eyes widened .Blood poured down .He stumbled holding Jamrak's hand . "Remember… ",he whispered his voice breaking."The relic …the chaos…" And then he fell to the ground ,his lifeless body in the dirt .Jamrak gasped his hands shaking,his body frozen in horror .From the shadow ,armored guards emerged ,the kings henchmen .Their leader shouted "seize him" ,Jamrak struggled but heavy blow made him fall on his back ,his wrist now chained .He was dragged through the streets like a criminal,the crowd spitting and cursing as though he was already convicted.
The guards threw him into the dungeon.The cold dungeon ground was now his bed ,rusted chain ,stench of blood and rotten human flesh .They beat him ,whipped him,tore his skin with strokes of cane,boots crushed his ribs,iron burned his flesh.Each time Jamrak cried out but no answer came .The guards mentioned him his crime ,only laughed as they hit him again and again,yet something strange happened.His wounds healed faster than it should .A lash across his back left a big wound but it healed in minutes ,the skin would return to it original form like it never happened.A bruise on his cheeks gone within minutes,faded before the guards very eyes .Demon one guy spat, striking harder .Jamrak barely hung on to life ,he was no longer in control of his consciousness,his body healed but his spirit broken ,his person destroyed .He thought of lira alone ,he felt ashamed that he could not protect her ,he couldn't protect the people he loved .
In the corner very end of the dungeon where Jamrak was tortured ,sat a woman chained.Her dark hair was in tangles,her eyes black and eerie ,her lips sealed .The others called her a witch .She never spoke ,never shouted ,never moved ,just watched.Days passed by ,the torture ,the pain was becoming more unbearable.Each wound ,each endurance ,though the wounds healed , scars vanished.Jamrak spririt was broken .Then came the day he nearly died .The guards stormed in and stroke him harder than ever before .The blade cut his chest ,fire burned his arm .the chain crushed his bones .He screamed until no sound came .The ground turned bloody ,he collapsed barely breathing,his vision blurred.His breath heavy,he was struggling to remain alive ,to heal .
He thought this was the end .And then ;a voice ,coarse,but clear ."Do you know who you are ,Do you know where you come from ,Why the relic chose you?",Jamrak lifted his head weakly .The witch staring intently at him ,her eyes glowing faintly though dark .Her lips moved ,sharp and precise ,Jamrak stared too broken to respond.His mouth opened but no sound came ,his chest breathed heavily once more .Then he collapsed on to the cold black stone floor ,the world went black.