Amissis Imperium

Catenatus Torture

English Translation: Shackled Torture

Monday Evening -- August 21st, 6:30 pm

I stared at the dinner table that was littered with multiple items of food --

There were meat and mashed potatoes inside of fancy platters and bowls. I might have been a little hungry since I didn't have any food in my system since I puked earlier...but I didn't know if I was hungry enough to take food from the people that took me.

Not to mention...they didn't trust me to run away even with my mother's life on the line. 

There was a thick and heavy chain connecting my leg to the table. It was secured around my ankle, which caused small 'tinking' sounds whenever I would try and move my foot. The chain would make loud noises as it made contact with the chair, and also when the chains hit against each other. 

Each time that I would hear it...it only continued to remind me of where I was and the unfortunate situation that I had found myself in.

My seat was placed directly next to Evan's, and across from us sat Evan's parents. Evan's hand was resting on my thigh tightly and I had both of my hands on the table – it was one of his first demands after locking my ankle into place.

"How was it?" Mr. Hale asked, staring down at the two of us. "How was the first day of your senior year?" 

I was silent as I stared intently on the untouched food on the plate in front of me --

I shouldn't be here.

This shouldn't be happening to me...!

At seeing that he wasn't going to get a response from me, Mr. Hale turned his full attention to his son. I noticed this movement out of the corner of my eye. I still didn't raise my head, my eyes glaring a hole into the plate --

I wish that I could set it on fire.

I wish I could get out of here-!

"Evan?" Mr. Hale questioned, interrupting my thoughts. I blinked my eyes slowly to calm myself down. "Did you learn anything?"

Even let out a small chuckle of amusement before he answered.

"I learned that my Natalie is more courageous than I thought..." Evan muttered next to me. He ate a bite of his mashed potatoes and I could feel him staring at my face, even without having to turn to look at him. 

It was uncomfortable --

I didn't like that the attention was back on me. 

It made it hard to make myself believe that this was all a big nightmare.

.

.

I was still hoping that I would wake up.

"She had the audacity to run -- twice," Evan continued as he tightened his grip on my thigh, causing me to let out a small, barely noticeable flinch. 

I had nowhere to run to escape this aggression of his, and I was terrified of what he'd do if I removed his hand -- how he would react to any resistance. 

"But..." His voice became lower. There was a dark promise in his tone that I withheld the urge to shiver at. I was dreading the next words that came out of his mouth: "I doubt that she'll be doing any more of that."

Mrs. Hale nodded with a smile on her face. 

"That's right," Mrs. Hale agreed. "We have her mother's life in our hands!" She waved her fork in the air dramatically.