"You fucking bastards!" I shouted as they started tearing Alma's shirt open.
I dropped to my knees, pressing myself low against the dusty floor, forcing my bound hands forward. I couldn't see—but the sounds of pain told me my power had hit.
"You little rat!" someone snarled.
A hand yanked my hair back—
a knee slammed into my face.
Blood burst from my nose.
"How dare you—!" Another удар under my jaw—and I was thrown back.
"Stop! Don't touch him! I'll do anything—just stop!" Alma cried, finally snapping out of it.
They stepped away from her.
Surrounded me.
At least she was safe.
For now.
Maybe if they hit me hard enough—
I'd black out.
"Still not giving up, Holivan?" their leader said, gripping my chin between his fingers and forcing my head up.
"Who sent you?" I spat through blood.
"I like that look," he laughed. "Covered in blood. Completely at my mercy—and still struggling."
He leaned closer.
Grinning.
"It's turning me on."
"Don't!" Alma screamed—real fear in her voice now.
Something twisted in my chest.
"What do you want?" I spat. "You want to cripple me? Kill me? Then just get it over with."
"No," he said thoughtfully. "I think I'll do something else."
"Pick him up."
Hands grabbed me from behind, hauling me upright.
"Even like this… you're still pretty," he said, looking me over. "I was told to break you. Not how. So I'll do it in a way I enjoy."
The knife clicked open.
Cold steel traced down my chest, slicing through fabric, leaving a thin line of blood across my skin.
"Please… stop…" Alma whispered.
He glanced at her.
"Your knight saved you," he said lightly. "Now he pays for it."
Then he turned back to me.
"You're going to take all of us, Holivan."
"Hold him."
They forced me down.
A kick to the back of my knees—
my legs gave out.
My head slammed against the floor.
"Get off me! You sick—!" I choked as hands grabbed at me.
"Even better like this," the leader murmured into my ear.
His hand slid down—
under my belt.
And then—
it hit me.
Cold.
Sharp.
Real.
"No—get off me!" I shouted, panic crashing in all at once as I understood exactly what they were about to do.
I thrashed, fighting hard enough to feel the restraints tear into my skin.
"Hold him still," the leader snapped раздраженно. "I can't even get his damn belt open."
They yanked me up—
a knee drove into my stomach—
air tore out of my lungs.
I folded.
They dragged me back down to my knees, fists tangled in my hair.
I struggled.
Useless.
Completely useless.
Metal bit into my wrists and ankles, skin splitting, turning slick with blood.
"Good," he said.
My belt was ripped free.
Then my pants—
my underwear—
yanked down.
Cold air hit my exposed skin.
"Stop! Don't you dare touch me!" I rasped, my voice breaking. "Don't—!"
They didn't listen.
My legs were forced apart.
My head shoved down against the floor.
Pinned.
Helpless.
"Please, don't do this! I'll do anything—just leave him alone!" Alma cried.
Their laughter cut through her voice.
"Look at him," someone said behind me. "Didn't think he'd be this tight… this tempting."
"Now I get why Silius keeps him close."
"Please…" My voice cracked.
I hated it.
Hated the fear in it.
Hated how weak I sounded.
"Kill me instead."
"Relax, Holivan," the leader said calmly. "It's not like this is your first time."
I screamed—
louder than I ever had before—
when I felt him press against me.
Hot.
Wrong.
Then force.
Sharp—
blinding—
tearing through me.
I tried to fight—
to get away—
but I couldn't move.
"Alma—don't look!" I gasped, forcing my head up just enough to meet her eyes. "Please—don't look—"
She was crying.
Barely holding herself up.
But when our eyes met—
she mouthed my name.
And closed hers.
My head was slammed back down.
Pain tore through me again—
and again—
and again.
Something inside me broke.
Tears streamed down my face.
I lay there—
helpless—
humiliated—
while behind me he moved, breathing heavier, hands roaming over my body like I wasn't even human.
My voice gave out.
Warm blood ran down my legs—
mixed with something else.
Filthy.
Sticky.
When he finally pulled away, my body collapsed flat against the dirt.
"So I was your first," the leader said, almost satisfied, brushing a tear from my cheek. "Don't worry. My men will train you."
"No… please… stop…" I rasped.
They didn't.
Someone else grabbed me from behind.
I tried to fight again—
but every movement earned another удар.
He crouched in front of me, smiling like this was nothing, brushing dirty hair from my face.
"Still struggling?" he said softly. "Give up, Holivan. No one's coming."
He stood.
All I could see were his boots.
Another thrust—
another scream I couldn't hold back.
I lost count.
Lost track of time.
All I could hear—
their voices.
Filthy.
Laughing.
All I could feel—
their hands.
Every movement tearing me apart.
And then—
I understood.
That empty look in Alma's eyes earlier.
I stopped fighting.
Closed my eyes.
Let it happen.
"—What the hell is going on here?!"
A voice.
Familiar.
The door slammed open.
For a second—
I almost hoped it wasn't real.
Because I didn't want him to see me like this.