#lliham

“I suggest you don’t try to disobey me again.”

“Mm- m sorry-”

Lliham grunted and let out a gasp of air as a boot kicked him in the side.

“You’re sorry who?-”

Lliham sighed out a sob. “I’m- m sorry- Master.”

The leader nodded. 

The man knelt down next to the shaking figure on the floor and placed a hand on the back of Lliham’s head.

“Now- you’re hungry, aren’t you? Thirsty too probably, is that right?”

Lliham nodded his head. “Y-yes m’Lord.” he spat out the title like it was blood on the tip of his tongue.

The young man’s eyes grew wide as a plate of food and a jug of water appeared on the ground in front of him. There was- there was bread. And cheese, and some slices of an apple and a couple pieces of meat with potatoes- it- it made his stomach rumble and his mouth water. He reached a shaky hand out for it but was grabbed by the back of his shirt and thrown up against the cold stone wall.

He grunted at the impact and looked back to the food longingly.

“You don’t get the food- until you’ve earned it. Now beg.”

The command hit his head once more and he couldn’t control the words that came out of his mouth. He wasn’t sure if it was the hunger- or whatever it is this man had done to his mind.

“Please- please master- I would like the food sir- please- please, give me the food-” There was an ache of desperation to his voice as he begged for the food. 

Part of him wished he hadn’t begged- and the other part was grateful at the idea of warm food inside of his belly.

The man nodded. “Very good. Now- do it of your own free will.”

Lliham pressed his back up against the wall, knees pulled closed to his chest. He gasped and clenched his hands in fists as an aching weight was released from his brain. The spell seemed to seep out of his ears- leaving traces of blood. It was as if something had had a tight grip- a harsh squeeze- on the inside of his mind and all of a sudden it was released. 

He was in control again.

“What the heck was that!” He shouted. “Who gave you the right to invade my mind like that you freaking bastard?!”

His fire was back- but so was the pain. 

The leader conjured a staff Lliham didn’t know he had, and the harsh object connected with Lliham’s side. It cracked into his ribs and he choked out a gasp.

“Watch your words with me-” The end of the staff moved until it was jabbing Lliham in the face- it pushed against his lips- forcing its way inside of his mouth and behind his teeth. He choked back a gag as he tasted the dirt on the end and clenched his teeth around the hard wood. 

“-Or I will be forced to cut your tongue out of your mouth.”

Lliham let out a strangled yelp of fright- cut off by the harsh staff stabbing at the back of his throat. 

The staff tilted upwards, forcing his head to follow and he stared into the man he was supposed to call ‘Master’. 

“Now beg for your supper.”

Lliham spat out onto the ground beside him as the man removed the staff from his mouth. His jaw and teeth ached and he leaned further back into the wall, closing his eyes.

He didn’t have to beg- so he wasn’t going too. He’d stay silent.

He cracked his eyes open to see the plate in front of him- and the long stick swinging down once again.

It met with the side of his legs and he gasped out- pulling them tighter into himself. Tears welled in his eyes from the pain that the blow had brought- but he refused to beg.

“If you don’t beg- you don’t eat.”

Lliham breathed deeply.

Was he really that hungry? 

His belly let out a harsh growl- sending jabbing pains throughout his stomach. And his throat ached as he choked back a sob- it was so dry. If he didn’t get any food- he at least had to have water.

“Y-you- you can’t let me starve-”

The man chuckled. He jabbed the end of the staff into Lliham’s stomach. The boy choked out a grunt as it pushed into his torso, cutting off air. 

“Oh- I have ways of keeping you alive.”

Lliham did not want to know what they were. 

He choked back sobs and tears as he realized just how terrified he was- as he realized just how much power this man had.

“Please- I- I just want some food.”

The staff jabbed into his stomach further and he yelped.

“Good- but address me properly and do it better this time.”

A sob tore out of the young rogue’s throat and he feebly gripped at the staff as if to try to relieve some pressure it was putting on his stomach. 

“Pl-please- sir. Please- master. Can I have some food- please?”

His large eyes looked up to the man and Lliham heaved out a sigh of relief as the staff left it’s obtrusive spot on his stomach.

“Much better.” The man stated. “Now- on your knees- come on.”

Lliham bit back the fire burning inside him that was desperate to rebel- but he obeyed. He was still desperate for food just as much.

He got on his knees and the man wrenched his arms behind his back. Lliham whimpered in confusion as the chains that were once connected to the wall now wrapped around his wrists- keeping his arms tightly behind his back.

The man grabbed the jug of water and held it up to the boy. Lliham looked at it but parted his lips as it was held up to his mouth. He thankfully let the man give him some water- and was relieved at the soothing it brought to his aching throat. He drank half the mug before it was pulled away from him.

“Now what do you say?”

The fire burned brighter inside of Lliham and he couldn’t control his tongue.

“You’re sick! At least give me the decency to-”

He was cut off by a harsh slap to the face and a disapproving look. A look that held the staff threateningly- like it was a knife instead- ready to be faithful to that promise earlier about his tongue-

The rest of the water in the jug was dumped over his head. It soaked into his shirt and trailed down his back. He shivered at the way it chilled his bones.

“What do you say?” The men pressed.

“Th-thank you.”

Lliham put his head down on his chest but flinched as the staff was raised in the air before he realized his mistake.

“Thank you- master! Thank you master-” He sobbed- expecting the pain but it gratefully didn’t come.

“It looks like you’re learning.” The leader slid the plate of food closer until it was underneath Lliham’s nose. “We’ll make you useful yet.”

Lliham choked back a sob and bit back a yelp as the end of the staff met the back of his head. He was forced forward as the staff pushed his head towards the ground until it was just inches above the plate. He could smell the meat and the salt from the potatoes- the warmth of the bread- the sweetness of the apple.

He desperately wished he had his hands to eat it with.

The young rogue choked back a grunt of frustration as his face was brutally shoved into the plate of food- and he fell forward without the use of his hands to steady himself.