AN: For the purpose of maybe letting the reader delve into a small part of my mind, I''ll write this from the first person. The reason I write this interlude is to help you understand what goes on down in the depths of Abalon. I realized, after writing chapter five, that I didn''t really tell you how this differed from other torture dungeons...I erred greatly, but do not be worried.


    You will soon know more than you ever wanted about these dungeons.


    <hr />


    -Cabin in the woods, three miles out of the city Abalon-


    My name is Garrat Helberous, I am the son of a high lord and one of the best merchants this side of the mountains, though no one really knows what lies on the other side. I reside within the commercial city of Delmos, though I often travel as my work requires.


    Now, however, I''ve been taken prisoner. Some upstart-midget Emperor has recently taken to conquering every tiny village and grandma''s house around him, and generally making himself a target. I doubt he''ll last, as after five months of war it isn''t looking too good for him. Sadly, I''ll probably have to wait several months for this capital city...Abalon, was it? to be sieged and taken. During that time, my business will suffer...tis'' a sad time, when kings and their armies are like disasters, and without warning you can''t help but be caught up and swept away with it.


    I was traveling through the countryside, all peaceful-like, when some bastard captain seized my caravan and shackled me and my men up in a line and made me slog through the mud for three whole weeks. They could have at least let me change into my hiking boots!


    Either way, me and some five-hundred other prisoners have been tied up ad left outside this abandoned cabin Alena knows'' where, and now some freaks in masks are moving along the lines of us and stripping us of our clothes. As a weirdo approached, I put up my hands in a placatory gesture saying, "Listen, this is fine Leon fur, if you would just let me take it off-"


    The freak ignored me and cut my wonderful clothing that probably cost more than his family, even mud-stained as it was, into shreds. After which they distributed dirty loincloths. I guess it was better than nothing, but still...another thing to note was that they didn''t discriminate by gender, and some of the more...rough-around-the-edges men had become very interested in what we''re doing.


    Next to me, Nieo, my solid bodyguard, stood stoically as if none of this fazed him, though he didn''t have to tilt his head to look down on the roughians as he stood nearly seven feet tall. He had always been the silent, very strong type, and he was also very affordable! Well, at least when you get him drunk enough. A few coins spent on cheap liquor, and you can get people like that to sign pretty much anything!


    He was, for some reason, also loyal. Not just to the money, though he did enjoy it, but he had developed an attachment to me over the three years or so I''ve had him with me, defending my goods from bandits and the like. I''d call him a fool for being loyal to a man who''s one and only true love is gold...but he''s like a foot taller than me, and his biceps are wider than my chest.


    After dressing us up in filthy loincloths like some kind of unholy pagan parade, they led lines of shackled people into the cabin. At first I was disbelieving that they thought we could all fit in there, but as two-hundred, then three-hundred people disappeared into it, I decided they knew what they were doing.


    As I entered the cabin, I saw the neat, clean, and simple interior, and the gaping hole in the floor as a large panel almost encompassing the entire floor was lifted. I followed the people in front of me, and as we descended the light slowly left my view. Soon there was nothing to see but the dark, and I became increasingly aware of the heavy breathing made by other people, and the jingle of the shackles as we shuffled down the marble stars.


    After feeling initial shock, I had found that the stairs were actual, genuine marble! And good stone, too. It would fetch a good price on the market, especially if it was sold to those looking for a dark color to contrast with the rest of the building.


    After a lengthy time, we finally reached the bottom. I couldn''t help shivering, as the chill of the dirt seemed to sink into my bones. and made my teeth chatter. I stumbled, nearly falling, as the shackles were tugged hard and I was forced to step forward quickly to avoid falling over. So far I hadn''t fallen, but I''d seen others who couldn''t stand up anymore be taken away into the woods. We never saw any of them ever again.


    Even though I couldn''t see anything but a single lamp, I could still make out iron bars. I had to smile bitterly, as it looked like I''d be waiting in this dank, dark, almost certainly rat-infested shit hole for the next several months of my life. I only hoped Niel didn''t become attracted to me, as I doubt I''d be able to stop him. Any other people would of course be clobbered, by the aforementioned fool.


    As we passed into the door, a masked freak marked something on a paper, and made a little mark on each of our cheeks. Like marking cattle, I see that these savages with no refinement have no humanity. I offered up a prayer to Alena, may she bless me, my friends, and my enemies, though hopefully not as much as me.


    We had our shackles taken off, and some idiot tried to jump the freak. The freak, masked as he was, made no expression but grabbed the idiot by the throat, twisted his body off balance, then snapped his neck with frightening efficiency, as if he''d done it many times before. As the freak left, he tossed the body back into the cell, and said, "You''ll thank me later. Or, well, I guess you won''t." then he turned and walked away, taking the lamp with him.


    I sighed, found a good corner, and sat down with my back to the outside. Even in this dark, Niel seemed to know where I was, and stood over me. I assumed he was in his classic bodyguard pose, back razor-straight and arms like steel poles folded over his brick-wall chest. Truly, an intimidating sight, and one that let me raise my prices many, many times. Hell, I hope we get out of here before too long, or I might develop an attraction to the man myself.


    Nevertheless, several hours passed like that. A few roughians attempted to gang up on Niel, and were let off with their lives. I patted his leg, as he couldn''t see my expression, and complemented him. I always try to space those out, as it seems he''s developed an intense feeling of need for them, and he always turns away and flicks his nose when I say thank you or the like. Damn, I really need something to take my mind off of Niel, the more I think of him the guiltier I feel about my treatment of him up to this point.


    Another hour passes, and a large sack full of, what I assume, bread, is tossed in. Once again, some upstarts attempt to monopolize it, but Niel let''s them off with a little less life than last time. They retreat back to their corner, whining like the curs they are. Niel has, as always, overestimated my appetite. He picked out five loaves, each as long as my arm, and offered me four of them. I just shook my head, tore off a half, and went over to the curs.


    There were twelve of them, and they were all young enough to be my kids. This is saying something, as I am in my prime of forty. I walk up to them, and their growling is silenced by Niels'' alpha-growl. I make sure that they''re intimidated, up against the corner and fearing for their life, then I reach out-


    And offer them the rest of the bread. They''re hesitant, and my quiet words seem to make them confused. After much shuffling in the dark, they have finally accepted my gift and are munching happily. I go back to my corner, and sit down. Niel is confused by my actions, which I can tell by his right foot tapping uncertainly. He is, however, too good a bodyguard to ask me why I did what I did. I refuse to tell him, as it will all be revealed all too soon.


    Three more days pass, sacks of bread being thrown in every twelve hours or so. I''d assume they were doing it at dawn and midnight, but I''ve noticed they are trying to mess with our perception of time. Once, they didn''t feed us for twenty-four hours, and the other prisoners didn''t seem to notice that anything was different. I guess I was the only one counting off the seconds.


    However, my plans were going according to plan. After my initial gift, and subsequent offerings, the Curs were now faithful puppies, who followed me everywhere and bowed to Niel like all men should to Alena. After aquireing their help, I myself monopolized the supplies, though I did so under the guise of "Rationing" it, and spoke iwht a soft and benovelonet voice always, asking people their names and bringing a sense of peace to them. Within a week, I had myself a faithful cult, who believed all the food came from me, and offered up their total obedience.


    Men are such easy creatures to move...hit them with a stick, and they will bite back, hit them more and they will run away. Offer them a treat, and they''ll love you like a god. Men are just dogs on two legs, that smell worse. Even more than bread, I wished they''d at least throw in a bar of soap or something. Anything, really.


    So everything was going well, I had total dominance of my cell, and was readying myself to relaxed and enjoy the rest of my captivity being treated like the avatar of god herself, when something terrible happened.


    They stopped throwing bread in.


    All of a sudden, I, the god that provided bread, was failing them. Men who have been tricked are half as dangerous as men who have loved and been stilted. The same goes double for women. So it was with a sinking feeling I counted off the thirty-sixth hour since they last threw in a bag of bread.


    The first day wasn''t that bad, the people in my cell were just a little confused. After the second day, they were getting restless, and fights broke out, though they still held respect for me. The third day, something was thrown in. It smelt of blood, and meat. It was cooked, and smelled quite good. I made certain Niel got plenty, but forwent eating while telling the rest that I was fasting for them. Their faith restored, their bellies filled, they went to sleep easy hearted.


    The next day their faith never wavered. The day after that doubts began again, and the fights came back even more fervant. The next day, everyone was too tired to fight.


    Then, something was thrown in. But before we could get to it...a person holding a lamp came into our cell.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    It was a man, nearly as big as Niel, but even more chiseled. He wore a loincloth like ours, but the similarities ended there. He held a leather whip, a short club, and iron nails. His head was covered in a cloth sack with a cross slashed through it, from which his burning eyes emerged.


    Then the pain started. I waved NIel back, telling him to let the freak tire himself out. I don''t want to risk Niel recieving any injury. And so, I must say that I am ashamed of myself. but I stood and watched as the freak flayed about himself with whip and club, smashing aside people like brittle branches. The puppies hid behind me and Niel, unsure of what to do. I simply watched.


    After twenty minutes, I began to get worried, as the freak showed no sign of slowing down. An hour later, most of the people in my cell were unconscious, so the freak took out the metal spikes, heated them up in his lamp, and stuck them in peoples eyes. When they woke up, he beat them senseless again. After three hours, he showed signs of fatigue, and I motioned to the puppies and Niel. He creeped up behind the man, then grabbed him in such a way that he couldn''t move. The puppies hit him, but their fists seemed to bounce of his chiseled chest. Three minutes later, the man shook free and laid about himself with fist and whip and club, until only Niel and the man stood.


    The freak swung, and Niel ducked while dodging forward, taking the man in the stomach and taking him down. Much smashing of flesh and breaking of bones ensured, and I must admit I pissed myself. After seven more minutes, the freak got up, having beaten Niel half-to-death. He looked at me, but seemed satisfied. After he left I went over to Niel and shook him, somewhat worried he wasn''t okay.


    I sat beside him for three hours, thirty-two minutes, and wondered about how I would say sorry for the first time. At that time, the cell door opened again.


    In strode those robed freaks, and they silently took NIel and dragged him out. Then they just left. I watched long after as the light retreated.


    They were heading in the direction from which only screaming and laughter echoed.


    The next day, it was discovered that a bundle of wood and flint had been thrown in. We were all hungry, and now that Niel was gone...I feared for my life. Even the puppies looked at me with doubt. So...


    I had the puppies lead all of the hundred-or-so people over to a corner of our large cage, and told them to lead loud singing. I asked to speak with one of the more out-spoken dissenters, and brought him over to the opposite side. When the singing started, I asked the dissenter to turn around, and then proceeded to strangle him from behind. Niel had taught me some easy ways to kill people from behind, though doing so for real was much more difficult than I thought. Once the man stopped struggling, I made sure his wind-pipe was well and truly crushed by stepping on it a few more times, then stripped him of his loincloth. I then broke his arm, but that didn''t do anything, so I broke his leg. That also didn''t work, so I broke the other one, which gave me the result I wanted.


    I took the some-what sharp piece of bone and cut off the mans head, then dug a small hole and stuffed it into it. I then cut/ripped off the arms and legs, which took significant effort. All the while, my puppies led the others in singing. after an hour, they went back to talking in small groups, only to find another sack of meat! It was raw, however, so they had to cook it. The smell of roasted meat pervaded the entire cell that day. They had little problem cooking it up, but when they asked me if I wanted the honors of cooking it, I refused saying I was a little tired, and to just bring me a small portion. One of them said I smelled weird.


    The next day, another bundle of wood was thrown in, and the singing was much more enthusiastic. My next greatest dissenter was taken aside, and after the singing was finished another sack of meat had appeared.


    This continued for several weeks, until someone commented that the cell felt emptier than before. Others agreed, and they got together to count. I was sweating profusely, but luckily for me-


    Another light appeared. The other prisoners were wondering what it was, but they went close to it as they were tired of darkness. The cell door opened...


    ...and the freak stepped in. Without a word, he laid about himself once more, until all were unconscious or screaming. This time, the beatings only lasted an hour, and I managed to escape pain by hiding under an unconscious person. The next day, I suggested the puppies lead some singing. There were eleven now, as one had been killed by the freak. I told them I''d bury him, while they should try to keep everyone''s morale up.


    There was three times the meat as usual that day. Recently, seasonings such as salt and pepper and other, stranger spices had been thrown in with the wood. I wondered why they''ed done so little for us, but all of a sudden given us such expensive luxuries. Well made a nice change of pace from straight meat, so that was good.


    For another week, things continued as they had, except the masked freak would visit every day. The time would change, and sometimes he would stay for six hours, others just a couple minutes. I stopped being able to avoid pain, as the cell was much emptier than before. The next day, someone stepped on a pile of dirt, and discovered a shattered skull. That in itself wasn''t a problem, but when they found dozens more hidden in other holes, things got kinda awkward. Suddenly, people started asking hard questions.


    "Why are all these skulls here?"


    "How many people are there in here? Let''s count."


    "Just what kind of meat have we been eating...?"


    When they asked these questions, they turned to me. They went so far as to hold a match up to my face-


    -witch was a mistake, as it was covered, along with the rest of my body, in flaking, drying blood. I blew out their candle, and slit two of their throats as they adjusted their eyes. I''d found some excellent femurs, and using ribs as daggers made carving and cutting much easier.


    They screamed, they yelled, they tried to get together and defend themselves-


    -but how do you defend yourself from someone among you? In the dark, the only thing they gained by shouting out their identity, was a rib in the throat.


    Niel was gone. I had to take care of myself. That''s what I''d been repeating to myself, over and over. It had become my mantra, the thing that kept me sane as I carved up my fellow prisoners.


    "I need to take care of myself." Slit The sound of liquid splattering dirt ground.


    "I need to take care of myself. Shrk A thump as a body fell over.


    "I just need to take care of myself!"  thunk,thunk,thunk,thuthuthuthuthuthunkunkunk.


    I paused, breathing heavy. Something was running from my chin, and from my hand, and I was sitting on something. I felt around on the ground until I found a match, then held it up. I spit out raw meat from my mouth, and looked down at the body I''d been mindlessly stabbing for hours. I''d gone through three ribs and a shin.


    Ha! hahahahah! Hah! Hah! Hah! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


    The light came, and it beat me. People-no, meat-no, Niel-no,food was thrown into my cell every day. Sometimes it was a person. Sometimes an animal. Each time, something I had to kill. AND WHY WOULDN''T I WANT TO KILL!?!??!?!?!??!?!!?


    "Just take care of myself...just take care of myself...just take care of myself..."


    Always, the seasonings. They''d stopped giving me pepper and salt, instead they gave me a sweet powder. I needed it, and it made me feel good. When they didn''t give it to me, I killed things for longer. Lots and lots and lots and eat and eat and take care of myself and hate and hate NIel he left me I just take care of myself Niel left me I hate him I hate him I want to kill him I want to eat him I want to kill me I want to hate Niel but I hate me and I hate eating and I hate hate and I hate killing and most of all...


    "Just need to take care of myself...just need to take care of myself...just need to take care of myself...just...take...care...of myself..."


    Days. Weeks. Months. Years. Eternity. Life, death, forever and an instant. Light and pain and dark and pain and hate and dark and eating and killing and hate and the dark and light and oh Alena has abandoned me!


    "Just need to take care of myself, just need to take care of myself, just need to take care of myself!"


    Creeeeeeek The rusted metal door swung open, and from outside the masked angels came for me. I call them angels because the people they take don''t ever come back, so they must kill them, so I should go with them!


    I eagerly followed them, though they put me in a collar. They took me to the screaming and the laughing, and I smiled. Maybe I''ll meet Niel. I really hate or like him.


    They took me to a small, steel room. Light from a lamp above head, so bright I closed my eyes.


    Then they started.


    They clampd steel around my body and pulled me apart, they put stuff in and took stuff out, they moved things around and had lots of fun. Then they pushed me against the wall, and showed me something.


    It was a bag. A cloth bag, to be exact. Then they put it on my head, and left me in a pen of food. But I couldn''t eat it, because of the mask.


    So I broke their bones, and I cut a cross. Because I saw a cross before, the symbol of Alena...she hasn''t abandoned me! I''m alive! I can eat food and hate and kill!


    They gave me a lamp, and a whip, and a club, and steel nails. Then they set me loose.


    "Just gotta take care of myself...just gotta take care of myself...I''m taking care of myself!"


    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHahaHAHAHHAAHaHahAHahAhAhahAhaaHaHAHAHAHAHAHAhAhahahaahAHAHAHaHAHAHahaHA