Fighting In The Mortal Cage

PENNY POV

"My body aches, my breathing hurts, and even moving hurts.

My back hurts badly, and my skin twitches with every movement. If I move too much, my wounds start bleeding again. It's been a day since my father and his men brutalized me.

I haven't slept because every time my body starts to relax, I hear the sound of whips cracking against my skin and feel the burning spread throughout my body.

I hear Michael's cries, begging them to stop hurting me.

Michael carried me in his arms, bleeding himself, but only caring about my safety.

I lie face down on the dirty floor of this makeshift cell, my back uncovered. Michael tried to make a bed for me with the miserable blankets they gave us, but it was useless. I'm on the ground, and the pain from the terrible rest confirms it.

Michael comes to me with a cloth soaked in water and gently places it on my back.

His brow furrows in concentration as he tries not to hurt me while changing the bandage and applying ointment to the cuts.

'You