The next morning...
Soft morning sunlight filtered through the sheer white lace curtains, resting lightly against my eyelids, waking me up to a brutal reality.
The first sensation to greet me wasn't refreshing clarity. It was an agonizing ache.
Pain radiated across my entire back and hips, as if a fire was smoldering directly beneath my skin. Shifting even a fraction of an inch sent a jolt of agony that brought tears to my eyes.
"Are you awake, my good boy?"
A familiar soothing voice echoed softly near my ear. I violently flinched!
My body tensed entirely on pure instinct, driven by visceral terror. My heart hammered wildly as the horrific memories of yesterday flooded my brain.
The sound of the belt slashing through the air. The excruciating, lacerating pain. And Zen's hollow, absolutely heartless eyes.
I forced my eyes open. The first sight I saw was Zen sitting on the chair beside the bed.
