Tough Princess

I wake up to darkness. Scared, I immediately reach out, hands hitting walls. It was like I was in a closet, or a box. Reaching up, my hand slams into something hard. They were using my claustrophobia against me. I’d be able to handle it for a little while, but I knew I’d end up hyperventilating. Curling up, I try to breathe evenly. I try to imagine myself anywhere but here, but it isn’t working, the cold wall pressing into my back keeping me in reality. Slowing reaching out, I run my hands over the wall, finding a small air vent and what felt like a metal door that could only be opened from the outside. I wasn’t going to suffocate at least. Humming a lullaby mom used to sing to me, I shake, but stay focused. After a while, I change the tune and sing Pray by Younha. I didn’t know who I was singing it for, but it calmed me. After what seemed like forever, the door is pulled open, light spilling into the place they’d shoved me in. Hands grab at me and haul me out, setting me in a chair, my arms placed uncomfortably behind the back rest. My eyes protest the sudden light and it takes a while for them to adjust. When they finally do, I look around. It looked like an underground room, dark damp concrete walls and rusty pipes. Lightbulbs swung from the ceiling and there were chairs littered everywhere. A couple of men lounged in chairs behind me and another two stood in the shadows, out of the light. “What are your father’s secrets?” I struggle to recognize the voice. “I don’t-“I shriek as something slams into my arm. My head snaps to look at the thug as he lifts the metal bat to rest on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, he won’t touch your pretty face.” Another voice says and this one, I recognize. The heir from the Obsidian syndicate. “Ya, you fucking bastard, I’ll bea-“The bat slams into my leg, cutting off my insults. “I suppose you figured out who we are.” The heir steps into the light, smirking. “Joon, don’t reveal yourself.” “Aboeji, she already knew, or else she wouldn’t have yelled at me.” Walking forward, his pointer finger prods at my forehead. “You’ll beat me? How? Your arms and legs are handcuffed. I’ve learned that you bite, but that won’t do much to me, it’ll heal.” I snap at his finger and catch it, drawing blood until he slaps me, forcing me to let go. “You’re still able to fight back. That must mean you didn’t spend enough time in that dungeon of yours.” He turns to a thug. “Lock her in there for a day. Let her use the bathroom when she needs to. Only once every two hours though.” I scream at him as I’m dragged back to the suffocating darkness. “You’ll die for this!” I shriek before the door slams in my face.

“Drag her out.” The muffled words rouse me from the calm that had settled on me. This time the door opens slowly, the gangster probably tired. Strong hands pull me out, forcing me onto the chair again. “How’s our little tiger doing?” Joon lifts my chin so I look at him. “Oh, is she too tired to bite?” My teeth tear at his palm and he kicks me. “Don’t you get tired of the taste of blood?” He asks, wiping his hand on his pants. “Nope, I live for it.” I hiss, grinning, his blood dripping from my mouth. The marks would give the boys back at the hotel a hint. “Where is your father’s vault?” He suddenly says, hand closing around my throat. I don’t bother to try to answer, letting him enjoy is dominance. Stars start to dance before my eyes and he lets go. “Why aren’t you answering?” “If you think suffocating me after you’ve locked me in a small dark space will do anything, you're stupid." Frustrated, he goes to hit me and I huff in amusement. “And who said they wouldn’t hit my face?” Instead, his hand swipes across my neck, his nails ripping into my skin. “Boys, leave.” He waves at the gangsters and I stare at him. What was he going to do? The men leave and the door slams. Stalking to the door, he locks it from the inside. “I’m going to record your screams and send it to them. I’m sure they’ll enjoy it.” He pulls out his phone and taps on the screen a few times before setting it on a small table nearby. Coming over to me, he unzips my hoodie, fingers ghosting over my shirt before ripping it in half. “Now scream for me.”

Curled up on the floor of my dungeon cell, my fingers run over the metal belt buckle I’d snatched. I’d been sharpening the point against the walls. My hips screamed in pain, my wrists covered in blood from yanking on them. I hear the door in the room outside open, scuffling. I shove the buckle in my pocket just as my metal door swings open. I’m dragged out again and what I see steals my breath. Hyungwon laid in front of my chair, beaten to unconsciousness. “Won-ah!” I scream as I’m shoved onto it. He rouses at my voice and his eyes flutter open. “Ya, why did you come here? Hyungwon! Get a hold of yourself!” I’m screaming and crying. His eyes widen when he realizes what he’s seeing before him. My shirt is ripped open, my pants undone, bruises and wounds on every inch of my body. “I’ll kill him.” Comes a guttural growl from Hyungwon. He eyes the bruises on the inside of my thighs and I look away. “I hate you for coming here. I hate you.” I spit. "I'll kill him." He whispers back before grunting. It draws my attention back to him. Joon had his foot planted on Won’s ribs. “Kill me then, if you can.” Joon nods at one of his members and they drag Hyungwon to the wall to my left, fastening manacles onto his wrists. He falls to his knees, his arms held above him because of the manacles. “Now that I have someone here to blackmail you with, tell me. Tell me about your father!” Joon screams in my face. “Kill me! Kill me!” I scream back, earning a slap to my cheek. His knee slams into my stomach and then his fist slams into my shoulder. “Lock her away.” “Sanha, Sanha!” Hyungwon yells as I’m dragged to my cell. His eyes are wide in realization. “Sanha!” He screams, thinking that I’m not going to be able to take the darkness. The claustrophobia. The door slams shut and I’m in pitch darkness again. Yanking at my cuffs, I hiss, opening the wounds underneath them. Reaching into my pocket, I grab the belt buckle, starting to pick the lock on the cuffs on my ankles. It takes a while, but I’m able to get them off. Turning to the cuffs on my wrists, I’m able to unlock one side, but not the other. Now, I had to wait.

Notes

Hopefully it doesn't suck, but if it does, tell me! I'll post the rest of the story in a few minutes. I'm going on vacation in two hours! YO I AM EXCITED AS HELLLL. Okay, back to posting. Comments are welcome ^~^