Chapter 3

Hazel's POV

The men dragged me through a dark, smelly hallway, but they held me gently as if afraid of leaving a mark on my skin.

Looking around, the place looked like a dungeon with heavy-looking bar doors and a small square window at one end of the room.

The men stopped at the last room and opened the door, then they placed me on a seat.

Before I could ask about anything, they locked my hands and something was placed on my head.

Were they trying to electrocute me?

That was the only thought in my mind as this was how it was in the majority of movies.

My chest became heavy with panic, and I tried to free myself, but I only ended up cutting my wrist as the handcuffs dug into my flesh due to my struggle.

I paused and turned to the two men who had blank expressions on their faces.

They didn't even seem fazed by my struggle, which indicated that they must have seen this kind of thing countless times.

"Start the process" I heard the only familiar voice I knew and hoped that could save me.

"Damien, please help me," I cried, trying to stand up, but this made the cut on my wrist worse.

Damien didn't even spare me a glance until he was done with whatever he was doing. Then he walked in front of me and squatted, adjusting his golden frames.

"Damien, please." My eyes became clouded with tears as the thought of dying here crossed my mind.

In my heart I cursed Josie.

If I ever survived this, I was going to make him pay for selling me to these monsters.

"You are not dying, but this process is extremely painful," he stated and stretched his hands.

Then a man rushed to him, handling a hot metal stamp.

I felt my heart drop as I finally realized what was happening.

No!

I struggled as Damien pushed down the sleeve of my dress.

I wasn't going to let anyone place that hot thing on me.

Feeling the mild sensation of the heat almost touching my shoulders, my struggling and tears also increased making it hard for any work to get done.

All I wanted was someone to save me, anyone.

At that moment, I didn't care about anything.

Even if Josie was here and he wanted me to kneel, I would for all this to stop.

After a while of struggling, I was slowly losing my strength; after all, who am I compared to these men who were already sweating from how much work I was making them go through?

I closed my eyes, my fighting spirit slowly giving in as my tears ran down my chest.

The heat was becoming hotter, and at this point, it was hard to stay.

I opened my mouth, hoping to plead, but all that came out were horrifying screams.

"Enough!" A cold voice sounded through the now quiet area.

I opened my eyes which were now covered in sweat.

After blinking a few times, I saw the person in front me.

My eyes followed his trail as he pushed his wheelchair towards me, a part of me confused about what he was doing here.

Another part angry and felt like killing him, and the last part hopeful and praying that he had come to save me.

"Why is she being so noisy?" He growled, stopping his chair beside me.

He casted a lazy gaze on me but looking deeper it wasn't hard to see how much hate was buried in them.

It made my skin crawl and at this moment I wished the torture would continue so that I won't have to see this man.

"Boss, I am sorry, we will--" He raised his hands and Damien, who was trying to explain, stopped.

He stretched his hand and Damien handed the stamp over to him.

Before I could understand what was happening, I felt hot on my shoulders and it was as if fire was being put into me.

"Argh!" I screamed trying to stand up with all the strength I had left in me but being bound didn't give me the room to fight the pain, I could only kick.

I turned my gaze to the man who was continuously pressing the hot metal on me, my eyes clouded with tears but his piercing and cold gaze were sharp.

"Take care of it" he mumbled and removed the stamp, throwing it on the floor before turning to leave.

Immediately, I was let loose and I grabbed my hurting shoulders but this made the pain worse as I looked at the melted flesh on my palm.

Raising my head, I could see the stranger still giving me a weird look but this time, his eyes were filled with misconception.

I tried to understand what he was looking at but I felt something on my neck and slowly, the whole room started spinning and I found myself falling over.

The darkness finally clouded my vision.

...

Feeling the light reflection on my face, I opened my eyes reluctantly as the weakness and pains made me uncomfortable, drifting me into deeper slumber.

"Miss" I heard someone calling, the voice sounded peaceful and angelic.

I opened my eyes excitedly with the thought that I had died.

I was finally going to heaven, away from all the troubles of this world.

I observed the ceiling in front of me and a frown escaped my lips as I looked around until my gaze landed on a lady dressed in white and black suit.

I forced myself to sit up but I noticed that my left hand was feeling so tired and in pain.

I looked at my arm to see it in a case and in a flash, memories began flooding through my mind.

The tears, the pains, the melted flesh.

"Miss, I am done dressing your wounds" the lady announced, bringing me back to life.

"What is the meaning of this? Why is he being so mean to me?" I couldn't help but voice out my struggles hoping to get some comfort from the elderly woman before me.

She raised her head, her eyes looking at me lovingly.

"The scars in a man's heart can make him crumble the world around him" she began and started packing her tools.

"Mr Arnold is not so easy or hard to please, all you have to do is obey him and his rules" She announced, turning to leave.

Arnold?

That name sounded so familiar, too familiar that it gave me a headache.

"Miss, it's dinner time and you must be down before Arnold Orlando" she stated and walked out of the room.

My breath ceased fearing the name and I felt my world crumble.

How did I get into the workshop of the Devil?

A.O?