Chapter 8: Broken
The night was eerily silent, save for the soft crackling of the fire inside the hut. Seraphine stirred, a sense of unease creeping over her. She gently untangled herself from Alex, careful not to wake her. Stepping quietly to the window, she peered into the darkness. Nothing seemed amiss, yet the feeling of being watched was undeniable.
Suddenly, a massive shadow moved just beyond the tree line. Seraphine’s heart pounded in her chest. She quickly grabbed her knife, her eyes scanning the darkness for any further movement. But before she could react, the door burst open with a violent crash, and there he stood—the Beast. His dark eyes gleamed with malevolent satisfaction, his massive frame filling the doorway. Seraphine lunged at him, but he was ready. With a brutal swipe, he knocked her aside, sending her sprawling across the floor.
Alex screamed, scrambling to her feet. She tried to rush to Seraphine’s aid, but the Beast was quicker. He grabbed her, his grip like iron, and threw her to the ground. Before she could react, he was upon her, his weight pinning her down.
Seraphine struggled to rise, her face a mask of rage and pain. She lunged at the Beast again, but he anticipated her move, his free hand shooting out to catch her by the throat. With a cruel twist, he slammed her against the wall, holding her there as she gasped for breath.
"Vathray," the Beast grunted, his voice low and guttural. "Vathillskal."
Seraphine’s eyes burned with defiance even as she struggled for air. "She... belongs to no one," she managed to choke out. "You will never break her."
The Beast responded with a guttural growl, "Rok'thal."
He released Seraphine, letting her slump to the ground, gasping for breath. Then he turned his full attention to Alex, his eyes glinting with a predatory hunger. Alex’s heart raced, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to show him her fear.
“Leave her alone,” she demanded, her voice shaking but resolute. “You’ve already done enough.”
The Beast chuckled, a dark, hollow sound. "Nor'vek," he said, pulling a length of rope from his belt and beginning to bind Alex’s wrists. She struggled, but his strength was overwhelming. He tied her wrists tightly, the rough fibers biting into her skin. Then he did the same with her ankles, securing her to the floor.
Seraphine tried to rise again, but the Beast was too fast. He grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to the center of the room. She fought with all her strength, but he overpowered her, binding her with the same ruthless efficiency. When he was done, he stood back, admiring his handiwork.
"Nauthiz," he commanded, his voice a chilling command; she may not have understood the words, but she knew the intent, “Watch.”
Alex’s eyes widened with horror as she realized what he intended. “No,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Please, no…”
But the Beast ignored her pleas. He turned his attention to Seraphine, his hands moving with a sickening familiarity. Seraphine struggled, her eyes filled with a mixture of defiance and fear, but the Beast was relentless. He forced her down onto the cold floor, his body towering over hers. Seraphine thrashed against his grip, but he pinned her wrists above her head, his fingers digging painfully into her skin. The firelight flickered across his face, casting dark shadows that made him look even more monstrous.
“Stop it!” Alex screamed, straining against her bonds. “Leave her alone!”
The Beast glanced at Alex, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "Lothnar," he growled, a cruel whisper. He turned back to Seraphine, his hand moving to tear away her clothing with brutal efficiency. Seraphine cried out, her voice a mix of rage and desperation, but the Beast silenced her with a harsh slap. Her head snapped to the side, and a red mark bloomed on her cheek.
“Please, don’t,” Alex begged, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t do this…” But the Beast was beyond reason. He forced Seraphine’s legs apart, his movements rough and merciless. Seraphine’s eyes locked onto Alex’s, a silent plea for strength and endurance. The Beast’s hands roamed over her body, his touch invasive and violating.
Seraphine fought to keep her composure, her muscles straining against his hold. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. But as the Beast’s assault continued, her resolve began to crumble. Pain and humiliation washed over her in waves, each movement a fresh agony.
Alex’s heart shattered as she watched, helpless and horrified. The Beast’s cruelty was unending, his actions designed to break both of them in the most devastating way possible. Seraphine’s cries filled the hut, a haunting echo of pain and violation.
The Beast’s breath came in harsh, ragged gasps as he continued his assault. Seraphine’s body trembled beneath him, her spirit fighting to remain unbroken. Alex’s tears fell freely, her sobs mingling with Seraphine’s anguished cries.
As the Beast's cruel onslaught continued, Seraphine's strength began to wane, her struggles growing weaker. Each brutal motion seemed to drain the life from her, her body succumbing to the relentless torment. Her cries became softer, a painful echo of her earlier defiance. The Beast's breath quickened, his growls deepening as he neared his climax. With a final, violent thrust, he shuddered, a guttural sound of twisted satisfaction escaping his lips. Seraphine's body went limp beneath him, her spirit seemingly broken.
The fire crackled in the oppressive silence that followed. The Beast lay still, his breath hot and heavy against Seraphine’s skin. After a moment, he pushed himself up with a grunt, his weight lifting off her. He stood, adjusting his clothes with an air of grim satisfaction.
Seraphine lay motionless, her body trembling with the aftershocks of pain and exhaustion. The Beast removed the shackles from her wrists and ankles, but she remained still, her mind numb to the world around her. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, the light in them dimmed.
The Beast stood over her, his dark eyes lingering on her broken form. He smirked, a cold, cruel expression, before turning his gaze to Alex. Alex’s tears fell freely, her heart shattering at the sight of Seraphine’s suffering. The Beast’s satisfaction was evident in every deliberate, unhurried movement as he dressed.
But as he turned to leave, a flicker of life sparked in Seraphine's eyes. Her hand, weak and trembling, reached out and grabbed a splintered piece of wood from the broken door. Summoning the last of her strength, she drove it into the back of the Beast’s leg. He roared in pain, stumbling and falling to one knee.
Alex, seeing an opening, scrambled to her feet, her bonds forgotten. She rushed to Seraphine's side, her hands fumbling to help her up. The Beast, now furious and wounded, tried to rise, but Seraphine struck again, this time aiming higher. The makeshift weapon lodged deep into his side, and he collapsed with a howl of agony.
“Go!” Seraphine gasped, her voice barely a whisper. “We have to go now!”
Alex nodded, tears mingling with determination. She pulled Seraphine to her feet, supporting her as they stumbled toward the door. The Beast’s roars echoed in the small hut, but his strength was failing, the wounds too severe.
Together, Alex and Seraphine pushed through the doorway, the cold air hitting them like a wave. They stumbled into the snow, the night enveloping them in its icy embrace. The adrenaline fueled their flight, Seraphine leaning heavily on Alex as they put as much distance as possible between them and the nightmare they had escaped.
As they reached the edge of the forest, Alex glanced back, seeing the faint glow of the hut in the distance. The Beast’s roars had faded, replaced by an eerie silence. They had escaped, but the memory of their ordeal would linger. Alex tightened her grip on Seraphine, vowing to protect her, to never let such horror touch them again.
In the safety of the forest's shadows, they found a temporary refuge, a small hollow beneath a cluster of trees. They huddled together for warmth, their breaths mingling in the frigid air. Seraphine's hand found Alex's, their fingers intertwining.
“We’re free,” Alex whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. “We’re free.”
Seraphine nodded weakly, her eyes closing as exhaustion overtook her. Alex held her close, her own eyes heavy with fatigue. As they drifted into a restless sleep, the stars above bore silent witness to their escape, a promise of a new dawn, free from the nightmare they had endured.