The Girl Who Broke the World by Renee Hayes

Author:Renee Hayes [Renee Hayes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Renee Hayes
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Borztan Mines

Kymera

The whip was now slick with his blood, and tears pricked at the edges of his eyes, crushed shut with the force of every blow. The wind swirled frigidly at the entrance to the Borztan mines in Kymera. Paxton’s back was in ribbons of flesh, blood and muck as the soldier, without a care, slid the black whip through the mud before delivering each shuddering blow. A contorted smile carved his dirty face, flashing black and yellow jagged teeth.

It’s nearly over, Pax thought to himself. Hold on. His fingernails dug into the mud. Hold on, hold on. Thwack. Hold on. Tears slipped down his dirt-stained cheek, black with Borztan soot. He felt no shame. They were all watching, the other prisoners, and they knew that he was strong for not having passed out yet. He wouldn’t give the soldier the satisfaction. Thwack. He ground his teeth together, his body shaking on his knees in the mud. One more... He’d been counting. His head burst with the pain, his back on absolute fire. The whip slid through the mud, the soldier arching his back to put as much force into the last blow as he could.

Thwack. Paxton’s arms shook but still held his reeling body up out of the mud. Retching and vomiting into the mud, it sprayed onto his hands. He sucked in breaths trying to slow his pounding chest. He had done it. He had won… this time. The soldier wandered over to him as the crowd watched, wrapping up the blood-soaked whip tipped with a small dark metal barb, and attaching it to his side.

‘Take note, this is what happens when you filthy gutter rats disobey the king’s orders.’ He planted his boot into the young man’s side, sending him sliding into the mud clutching his stomach, tucked into foetal position.

‘Nine for the first punishment as a warning,’ the soldier continued out loud, ‘and after that it’s up to my discretion.’ He grinned evilly at Pax as he raised himself up out of the mud. More quietly, he said, ‘Next time you cross me, boy, I’ll make sure you don’t get back up ever again.’ The solider spat in the mud near Paxton’s face and stomped away towards the entrance of the Borztan mines.

‘Get back to it, you maggots! I’ve got plenty more in me if anyone’s asking!’ he shouted into the crowd of powder-covered teenage boys, all covered in black dirt and soot. They scattered like roaches under a flashlight. The soldier turned to continue back up to the entrance of the mines, to enter into the hole, the pits, where they were all expected to dig and to die.

A skinny boy quickly ran forward and bent down to help Pax, who was bleeding into the mud. He wrapped an arm around Pax’s waist and grabbed his arm, placing it around his neck, and helped him up as gently as he could without disturbing the sliced ribbons of flesh hanging from his back. Paxton grimaced and more tears slid down his face, his legs like jelly.

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