(Sky's POV)

I slowly regain consciousness with a pounding head ache. My limbs feel like led, and the fire in my back was enough to make any grown man cry. But I don't cry. Whatever I had experienced in my old life, it must of been truly horrific. I open one eye half way, and then the other.

I lay on my stomach, on the stone floor of what looks to be some kind of prison cell. I'm guessing that this is where the slaves sleep. Bandages wrap around my chest and back. I mange to turn my head and look at my left shoulder to make sure that it's still covered in dirt. It is. I saw nothing but trust in Aleasa's eyes, so I intend to keep my promise. I brace my hands on the floor and slowly drag one of my legs underneath me. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming at the pain in my back. No one should have to experience this kind of pain.

     I sit up and move to the corner, where I can see the entire room, and the entrance. The door is shut and locked, so that's not an option. A breeze passes through a crack in the wall, and I shiver. I only have pants on. They must of took my shoes. Echoing footsteps make my head snap up to the doorway, and the hall beyond. The boots of a guard are the majority of the sound, but soft steps accompany them.

     I hear a cell door next to this one open and close. The door to my cell opens, and I flinch when someone is thrown in. I recognize Barney by his eyepatch, now wearing the same outfit as me. He scrambles up and franticly looks around before spotting me. "Thank Notch you're oks!", he yells before squeezing me in a giant bear hug. "B-Barney, my back!", I say while gritting my teeth in pain. He immediately let's go. "OhmynotchI'msorryIdidn'tthinkaboutitandnowI-", Barney screeches before I cut him off. "Don't worry, it's ok. I'm glad to see you, too", I say.

     "The doctor that works and lives here wasn't allowed to do anything but wrap up your back. He said you could die of blood loss and not wake up, or even get infected later on", Barney explains. "I'll be ok, but I need you do something for me. Can you...... take off the bandages and see how bad it is?", I ask. "I-I don't think that i-is such a good idea, Sky", he says while nervously looking at my back. "Please Barney? I know that I'm a kid, but I need to know how bad it is", I argue. Barney sighs before staring to gently unwrap the bandages.

When he's done, I hear a thunk and turn around. Barney is passed out in the floor. Geez, he really must not like blood. I try to turn to look at my back, but I can't bend myself into a pretzel just yet. I instead bend my arm back and trace my fingers lightly over my back. I can definitely feel three giant gashes that go all the way down my back. Smaller ones go between those three, but some of them are already somehow closed up. The three big ones will definitely leave scars, but I don't think the others will. My right shoulder has a slash going down for about six inches, but my left shoulder, the one with the covered birthmark, is somehow unscathed. The wounds still bleed, though.

I re-wrap the bandages on my back, and eventually move Barney into a more comfortable position. He doesn't look very fat, but Notch he's heavy. Why must he be so tall? I lay down a foot away from him, on my stomach with and watching the door. Might as well get some sleep. Nothing better to do.

(Time skip)

I wake up to guards banging on the door. Barney jolts up and I quickly get to my feet. My back is just a dull throb compared to what it was yesterday. A guard opens up the door and barks at us to get up and go to the mess hall. Me and Barney quickly obey, with the other two following behind.

     In the mess hall, a list of chores and jobs to do is hanging up. Barney has to work in the stables, the kid my age has to work on the kitchen, and the guy that's older then Barney has to clean almost everywhere. And lucky me, I still have to report to the owner of this house. I'm surprised when the guards leave us to go do whatever they do, but I can see that one is posted at every doorway.

     I hesitantly make my way over to the room from yesterday, already preparing myself for another beating. I shove open one of the doors to see that idiot sitting on his fake throne. I really hope there was a time when people in power were good. Prince Adam sure sounded like he would've been a good leader. But of course, squids and people like the one in front of me had to ruin it.

"Now, as munch as I would like to continue your punishment from yesterday, I can't have my slaves dying on me. There actually quite expensive", he mocks, "I need you to clean this entire room, and just to make it just that more enjoyable, I'll give you a little motivation". He grabs a bucket of of rice and throws all over the room, scattering the little pieces everywhere. "Make sure it's done by the time I get back!", he barks. "Yes", I numbly add. "Excuse me? Try that again, why don't you", he snarls. "Yes...... Master", I grimly say. He smirks before leaving, locking the door from the other side.