I refused to scream. I knew I deserved this but it didn't make it any easier. sharp spikes dug into my back, pain searing up my back every few seconds. My head throbbed and the smell of urine was strong. Some sort of liquid was all over me, I didn't know if it was sweat or blood. I wasn't sure of anything anymore. How long had I been here? Weeks? Months? Or just mere hours?

A man came in - he was obviously used to being fed, and not doing much. He yanked me up, I winced as they tore at my skin, dried blood, gore and fresh blood combined and I trembled. My legs couldn't hold my weight, they were to weak. I collapsed, and he dragged me along, I tried to get up several times, then gave up. I drifted in and out of unconsciousness.

I opened my eyes and blinked several times. I was in a cell. They had paused the torture. I was in a wide, circular wall with blood smears on the lower bricks and floor. People were chained up around the room, by their left ankles. So was I, the chain was heavy and my ankle throbbed. In fact, everywhere did.

I groaned softly, stretching my sore limbs slowly. They weren't bruised, just stiff. But my back was punctured with hundreds of tiny cuts. They were sure to get infected. Luckily they thought that I was only a young thieving boy, so they didn't do the full torturing process. I deserved it though. All of it and more.

Something jabbed me sharply in the ribs. I moaned.

'Come on boy, wake up.' A gravelly voice said, patting my cheek.

'Sonny, don't leave us now!' A stronger voice said.

'He's going to be here soon!' A impatient voice interrupted.

'Who?' I gathered my strength enough to mumble the question.

'Oh thank goodness. Do you think you can sit up?'

I pushed my self up gradually with help from the stranger.

'Th...th...than..thank...ssss...'

'Save your energy sonny.'

As my eyes got used to the darkness I made out the vague shape of a old man and two younger men.

'He's here!' A excited, nervous voice cut the air like a knife.

A turned my head, and saw a slim, strong figure come to the centre of the room. A muscular man followed, and a thin, bony person last.

'Who is that?' The lead person asked the old man on my right.

'A young boy, don't know who. Got tortured pretty badly, got some muscles though.' He replied. It was obvious that everyone was in awe and respected these men, so I thought that I should to.

'R...R...' I tried to say.

'Yes sonny? What is it?

'Na...name...is....R...Red...H..hoo...hood.'

'Your name?' The lead man asked. I nodded dumbly.

'You will come with us.' He turned away. I shook my head violently.

'N...No! N..n...no! NO!' I screamed.

'Shh sonny!' A chorus hushed me. I took no notice, shaking and panicking madly. At a nod from the lead man, the big one lifted something heavy, and everything went black again.