I step into Nars office and notice he is asleep at his desk again. I look towards the door and try to run for it. Only to be riveted to the spot. I can’t even move when I’m thinking of escaping and not following Nars’ orders. I would have stood there all day just trying to leave except for the itchiness I now feel all over. This must be what happens when I try to delay orders or not do them to my best ability. Fine, I’ll do it.

So as loudly and with as much scorn I can put into my voice, “Nars, wake up.”

This makes him jump again but not fall. He looks around at me first in anger than a malicious joy and says with a grin, “I see you’re done screaming Zero so let’s start your new life off with that whipping. I was originally going to only do three lashes, but I think ten may be better for our “Royal” Zero.”

I stare at him dumbfounded he can’t really mean to whip me. But there he his grabbing a sleek black whip out of his desk. As he is walking towards the door he calls out “Follow,” and I have no other choice but to obey. I have never been on this side of the whipping before, but I have whipped my fair share of Zeros and servants, my father used to say “It builds character.” Now for the first time, I am going to know what I’ve done to my Zero’s and why they always walked willingly to the block. They had no choice, and I have no choice.

Nars walks towards where the gibbets are and up to a wooden frame that looks like a “T” with a small rope hanging from both tips.

“Take off your shirt face towards the frame and hold onto the ropes. Do not let go of those ropes,” commands Nars with a smile.

Without wanting to and with tires of disbelief in my eyes I start to do exactly as he has told me to do. I take off my shirt with shaking arms and walk up to the frame grab ahold of the ropes and brace myself. With the only one thought in my mind, since I’ve woken up today all I’ve felt is pain. Is this my life now?

That is when the first lash hit causing me to gasp in pain. Then the second hit and I would have collapsed, but my hands wouldn’t let go. I am sobbing at this point just looking at my hands. The lashes keep coming over, and over, but my hands never let go no matter how much I scream at them too. Then after the second eternity today it stops.

“You can let go now but don’t collapse. I don’t want to waste any more of my time listening to you blubber,” commands Nars “Also put your shirt on and follow me.”

As soon as I hear the command, I can finally let go of the ropes, but my legs refuse to allow me to fall to the ground. I must have taken too long to comply with the command to put on my shirt because the itch is back and getting worse by the second. So I bend down to pick up my shirt to a wave of pain. I can’t imagine what it will feel like to put on that low-quality shirt, but I guess I’m about to find out. I was right. It sent a wave a pain down my back that felt like it I was whipped all over again. Unable to collapse in pain with another command to follow my legs against my wishes start walking.

Whistling tonelessly Nars is walking in front of me leading me into what looks like a man-made cave. Wait, it’s the entrance to the cities sewers. But I barely even register any of this my thoughts seem to be sluggish, and my vision keeps going dark, but my legs keep me walking in tow right behind Nars.

Once we enter into the sewers off to the left, there are three doors. Nars points at the First and says “That is the female Zero’s kennels you are not to enter it or to mate we don’t need any little Zero’s running around. Though they would be good for cleaning the small pipes down here, I’ll have to bring that up at the next meeting. Anyways, the next door is the supply room. The room after that is the male kennels where you will sleep, take your meals, and get your orders every morning.” explains Nars in a bored tone “Since you have spent the whole work day screaming and crying you can go straight to bed. Oh, and no eating for the rest of today and tomorrow. Welcome to your new home.”

With that Nars walks off with his hands behind his head whistling tonelessly once again. I walk through the door and take a look for the first time at my new home. It’s just a large room with piles of hay every few feet around the edge that I can only assume are the beds and with an empty space in the middle, probably for eating. I walk up to the first pile, and as if I was a puppet whose strings have been cut, I collapse onto a hay pile and blackout.

I wake up to a boot on my whipped back and start screaming. “Ah, good you’re awake newbie I’m Bur the… I guess you can call it top Zero around here. Anyways, I wanted to wake you up to introduce myself and inform you have the ground rules around here,” says a grime covered man of about 6’6 and with a rather large build.

I barely catch any of that due to the pain in my back, but I got the gist this guy was the unofficial boss of the Zeros and that it would be a bad idea to not listen to him. So, not wanting to be experiencing any more pain today I try to sit up and pay attention to this man.

“I got your attention good. The rules are simple first I get a portion of everyone’s food and first pick of jobs. See easy, now today’s dinner is being served, and I expect my portion,” explains Bur.

“I can’t receive any food for today or tomorrow,” I try to explain.

“Then I guess you’ll owe me more of your food when you do start getting meals. Have a good night and welcome to sewer duty,” he tells me with a grim smile that promises violence if I don’t comply.

“Yeah, Thank you for the warm welcome,” I say sarcastically before I can stop myself, as I lay back down.

As he walks away, he kicks me in the back again causing me to convulse in pain again. What an excellent way to start my new life. There has got to be a way out of this, but even if I do where do I go… my parents want me dead, and I can only expect the same reaction from the rest of the Royal Families. Who am I kidding there is no escape they put a soul bind on me my own body and mind don’t even belong to me anymore. These are the last thoughts I have before I pass back into oblivion once again.