I lay in my bed, staring up at the old, mouldy, ceiling. At this moment in time, I couldn't help but scoff at my own dismay. Again and again, I had been tortured for the simplest mistakes.

The coffee was too cold? Torture!

The coffee was too warm? Torture!

I didn't cry enough during the last torture session? Torture!

I cried too much during the last torture session? Torture!

Nothing I did was right for them! All I knew at this point was pain. My body still hurt from the last time I had been sent through hell and back. And it only happened because I accidentally bumped into one of the gang members.

For that crime, I had been sent through hell by David. By the time he stopped, I was almost completely covered in hot wax. My skin was still sensitive and even wearing my clothes hurt.

I need to get out of here... I thought.

But how would I do that? Hadn't I already tried countless times? Hadn't I already failed countless times? What made me think that this time would be different? The fact that I was in an even worse condition now than all the times I tried before?

I was ripped away from my thoughts by a loud knocking on my door followed by the sound of the door opening and multiple people stepping inside.

Doing my best not to break out into tears because my dirty, smelly clothes rubbed against my burned, sensitive skin with every slight movement I made, I dragged myself out of bed and faced Acil.

His long blond hair was well kempt and his green eyes were barely hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. Smoke rose towards my ceiling from his cigarette. Behind him stood Hannah, her arms wrapped around his left one and on his other side was Martin who just looked down at me.

"Well, Ethan. We have a new mission for you," Acil said, patting me on the shoulder.

Pain shot through my entire body and I nearly fell to my knees. Tears shot into my eyes.

"Oh my, crying from just a touch?" Hannah said mockingly.

I didn't answer. Martin and Hannah were clearly enjoying the fact that I could barely move while Acil looked indifferent, as always.

"W-What's the mission?" I asked, carefully trying not to strike a nerve.

Acil chuckled.

"I see you're eager to make up for your little fuck up last year. Don't worry, this time we won't rely on your non-existent skill. All we need you to do is act as a lookout," Acil said with a smile on his face before he blew some smoke right at my face, sending me into a fit of coughs and tears into my eyes.

"A-A... look o-out... for what?..." I asked, coughing after almost every word.

He just smiled at me.

"You know, Ethan, money doesn't just magically appear. So we have to do things to make money, do you understand?" Acil explained as if I were a stupid child.

Acil stared at me, waiting for some kind of answer. I nodded slowly.

"Good, good. The problem is that this time we got an order in another city. That means the police isn't going to listen to us as they do here, do you understand?" Acil explained, again acting as if I were some stupid child.

I nodded again, not wanting to make him angry.

"Good, good. You seem to have become a little smarter. I think that might call for a reward," Acil said.

A shiver went down my spine when I thought about what kind of reward he could have possibly in mind.

"But anyway. All you have to do is come with us tomorrow and look out for any cop that may or may not see our little... operation. When you see one, you tell us and we run away, it's as simple as that. I really don't think there is any way you stupid, pathetic slave can fuck that up. Or is there?"

Acil pierced me with his eyes and I quickly shook my head.

"Good, if everything is clear we'll get you tomorrow," Acil said as he was turning around. "Oh, and before I forget it-" he turned to Hannah "-give him his reward, we'll be waiting by the door," he said.

Hannah walked towards me with a smile on her face as she was chewing her gum. When she reached me she put both her hands on my shoulders and pressed me down. It hurt like hell and I made a grimace due to the pain.

"Open your mouth!" Hannah commanded.

I hesitated for a second which only earned me a slap to the face. With that I opened my mouth and closed my eyes... she forced them open with her fingers.

"Don't look away, this is your reward."

She then spat her gum in my mouth and forcefully closed my mouth.

"Now chew!" she commanded.

Not wanting to get hit again I did as she said. It tasted terrible... almost like cigarettes smelled.

"Now thank me!"

"T-Thank y-you," I said as I looked up at her.

Her smile became brighter and she walked away without even looking back at me. Once I heard the door close I immediately went to my bin and spat out the gum. A shiver went down my spine again when I saw it again.

Slowly I dragged myself back to my bed and lay down carefully.

Wonder what they'll do to me this time when I fuck something up...

_________________________

I woke up, drenched in sweat, my body shaking and with a terrible taste in my mound that reminded me of cigarettes. Cold air blew against my face, which was wet with sweat and tears. I opened my eyes and looked up at the twelves moons hanging in the night sky, shining down their light upon us, though the hole in my ceiling, if it could even be called that.

"You alright?" M asked, looking down at me from his little branch that hung right into my... house or whatever else one might call it.

"Of course I am," I said, gritting my teeth.