Original X-roads-2003

In the Present…
    Casandra’s back ached endlessly from being forced into it’s hunched state.
    Everyday, Mark summoned her to the hill overlooking the hordes of training troops. He took no care of her aching muscles at all. She was straightened into an upright position with great force. Her smile had long faded, her body was an endless torment of pain.
    Mark continued to show no mercy or feeling towards her. He just asked meaningless questions day after day. Searching her memory for key points. Sometimes they were mission related, but mostly they were directly of Sertoff.
    The constant pain made it hard for her to concentrate on her thoughts. Every time she thought she was closer to an answer the pain would surge up like a volcano. The small amount of concentration she had, left her. All she could do was pulsate in mind numbing pain.
    Then one day Casandra woke and she was not summoned.
    Jonothan sat on a crate opposite her cage, watching her. “Dey tell me you said I should take Jas ‘an run.” He waved the bars away and watched Casandra slowly sit up.
    “Save her.” Casandra begged.
    “Save her?” Jonothan mocked. “She tore out my heart.”