Irina woke up chained to a bed. Her entire face was one continuous wound, and her throat hurt so badly that even swallowing was difficult. Her hands were tied behind her head and fastened to the bed’s bars, while her legs were stretched apart and strapped with belts. Irina turned her head to the right, where on a small table by the window there were three lit candles, and beside the candles lay some strange instruments. There was so little light, and her gaze was so clouded with pain, that she couldn’t make out who had beaten her.
“Kill me!” was all she could say through the pain.