31

03:34

You could ask her again and again what she felt when Jacob entered the chamber with three other enormous men and told them to beat her. You could ask her about the pain that she felt, the pain of broken ribs, the insufferable torment of broken teeth and blood spreading from her mouth. You could ask her about how it was to be raped by three men one at a time for hours. You could ask her what it was like being observed by Jacob, leaning against the wall, smiling viciously, satisfied at his form of punishment. You could ask her but what was the point?

'Leave this bitch here', were his last words and Gemma was left in her chamber.

She woke up the following day with pain that couldn't be described in words. It was so strong that she lost and regained consciousness, she couldn't speak, she couldn't even moan. Her dress was brown from the blood that flooded from between her legs. Her body was blue from the bruises. She couldn't see clearly in one eye. There was no one there to help her.

For days she was lying on the floor.

And when the strength started coming back to her, she left the palace and entered the same train that took her to N., this time: back to where she started her journey.