As Iris’ eyes managed to focus better, she noticed a small bag hanging from the feline’s mouth. It brought her something.
Although Iris was imprisoned in the basement of the mansion, simple air vents still connected the holding cell to the above ground. It seems that Whiskers managed to traverse through the small gap.
The smell of freshly baked bread and seasoned meats filled Iris’ nostrils and she immediately began salivating on instinct. She only received soupy gruel ever since being captured by Gilbert, and he strictly forbade all personnel to feed her anything beyond that. Therefore, Sarah was risking her life by doing what she was doing.
Evidently, her kind heart could no longer take it. Probably everyone in the household knew what was going on down here since Iris’ screaming was not only strained but extremely loud. However, no one dared to stand up to him up until today.
They listened to him either because of fear, because he was their walking, talking ATM machine, or because they just didn’t care. Child abuse was an ugly business but that didn’t change the fact that it was not their business. Furthermore, in this feudal society, even if an uprising occurred and the guards took control, they had no rights to his lands and he wasn’t wealthy in the first place since he spent insane amounts on keeping the military happy, thus there was not much to steal. If he were to die, Iris would inherit everything, and no one knew what a young, tortured child would do to them.
The little girl grabbed for the bag which Whiskers gently placed on the floor in front of her. She opened it carefully and her eyes widened in wonder at the sight of real food: a small loaf of warm bread, a slice of soft cheese, and strips of seasoned meat.
Her stomach gave a loud, eager growl at the sight, and a faint smile ghosted across her lips – almost as if her body were celebrating the promise of something nourishing at last. She lifted the bread to her lips, hesitating only for a heartbeat, and then took a tentative bite. The crust crunched between her teeth, and the soft, warm interior melted on her tongue.
She closed her eyes, savoring every bit of it as though it were a precious gem. The bread tasted like freedom, like sunlight breaking through the endless gloom. For the first time in so long, she felt warmth spread through her chest.
Whiskers watched her while giving a soft purr as he settled next to her. His small pink nose twitched as he nudged his head gently against her arm.
Iris reached into the bag again, pulled out a piece of the cheese, and allowed its creamy, delicate flavor to fill her mouth. It was so far beyond the thin, watery gruel she was used to. The little girl felt herself tearing up as she ate it. She took her time with each bite as every small morsel reminded her of the kindness the old family servant had shown her in secret.
As she moved on to the meat, her stomach gave another happy grumble, and a soft giggle bubbled up from her. The sound was unfamiliar, a strange echo of happiness in the dark, cold cell.
Whiskers meowed approvingly, his furry body curling around her as if shielding her from all the hurt she’d endured. She stroked his back softly with her fingers sinking into his warm, soft fur. “Thank you, Whiskers. And thank Sarah too…” she whispered, though she knew the cat couldn’t convey messages. But somehow, just speaking it aloud filled her heart with a bit of comfort.
Piece by piece, she finished the meal until she had taken the last bite. The warmth of real food filled her belly, and the pain from her wounds dulled ever so slightly, replaced by a great deal of gratitude.
“Meow!” Whiskers announced, then bit into the bag and walked toward the air vent he came through. It seemed he was told to return quickly by his owner.
As Iris watched his retreating form the reality of her situation once again washed over her, but for the first time in a long while the young child slept with a full belly at least.
…
Years passed in this horrible fashion.
Iris went from an extremely young kid to one who was only a single day away from entering her teens.
Gilbert’s insane torturing sessions not only continued incessantly, but they even worsened in their cruelty. By now, her wrecked body was scarred and mutilated all over as the man refused to heal her non-crucial injuries.
It truly was a trial worthy of a primordial to remain sane throughout this simulation. My entire existence felt searing pain every waking moment since my sturdy primordial body was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a young kid’s fragile vessel. Furthermore, the intense mental strain Iris was under provided another nearly impossible challenge for me to bear.
Sarah continued sending Whiskers down with a bag full of fresh, tasty meals nearly every day at night time.
And, yes, Iris was still imprisoned under the mansion after all these years had passed. As long as she refused to play the role of an obedient, loving daughter, Gilbert refused to let her be. If there was one thing that I had to agree with the disgusting father about, it was that Iris was the most stubborn person I’ve ever seen. She gritted her teeth and simply refused to play along with the person she hated the most even though she knew that the life of a noble’s pampered daughter was only a few words away from her.
I was incredibly proud of this precious existence for her immense perseverance, though. I would’ve done the exact same thing in her place if I had a similarly unparalleled amount of mental strength as she did.
Things were finally about to change, however, when Gilbert approached her cell with a tray of warm food and a jovial smile plastered across his evil features.