12 Days of Whumpmas 2021 Six Geese A-Laying: Blackmail | Countdown | Last-Minute Relief
12 Days of Whumpmas 2021 Masterlist / Of Vampires and Men Masterlist
Takes place right after Surrender
CW: Vampires, POWs, muzzle, broken bones, chronic pain, restraints, gun, fear of death, mock execution, multiple whumpees, team whump
Micah and his men had been split between two carts, which were currently making their way through the mountain pass into Lucia. Micah leaned against the wooden slats, exhaustion tugging at his bones. The muzzle was still firmly fastened to his face, painfully tight, and he had lost feeling in his hands long ago from the shackles. He looked at his men and saw only dejection. Every bump in the road jostled the cart and its occupants. Every bump took them farther away from their homeland. It was many hours before the cart finally rolled through the gates of Fort Norris. The stillness felt odd.
The door at the back of the cart was unlatched. “Get out,” a voice snapped. Micah slowly got to his feet, wincing at the sore muscles in his legs. He stepped out of the cart into the courtyard at the center of the fort. Tall walls surrounded it, and metal bars were inset into the walls. Micah just was able to make out faces looking through those bars, studying the newcomers.
“Get up,” a voice said. Micah turned to see one of his men, Hadrian, collapsed on the ground. Micah felt a twinge of fear. Hadrian was his oldest soldier and he couldn’t move as fast as the rest of them. When Hadrian didn’t stand quickly enough, the Lucian drove a kick into his side. Micah heard something snap just before Hadrian screamed. “Get. Up.”
Hadrian tried to get to his feet, but only made it to his knees before he collapsed again.
“Pathetic,” the Lucian said, spitting at him.
“Lieutenant, I told you that you had to keep control of your men,” Weisman said, resting a hand on the back of Micah’s neck. Micah turned towards him, eyes wide, the muzzle still firmly fastened and his wrists bound behind him. How could this bastard expect him to do anything like this?
Weisman reached over and undid the muzzle, pulling it off of Micah’s face. Micah opened his jaw, trying to soothe the sore muscles. “Well Lieutenant. Go make your man comply.”
Micah walked over to Hadrian, kneeling down next to him.
“Hadrian, please you have to get up,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry sir… my knees are killing me. I can’t move,” Hadrian winced in pain. Micah glanced over at Weisman. He looked bored. Micah knew that boredom meant danger.
“Please Hadrian, please,” he said. “I can help you up. Put your hands on my shoulders. I’ll help support you.” Hadrian grunted before placing his large hands on Micah’s shoulders. Micah awkwardly struggled to his feet with his hands tied behind his back. Hadrian hissed in pain as he stood next to Micah, leaning heavily on him.
“Charming,” Weisman said, arms crossed. “Now he needs to stand on his own.”
“I don’t think I can, sir,” Hadrian whispered in his ear. Micah froze. Oh gods.
“Well, I’m waiting,” Weisman said, a note of anger in his voice. Hadrian let go of Micah’s shoulders. He wobbled for a second before falling back to the ground, legs shaking. Micah’s heart dropped.
“You Torins really are pathetic,” Weisman snarled. Then he grabbed Micah by the shoulder and dragged him to the center of the courtyard. Weisman forced him onto his knees than fisted a hand in his hair, pulling his head back painfully. Micah whimpered.
“I told you that you had to keep your men in line, Lieutenant. Clearly you’re not up for the task.” Weisman pulled a pistol out and pressed it against Micah’s temple. Micah stopped breathing.
“Please sir,” he whispered. “I can do better, I promise.”
“I don’t think you can. You’re useless to me, and I’m not going to waste precious resources keeping you alive. If I kill you though, maybe it’ll send a stronger message. Weisman pulled back the hammer, the soft click seeming to echo through the courtyard.
“I’m going to count down to ten, then I’m going to blow your brains out. Goodbye, Lieutenant.”
Ten
Terror clutched at Micah’s throat he couldn’t breathe gods he couldn’t die yet he didn’t want to die
Nine
What were his siblings going to do without him?
Eight
Maria and Yorick and Otis and Theresa and Georgette. Their faces flashed across his mind. Mich hoped they would forgive him for dying. For leaving them alone.
Seven
Gods, what would happen to his men? They would probably be killed too. Micah had failed them. He was sobbing now, tears running down his face.
Six
Gods gods gods the numbers felt like they were coming faster now.
Five
Guilt stabbed at Micah’s stomach.
Four
I’m sorry Aaron. I’ve failed you.
Three
Micah closed his eyes, his body shaking with sobs.
Two
His heart stopped beating as terror lanced through his entire body. This was the end.
One
Weisman pulled the trigger. But nothing happened. Micah opened his eyes, staring up at the sick smile on his torturer’s face.
“Next time it will be loaded, Lieutenant,” Weisman said with a smirk. He slid the pistol back into his holster.
“Throw them in cell E,” he said, waving a hand at the guards before walking away. Micah couldn’t get to his feet, he was shaking too much. Oh gods oh gods oh gods. Two guards grabbed his upper arms and dragged him to the cell.
They slammed the door shut and Micah slumped to the ground, numb. He was alive. He was alive and a prisoner and his life could be ended on a whim. All he had wanted to do was protect his soldiers, and Weisman was going to use that against him. Micah closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the cool stone wall. He was well and truly screwed.
