5 Chapter Four.

Rope swings hung from the ceiling, stained with blood. Ruby noticed that none of them were being used at the moment, but only feet away a young girl was shackled from the ceiling, forcing her body to perform a scorpion, permanently.

"Don't run, my love. That's Olivia. She's only practicing her stunts for the show." The man said, his smile never fading as if it were glued to his face.

"What show?" It took everything in Ruby's body not to stutter.

The man lifted his hand, striking her across the face, "Don't you dare ask me questions!"

Ruby gritted her teeth and turned her head to scan the rest of the room. In the corner, another female hung from a silk ribbon that wrapped around her body. Her arms and legs were both pulled behind her, leaving her body in an upside down arc. She didn't seem to be awake. Or alive.

The man began pulling her towards one of the rope swings, "The show is soon, dear! You'll need to practice hard if you are going to be ready in time!"

He forced her to stand up on the seat of the swing, shackling her hands above her head.

Ruby held the ropes for extra support, her arms instantly starting to ache from the pressure of holding them up.

"I'll leave your legs unshackled, love. But remember, you can't sit! We don't allow laziness around here." His smile grew even more.

She knew he was taunting her. She couldn't sit even if she wanted to and she supposed that was the point of the cruel joke.

The man left without another word and Ruby heard the hidden door close and then above them, she heard the dull sound of stairs creaking, getting quieter and quieter until it disappeared all together.

Her eyes instantly went to Olivia. Her matted, blonde hair was pulled back with a ribbon to keep it out of her face. And just like Ruby, her face was painted with blood.

She wanted to speak, to say something, but she didn't know what, so instead Ruby began working away at her restraints.

The cold metal bit at her skin, causing them to quickly rub raw with her every movement.

"It's no use." A soft voice said.

She looked up to see that Olivia had her head turned slightly in Ruby's direction. "How long have you been here?" She asked, trying not to sob.

Olivia's voice held no emotion, "Too long."

"What about that girl? Is she okay?" Ruby asked, looking at the girl wrapped in ribbons.

"That's Davina. She's been here longer then myself. She usually just sleeps away our time here"

Ruby stared at the red-head. She supposed whatever nightmares Davina suffered from in her sleep must be better then their cold reality.

She turned back towards Olivia with a questioning look, "What show is he talking about?"

Olivia sighed, "A show of torture."

The words seem to sink directly into Ruby's gut, causing a new fear to spread.