The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  Dudian leaned against the cage as he took big breathes. He suppressed the pain coming from his body as he listened to mournful screams of the fatty. There weren't slightest emotion in Dudian's eyes as he looked at fatty.

  After a moment, fatty closed his eyelids. He was slightly accustomed to the pain. He fought back the horror coming from his heart. He raised his hands and began to sweep around. He feared that Dudian would take the opportunity and rush to attack him. Moreover he wanted to seize Dudian.

  He knew his eyes were blinded and what it meant for him in the prison.

  Moreover, there was an injured tiger in this cage!

  "Come out!" Fatty growled in anger. Blood dripped from his eyes down to his cheeks and dropped to thick hair on his chest.

  Dudian didn't want to kill him so he silently observed fatty. In case, the fatty was accidentally coming towards his position then he would silently bent over to the iron pillar and tap with fingers to make sound.

  The prisoners who saw Dudian's cunning move felt that if the kid resist fatty and live through then he was going to become a tiger-like existence in the prison.

  Fatty rushed on as he heard the sound. He roared as he raised his hand and punched severly. Instead of Dudian he had hit steel column with all the power that he could muster. As his fist touched the iron pillar he bent around flapping in pain. He didn't came across Dudian's figure and were aware that he was fooled. He didn't re-rampage but stood still. He tried to rely on his hearing to induct the movement around the cage.

  "Pig is refueling, ah!"

  "On your left piggy, on the left!"

  "You're blind piggy! Oh, you're blind!"

  The people from the other cells showed no sympathy to fatty as they deliberately were speaking out loud and laughing to make it hard for fatty to find Dudian. In fact, Dudian was on his right. However the prisoners were clear about unwritten rules of life. They knew that with blind eyes, fatty didn't have a prospect to live. Especially when he had offended an injured young tiger who was living in the same cage as fatty.

  Fatty's hearing was seriously interfered by the coax and shouting from the other cells. He growled in anger: "Shut up! Shut up! Shuuut up!"

  "O, piggy wants to catch the tiger!"

  "Behind you, piggy! Behind you."

  "Piggy, be careful!"

  Everyone was ridiculing fatty. Especially the ones who saw that fatty was listening and responding to their words couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  Dudian sat next to a dark corner. He looked at fatty who was cluelessly rampaging around the cage while surrounded by laughter. The coldness in his eyes gradually disappeared.

  "Where is he!" Fatty growled as he thought of his men.

  Those several men looked to the location where Dudian was sitting. They also saw Dudian look at them. Dudian's hair was scattered and his face was covered in blood. But those pair of cold eyes were preying on them. As one all of them kept their silence.

  One of the men who had a strong physique clenched his teeth as he scream: "Boss, he is in your left, close to the wall."

  Fatty turned to left and moved towards Dudian's direction.

  Dudian's eyes were cold as he dragged his body towards the sturdy youth who leaked his location.

  "Come here, come at me!" The person with the strong physique fad trace of fright in his face as he saw Dudian scurrying to him.

  Fatty also rushed down the source of the sound.

  Dudian saw that the other were hesitating and were about to join the forces against him. Dudian's voice echoed: "Do you guys want to follow a waste? Piss off if you don't want to die!"

  The others who heard Dudian's words immediately went to avoid him.

  Only the stout youth stood there but his face was ugly: "You bastards! If the boss dies he will come after us eventually!"

  There others heard him but didn't respond.

  The youth immediately understood their intentions. He cursed in his heart as he run to the left to avoid clashing head-on with Dudian.

  The cell was big. Although the youth was physically fit and strong but after all he was only an ordinary civilian criminal. So he was quickly forced to a corner by Dudian.

  "Boss, here boss! He's after me!" The youth cried in horror.

  Fatty roared and rushed over.

  Dudian lifted his left hand and slowly moved towards the youth.

  The sturdy youth was retreating but he changed his direction as he lifted his fist and punched towards Dudian's shoudler blade.

  Dudian was intentionally moving slowly waiting for this moment. He grabbed onto youth's wrist, pulled him and turned towards the fatty who was running to them.

  Sturdy youth resisted strongly but unexpectedly the kind who was strangling him was as strong as a steel. Moreover, Dudian was a head shorter than him which made him feel horrified.

  However, the sturdy youth responded very fast. He quickly raised his hand to attack Dudian's other shoulder blade.

  Dudian wasn't going to stop but he was unable to lift his right hand. He saw the youth squat and try to attack again. Moreover the youth screamed: "Boss!"

  Fatty had reached them and punched out. Dudian used the same tactic as the sturdy youth used seconds ago.

  Bang!

  Sturdy youth spewed blood as hit the wall. His face was in pain as he said: "Boss you hit me! He squatted down!"

  Fatty squated and waved his arms to catch Dudian.

  However, Dudian had long rolled away. He was similar to a cat as he had quietly reached another place.

  Fatty waved his hands but didn't find Dudian. He shouted in anger: "Where did he go?"

  The youth who was hit by the fatty began to run around while giving him advice.

  Dudian was extremely gloomy as he changed directions to hide himself from the fatty's clutches. His body was in pain and his legs trembled.

  The others who saw the youth who was accidentally hit by the fatty also began to run around the cell. These footsteps seriously interfered with fatty's hearing.

  Fatty was getting impatient as he hadn't found Dudian yet. He suddenly roared and turned towards the sturdy youth: "Are you playing with me? Do you want to harm me?" He lifted his fist and punched out.

  The sturdy youth shouted in panic.: "No boss! I did not!"

  Bang! Bang! One of fatty's fists punched into bridge of the youth's nose while the other hit his head. The youth fainted on spot.

  The others who observed this stopped on stop afraid to make a sound.

  ...

  ...

  Chapter 147: I'm not like you! (1)

  "Well, you did good," said the prison guard. He shrugged his shoulder as the suspense was gone. He threw two pieces of black bread into the cage and said to Dudian.: "Eat, little one."

  Dudian was relieved and was about to go to pick the bread pieces.

  Fatty roared loudly and rushed along the voice of the prison guard. He indiscriminately touched the ground and picked up two pieces of bread and stuffed them into his mouth.

  "Darn! This piggy!" Prison guard yelled in anger.

  Fatty desperately stuffed the bread into his mouth regardless of guard's yell.

  One of the guards was enraged as he took out the key and opened the cage. He took out a torture stick from the cart and went into the cage. He severely beat the fatty on his back and head. The anger had hit his head so the guard didn't care about fatal points.

  Fatty screamed in pain as he desperately tried to go backwards to run out of guard's reach.

  "You can't eat unless we let you eat!" Both of the guard were angry as they kicked fatty's face and chest. The others in the cage were silent as they saw the guard beat the fatty. They didn't dare get close to the guard. In the prison, the guard were the highest existence who held the ropes of life and death.

  After the constinuous beating by the two guards fatty screamed and howled in pain: "I dare not! Mercy! Mercy Lords..."

  However, the guards didn't stop because the fatty was pleading. T
hey kicked and kicked until the fatty's body had turned into a pool of blood. Both of them spat onto his face, turned and left the cell.

  Dudian saw that a crumpled piece of bread was left on the ground. He wanted to talk to the two guards but hesitated and didn't say anything. He quietly went and picked the piece that was on ground. He crushed it and began to chew it little by little.

  He had not eaten for six or seven days in the detention center. He was very exhausted and it was his first meal in almost a week.

  Prison guard pushed the trolley and continued to distribute the food to the behind in other cells. After they finished both of them pushed the empty cart back as they chatted and laughed.

  The prisoners swallowed their salivas as they heard guards talk about 'roasted chicken', 'steak' and 'foie gras'.

  It was silent all around as everyone was focused on eating as fast as they could the bread that they had grabbed. Afterwards they began to chat in low tone.

  They would talk about scenery, their past and so on.

  Dudian quietly ate the piece of bread. The burning feeling coming from his stomach because of the hunter slightly calmed. His body also restored some strength. Although the thin bread slice that got was not enough to fill his stomach but he had been hungry for so long that eating too much would have hurt his stomach. It was enough for him to digest the slice of bread.

  Dudian half-closed his eyes to rest and restore strength as he leaned against the cage.

  Other's carefully looked at Dudian and the fatty who was moaning as he laid down. Not only Dudian but every criminal who came to this prison would be pierced by spikes. It was the treatment that everyone had gone through.

  The only difference was that after being nailed with spikes no one would be sieged like Dudian. They would have time to recuperate.

  "Boy, what have you done to get in here? hA? Talk about it." A sound echoed from another cage.

  Another prisoner spoke out from another cage: "Ah, yes! You have joined our happy little family but haven't introduced yourself yet!"

  Dudian slowly opened his eyes and coldly glanced at these people.: "I'm not a trash like you. I haven't commited any crime!"

  Laughter echoed out form the other cages as they heard Dudian's reply.

  "Little guy, are you saying that you have been wronged? Right?"

  "Haha, all of us are innocent! There is not a single criminal in here!"

  "Let me ask you, who is not wronged?."

  There was a sudden response coming from different cages to Dudian's words.

  Dudian frowned but didn't say anything. He closed his eyes.

  Dudian suddenly opened his eyes and stared at one of his cell mates who was silently getting close to him. That person stopped and looked at Dudian.: "I didn't offend you! I'm here to look for leftover." He tentatively picked the bread crumbs from the ground. He saw that Dudian didn't respond so he slowly put them into his mouth.

  Dudian saw this scene and realized what was happening. He didn't say anything and half-closed his eyes to rest.

  In the evening, two guards pushed the cart again and entered the promenade. One of them whispered: "Today we have decided to add a benefit. We have steak! Who wants a steak?"

  The silent cells turned into uproar as they heard guards words.

  "I!"

  "I want!"

  "Give me! Excellency give it to me!"

  The guard was satisfied as he saw such a warm response. He raised his hand slightly and spoke in a depressed tone: "There are so many people who want a steak! We will go with the old rules. Do you know what to do?"

  The reaction from each cell died out after the guard uttered out the words.

  Dudian leaned against the cage and watched in silence.

  He saw two people from the cage next to him say: "I want."

  Both of the guards looked at them as if they were dissatisfied with the results: "Only two people? It seems the rest is eating very well!" They saw that there was not reaction from the other cages: " Then you grab it. "

  They opened the locks of the cage.

  There were two prisoners. One of them was 'Scar' who had spoken for Dudian previously.

  "Scar, that's mine!" A golden haired youth came out too.

  Scar sneered: "According to each's ability!" As he finished talking he punched out.

  Dudian looked as they fought out. In about few minutes, both of them separated and Scar won the fight. Some parts of his face were red and swollen. He panted as he said: "I won."

  "I know." The guard delivered the steak.

  Scar's hand was about to reach and grab the steak when the guard released it and the steak suddenly fell to the ground. Dudian saw that there were few rows of bite marks on the steak. It was clearly a leftover.

  The guard sneered: "The fights are getting wrose. Do you think I don't know that you are intentionally acting?"

  Scar's face slightly changed: "How we would dare? I can not wait for guards to take him and peel out a layer of his skin."

  The guard sneered, "That's what you said."

  Scar's expression was the same as he listened to guard.

  The blond who had been beaten down and was lying on ground roared at Scar: "Damn you beast! I curse you!"

  Scar picked up the steak and was locked into the cage. Guard pushed the cart and delivered the breads. Afterwards on their way back they picked the blond and left.

  The heavy air through the corridor was relieved as the sound of doors locking echoed form the end of the corridor.

  "These two damn beasts!"

  "Unlucky Jin."

  Dudian picked up four pieces of bread that were left at cage's door. He looked back at the dark hungry eyes: "Who would like to come and grab them?"

  All of them saw that Dudian had picked up the breads. Coherently they shook their heads.

  One of them spoke in flattering tone: "In the future you are our boss! We will follow all your commands!"

  Dudian was understanding the law of survival in this prison. He didn't say anything as he ate two slices of bread and kept the other two to eat after the midnight.

  The others enviously looked at him but didn't dare come forward to snatch the breads. They could only continue to please Dudian.

  Dudian was indifferent. He was understanding what real power meant.

  At this time, Dudian noted that Scar who was in the next cage didn't eat steak but hid in his arms. He couldn't help but desired the steak.

  Scar noticed Dudian's eyes. He smiled.: "Little guy, big boys call me Scar. How should I call you?"

  "Dean," Dudian replied. He had heard the man's previous words when he tried to rescue him so Dudian didn't have ill will towards him.

  Scar nodded: "You used to be a hunter or a knight from magistrate? You are not a knight of light, right?"

  Dudian wrinkled his brows and didn't answer.

  Scar seemed to realize that Dudian didn't want to go into details so he didn't say anything.

  "Why aren't you eating?" asked Dudian.

  Scar knew what Dudian meant. He sighed.: "Jin is in bitter condition now. I will leave it to him."

  Dudian knew that by saying 'Jin' he was referring to blonde youth: "Were you acting?"

  Scar looked at him and considered for a moment. Afterwards he nodded: "Yes. These bastards out of 'kind heart' occasionally would give us something good. But every time they would want see us to kill each other. So we play along. It is worth the injury."

  "Originally, it would be mine. But these pricks to Jin so I'm going to give it to him as compensation."

  Dudian looked at the other cell and said, "Do the others agree?"

  Scar nodded: "If no one comes up then they would deduct all the food from us. So we must play according to their wishes."

  Dudian went silent as he heard his words.

  More than an hour later, the blod was dragged back by the two guards. Blood was dripping from his body. He was thrown to his respective cage where he laid on the ground for half a da
y without movement.

  After the guard left the Scar shouted twice, 'Jin, Jin' to see if he could react. The blonde moved his head but Scar said: "You take and eat it. You suffered today!"

  Few others helped blonde to get up. He spoke with difficulty: "One day I'll make them pay!" Scar looked at him sighed and shook his head.

  In the blink of an eyes, the middle of night came. Dudian ate the rest of two loaves and closed his eyes to rest.

  It didn't take long when he felt very light voice. He opened his eyes and saw the previous man taking up the bread crumbs.

  The man jumped in fear as he saw Dudian open his eyes. He didn't expect that such a small movement will be detected by Dudian. He quickly explain and apologized.

  Dudian did not say anything and closed his eyes.

  the next day.

  Dudian felt that the pain has reduced a lot. The wound has long scarred. The part where the spike had pierced in was still dull. There was slight ulceration.

  However, there was no knife or first aid kit around. He could only use his saliva to coat the wound.

  There were two meals a day. One at noon and the second one at night.

  At noon they would give three breads. All of them were not exlusive to Dudian. He ate two while he throw out the remaining one to the others. After all the dog will jump the wall in hunger. He wanted his injuries to heal not to tear them apart.

  However, he saw that the others didn't compete for the piece of bread but each shared a small piece.

  Dudian understood that there was no one here who was worthy of trust. But there was a tacit understanding built between each other in order to allow them to survive.

  Like between Scar and Jin.

  The rest of the prison operated same way.

  If you broke the tacit understanding then you were bound to die, like fatty.

  The fatty was seriously injured by prison guards and there was no one to care after him. There would be no treated and injury means that his status will rapidly decline. Unless he was like Dudian, if he could quell others even if he was injured.

  Chapter 148: I'm not like you! (2)

  Fatty gradually woke up by the next night. Fatty groaned as his body was in extreme pain. Especially, the guards had kicked onto the places where he was nailed by spikes. At the moment his body had gone soft and weak so that he didn't have strength to get up.