Short Story: Tortures by Izabela

Where did you get the inspiration to write your story?

I was inspired by a conversation I had with my friend about one of my favorite topics: the Inquisition and some torture devices; although the story in itself doesn't include any real tortures. Another one of my friends also had a major influence on this work: she made me involve myslef into writing a silly novel with her called "A Long Way Home" (it can be read at my deviantArt page). I developed two of the main characters in detail and fell in love with them. The desire to delve even deeper into the character's past and into the world I began to create for her pushed me to writing the story.

What other authors do you admire?

I really admire my the writing of my friend, Harry Dubouzet. His style is really amazing; he is able to make even the simplest of things - like taking a haircut or eating a donut - into a great adventure. Only one of his stories have been published (in a school's publication) but I'm sure some day he will become a well-known writer.

Tell us some of your favourite books and why?

My favorite kinds of books are of the genre I like to call 'modern fantasy'. My favorite writers are Andrzej Pilipiuk and Jacek Piekara. I enjoyed every single book they've written, especially from the Jakub Wedrowycz series by Pilipiuk and the Mordimer Madderdin series written by Piekara (this I have a special affection for as it deals with one of my interests: the Inquisition). Apart from that, my favorites include the Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman and the Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney.



Tortures by Izabela


Blood rushed through my veins as I was sneaking thought the empty corridors. Light steps of my bare feet made no sound that could give my presence away by echoing from the stone walls. I moved noiselessly like a field mouse hiding from a hunting cat; from wall to wall, from bend to bend. Silence was my sister and Darkness was my mother; she kindly hid my form under her gown.

I halted before the bend. Only a dozen feet was left between me and the freedom: I could almost see the plain behind the mountains of obstacles. The hardest task was still waiting for me though.

I sneaked a quick look out of the corner. The door to the stone giant's cavern was open, standing out like hydra's teeth. On the wall were the torches that casted shimmering light that brought to mind a dance of wicked demons. I looked around. The cradle of all evil was gaping open but its guard and master didn't watch at his sentinel. This was my chance.


With the speed and agility of a panther hunting down its prey, I leaped forward and rolled across the floor, reaching the entrance. The vast wooden door shielded me from the devilish lair, the flames creaking ominously right next to my ear. I took a deep breath, trying to summon some courage, readying myself for the final move. With my strength gathered, I left my cover, my back hunched, and dashed in front of the cavern's doorway, to hide on the other side.

I made it! I had the urge to jump high with a call of triumph on my lips, but every sound could still lead to my undoing. So I bit the side of my mouth, trying to hold back my glee. I darted straight ahead, taking in two skips the remaining way that separated me from the bend marking my freedom. Just to be sure, I chanced a look back; it would be really unfortunate if I were to be spotted and caught right now, on the very threshold of liberation. My eyes skimmed through the sinister corridor, seeing no one. I sought refuge behind the protection of the wall. I was safe. Reddened with pride, my face turned towards the passage opening before me that was to lead me towards freedom with no more commotion.

What I saw there caused a trickle of cold sweat slide down my spine. From the direction of where the happiness was to await me, the Golem paced towards me. His heavy ungainly steps shook the floor. The stocky body blocked out all the light, casting a long shadow on my small form. Grotesque eyes narrowed as they detected me: a prey he wished to hunt. He approached me and I smelled the repulsive odor of his breath. He huffed with approval, opening his jaws, from the depths of his throat releasing a mighty roar…

"Ah, Unikko! Where do you think you are going, you insolent wench?!"

Paralyzed with fear, I couldn't react, when he clutched my neck in an iron grasp and dragged me behind him. Straight to his dungeon he took me, where he intended to subject me to malicious tortures. Maybe I should have screamed, maybe I should have begged for help; but my voice didn't want to leave my gullet. At any rate, I was lost. Nothing more remained for me to do apart from accepting my fate.

The giant lugged me to the very middle of his lair and tossed me like a rag doll on a plain wooden chair. The piece of furniture was nothing like the iron chair; however the fact didn't make the perspective of long hours of tortures any less dreadful. All around me, sitting on chairs just like mine, I saw young boys of different age: other victims of the monster, waiting for the torments he intended to visit on their poor bodies and souls.

Grotesque eyes took into the sight of his dungeon with contentment, monitoring his preys. With slow steps, panting loudly, the golem shuffled to the very end of his cavern. That was where, by the farthest wall of the cell, on a mighty oak table, he kept his treasures: the instruments of torture. His face showed contemplation, almost unimaginable thing considering his foolish apparition. He assessed the tools, selecting just the right, the perfect one to bring us pain. At last, he raised one of them and, wielding it with an almost devout solemnity, he turned toward us with a baleful smirk.

"Take out your parchments and quills. Today we will be duplicating the thankful hymn 'Oh Father, Thou Hath the Time Moveth'."

I whimpered in my suffering, as the tortures started. I was sure that no later than an hour would pass till I beg for a quick death.