I Refuse to be a Named Character

Part 1

His gaze was direct, intense despite the cracking of the whip on his arm, sending blood flying into the air. We stared at each other, and I thought for a moment he would call out for help, revealing Chloe and me to the guards, but he stayed silent. In his eyes there was only a mild flash of curiosity, which quickly was drowned out by hopelessness. He closed his eyes slowly, as if pretending to have never seen me.

"Come on!" Chloe was pulling on me, her voice impatient, but I stayed rooted in place, my thoughts racing. "We have to go now!"

"They're going to kill that boy, I have to help him." I was shocked by the sound of my own voice. It sounded determined, brave... not like me at all.

"Don't be an idiot!" She glared at me. "Who cares about some nameless slave? He's going to die anyways when Lucien destroys the household. What's the point in saving him now?"

I shook my head, thinking of the hopelessness in his gaze. He seemed... resigned almost, as if knowing without a doubt that no one would help him. The bitterness of it stuck in my throat. "I can't just leave him."

"I'm not going to lose my chance to escape! You can stay here and play hero and be the nameless side character all you want, I'm going to where the story is!" Chloe shoved me away from her, a confident look in her eyes. "If you don't come with me, you'll be stuck here, alone."

I was always the one to compromise, to give in first. Years of being scared of being left behind, being abandoned and not having any family or friends left... years of agreeing with Chloe just to make her happy, to make her stay by my side, until all that was left of my own will and courage was buried deep, unable to be seen even by myself.

But despite the rising panic at the thought of being left alone, I shook my head slowly, calmly. "Then go."

Chloe's eyes widened. "I'll really abandon you! You'll be trapped here! Once I go I'm never coming back for you!"

The panic slowly faded, replaced by a sense of annoyance. "I understand. "

"Fine!" She spat out the word like a curse, then turned and ran out the unguarded gate, heading south. I felt a sense of relief, almost wanting to laugh at how surprisingly easy it had been to let her go. But I didn't have time to think through it further, I could hear the laughter of the men and the crack of the whip behind me. The boy on the ground laid still, blood soaking the dirt beneath him, no longer reacting to Bale's attacks.

"Is he dead?" One of the guards asked.

Bale laughed. "Nah, the little brat is like a cockroach. Best I give him a few more hits to really make sure he learns his lesson. He raised his arm, preparing to bring down the whip again.

No, he's already injured! If he gets hit again, he might die! Panicking, I ran forward, throwing myself over the unconscious boy just as I heard the sound of the weapon whistling through the air.

CRACK!

I bit my lip until it bled, the pain greater than I could have imagined. The whip had struck my back and shoulder, flaying open the cloth and skin.

"What the... get out of the way, girl!" Bale seemed shocked at the sight of me protecting his victim.

I felt lightheaded, as blood ran down from my wound, soaking my clothing, but I stayed in place. Instead I looked up at Bale, refusing to move. I could take another hit. But the boy behind me couldn't. I had to protect him.

"You want to die too?" He snarled at me, raising the whip again. "Fine. Then two brats will die today." He started to bring it down, and I tensed, preparing for the pain.