Dangerous Territory

The Weight of a Whip

"Do it, Jäger. Ten more lashes! Show him the strength of Aryan blood."

Eren weighed the flogger in his hand. A cat-o-nine-tails! The tips already had blood on them. He had never whipped someone before. He had no idea how hard was too hard. He guessed, in this situation, there was no such thing as too hard. Anything weak would be viewed with derision by those around him.

A quick glance at all the surrounding soldiers showed Eren that now he had to be what the Nazi Party wanted him to be.

Cold. Ruthless.

"Do it," Levi muttered.

Eren's jaw stiffened as he shoved down his feelings and froze his heart. "Fine," he growled at Levi.

"Speak it in German, takhshet," he muttered, bracing himself.

Eren bellowed it for everyone to hear. "So sei es." So be it.

The whip slapped down, but even Eren could tell it was a weak hit.

"Go, Jäger! More. In the wrist! Flick the wrist."

Eren struck again. "Du bist nur eine Judensau." You are merely a Jewish sow.

And again! "Du bist nicht mal ein Mensch." You are not even human.

"Du bist ein Untermensch." You are a subhuman.

"Juden sind abscheulich." Jews are loathsome.

Each insult came with a strike as Eren whipped Levi again and again. He had seen punishment like this enough times. He knew what was expected, what to say, what to do, yet he felt disconnected from reality.

This was not his arm.

These were not his words.

"Du bist schmutzig." You are filthy.

"Widerwärtig." Disgusting.

"Abstoßend." Repulsive.

The flogger struck wildly, and Levi sucked in air as it hit up his spine to the back of his neck. Still, Eren watched on in cold detachment.

"Alle Juden müssen sterben!" All Jews must die!

The crowd shouted back, "Stirb, Judenscheiße!" Die, Jewshit!

When the whip came down this time, Levi shrieked and began to go limp. "Putain! Arrête! Halt! Stop! Je t'en prie." Fuck! Stop! I beg of you.

His voice jolted Eren. He looked down at the blood-striped back, then at his hand holding the whip.

Was this his hand? It felt numb. Disconnected.

The whip flew down again and struck Levi despite the cries of surrender.

Levi screamed, "Bon sang, j'ai dit arrête!" For chrissake, I said stop! He panted heavily as his body sank under the pain. "S'il te plaît ... pitié. J'ai trop mal. J'abandonne. S'il te plaît arrête!" Please ... pity. It hurts too much. I give up. Please just stop this!

Despite the pitifully weak cries, Eren felt his hand rise again, but someone grabbed his wrist. He looked over and saw Kitz standing beside him with a proud smile.

"Much more and you really will kill him. Good job, Jäger." Then he shouted to the crowd, "It seems the young lieutenant managed to break the unbreakable Jew."

The crowd cheered, still shouting vile insults at Levi.

"My duty ... to the Fatherland," Eren replied, shaking deep inside.