But then my soul steeled as I thought of the Lord’s Sharing I had witnessed. My broken body wanted to speak them, just for a reprieve. The words ‘I repent’ hung on the tip of my tongue. My breathing hitched as the temptation to submit to Judah’s demands tried to push its way to my lips. Repent and never look at the inside of your cell again.” Repent and join your brother in leading the people to heaven. My heart beat once, twice, three times as his question ran through my brain.

I closed my eyes, praying for absolution. My eyes closed as streams of fresh blood ran down my back, over my dangling legs, splashing to the floor at my feet. “Repent! Repent and declare your loyalty to your prophet!”

Searing agony sliced over my back as the leather belt slashed yet another stripe across my already broken skin. “Repent! Repent and bow down to the prophet!” Brother James screamed as I hung from the chains in the ceiling. Had suffered daily exorcisms and beatings by the new disciple guards. I had been in this cell for thirty-five days. I counted the tallies I’d managed to scrape onto the wall with the sharpened edge of a stone. My vision swam in blurred lines, balancing on the ever-present edge of unconsciousness. I squinted up at the wall behind me, my temples throbbing.

Mass effect redemption graphic novel