blinded by needles
the ice torture the branding iron
tied to a tree chained to the wall knocked unconscious
imagine his gratitude when she bursts in
and saves the day
describe her fortitude

never talk under torture
under deprivation, to redact
to retell the story with the most telling detail

blinded by needles a finger severed

imagine his gratitude when she bursts in
& saves the day
focus on his fear

a pitched battle for freedom
as the tide turns against him
he feels the chill of certain failure
foreknowledge of pain & shame

focus on his fear
on his satisfaction on the burning pain
on the excitement on the reward
on the knife cutting the skin
blinded by needles