Visible Shadows

I awoke, my mind was blurred and my head hurt with a roaring headache. It felt like i had lost in a bar fight of sorts and was waking up in some alley, only the cold biting at my back felt smooth and almost metallic. I went to look around, and to stand up, only to be unable to do both of those things. Moving my head scored me the rubbing of a metal clamp that wrapped around my forehead, and moving my hooves, fore hooves, and wings, only caused me to panic and rustle the chains holding the rest of me down, sending a twisted jingle of chain link echoing through the room.

I let my eyes focus and tried to look around the room with the little head space i was allowed to turn in, which wasn't much. There was a table with various tools on it, a little dull light flickering in and out of existence that was attached to the room and covered with a small glass disc. The only thing this place could remind me even remotely of was the dentist, which made sense with some of the dentistry tools sprawled across the table. I looked down, only to find i was on some sort of metal gurney, with modified straps and chains, as well as bloodstains.

Before i could panic, a door swung open, letting in a brighter light from outside as well as two ponies, both unicorn in origin. They came in with a hushed demeanor, one stopping only to shut the door and start to look through a box just out of sight. The other had different plans then the former, as it came up to be, blocking the flickering light before speaking.

"Sorry to disturb you, I trust you slept well? If not, well you'll have a lot more time to sleep soon enough, traitor" The green coated unicorn spat those last words, before chuckling and turning to her companion. "Are you ready? We need his information before we can even do anything too serious."

The brown coated unicorn nodded and pulled out a long, sharp surgical knife, its tip gleaming in the little light of the room. "Ready" He spoke around his weapon of choice. The green unicorn smiled and turned to me once again. "You have two options, you can either tell us what you know, or we can force it from you, after we have our little fun of course."

What i know? What do they mean? What could they want from me... Then it hit me, they wanted to know weather i was the snitch or not. A memory of everything that happened before the blackout confirmed my suspicions. "Im not a traitor!" I exclaimed, heart beating faster as the brown one smiled and used his horn to levitate the knife, moving it closer to my skin. "Not a traitor? Oh, were so glad you chose the hard way, when you want to Caramel." She snickered to Caramel as his confident stature turned to one of a blushy and frail stallion. "I told you not to call me that, Shimmer" He frowned, before turning toward me again and regaining his old stature.

His blade felt its away around my skin, like a snake hunting its prey, before finally finding purchase just above my cutie mark. I screamed, the pain of the knife carving into me felt wrong in so many ways, and the pain that flared from my rear would of made me vomit if i had anything in my system to let out. I watched as my skin cut, moved, and tore apart, leaving gashes in the wake of the surgical tools precision. I felt the hot tears running down my face, as my body thrashed in its bindings, begging to be let out. The only thing i could manage out was a scream, a cry in the dark.

The two giggled like school fillies and colts, sharing gossip over a meal, before leaning over top of me and kissing each other, the knife still cutting me in various spots along my body. I convulsed in the shock and sudden trauma i was feeling, my mind screaming half thought out commands to each limb, though none were able to follow through due to the bindings i was tied so tightly in. After what felt like hours of this, though it could of only been about 10 minutes, they stopped and looked down at me, the green one sighed and came up behind me. "I hate this part, be ready to catch me Caramel" A grunt of displeasure came from the brown stallion known to me as Caramel, before he made his way beside Shimmer.

I had no idea what they were doing, i had given up struggling at this point and was just crying in my bindings. One of the things they were saying back and fourth caught my ear, though i could tell i missed a lot of the conversation over the pain i was feeling. "-minds. We already know he did it, so why do we have to do this?" She seemed to ask Caramel.

"Because, last time we didn't do it, the boss got really angry. I don't think i will ever feel right again..." He muttered, i heard him shift but never saw how."

"Fine, but you owe me dinner after."

"Deal." They didnt speak anything after that. It was quiet for a long while, too long. I was starting to get scared only to hear a kiss ending from the two behind me. A kiss, really? In a time like this? I felt one of the unicorns gently place their horn against the top of my head, letting his horn start to glow. At first i was confused, right up until the part where i felt the world around me tear apart into blackness, as a wave of forced slumber and numbness covered my body.

I awoke a few hours later, again confused and dazed, numb sparks of pain in the shape of a few lines on my body. I rolled over and pulled the blankets over me, shivering. Why is it so cold? I just want to sleep. Wait, pain? I sat up, moving the blanket away with a forehoof before looking at the already scarring marks that lined my body. It wasn't a dream. Speaking of dream, where am i? I looked around, feeling the soft bed and blanket keeping my lower half warm. Inside the room was a window, the soft light of morning pouring inside, illuminating the dresser next to me with a note atop of it with my name of it. I grabbed the note, casting one final glance at the marble tiles and mahogany wood that created the bedroom i had resided in, before tearing it open with my mouth and pawing it out. After unfolding the paper, I cleared my throat and began to speak what i read as i read it, a habit I've been trying to break since i was 8.

Dear SilverString

I apologize for what the couple did to you, they were asked to go through your memories before they did anything permanent in case you happened to be innocent, which you are. I'm glad to inform you that you wont have to worry about those two love birds again, they decided to go on a permanent honeymoon.

As i was saying, you are innocent and i apologize for bashing your head against the table, but you have to understand the pressure. My family is falling apart, and a new comer is welcomed into the fold right before our hideouts location gets tipped off to the local guards. We barely managed to escape, having lost many family members in the process. Since you are new, i have a task for you. I wish that you find out the snitch among our ranks, and expose him.

Normally i would tell one of my more trusted members to do it or even do it myself, but it makes more sense for you to look since they will be coming for you now.

Best of luck, Moonlight.

PS: You are in my house, if theirs even a single mess, i might finish what the couple started.

I finished reading the note, slumping back into the bed, oh how warm and comforting it was. I was going to have to live with those scars for the rest of my life, assuming i live long, since whoever set me up will be after me now. I groaned and tried to fall back asleep, It was going to be a long day.