APPRENTICE TATE Chapter 1 - Atonement

Walking into that dark candle lit room was the most intimidating thing I've ever done. Three, masked, suited men sat on antique chairs in front of me. Two of them stood and pulled a piece of black fabric away from the top of a long, low table. A series of pegs of increasing sizes had been attached to it. My body froze as I realized what was about to happen. At that moment, all three men pulled their masks off. I instantly recognised two of them as Master Barrett and Grandmaster Marko. Master Barrett stood and started to undo the buttons on my shirt. A rush of uncontrollable excitement swept through my body. Once naked, I was instructed to move to the head of the table. Master Barrett prepared the smallest of the pegs with oil and I lowered myself down onto it. Grandmaster Marko then instructed me to move onto the next four pegs, which increased in size. By the fifth peg, I felt as though my entire body were being torn apart.