ELLIOT

"Mercy, please! Mr. Vittorio… it’s… it’s the Duke! PLEASE, HAVE MERCY, YOUR GRACE!"

One of the prisoners started screaming desperately as we passed, his voice carrying through the small iron-barred window on the heavy steel door.

His cries triggered a chain reaction—a chorus of pleading voices. And yet, down here, there were barely ten prisoners left waiting for death.

"SHUT UP, YOU DAMN DOGS, OR I’LL KILL YOU ALL RIGHT NOW!" Vittorio bellowed, enraged.

The sound of muffled sobs filled t