Hey, Astro. Your penchant for present tense is admirable. Might I suggest some ways to improve this particular piece. To my mind, it lacks flow and sensation. I get the impression that you are standing back from the scene and describing individual observations, rather than using the here-and-now capability of present tense to convey Ackley's PoV.

I have amended your first two paragraphs to show what I mean. I'm not suggesting you make these changes in particular, but that you engage the reader in the plight of your character.

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>The door squeaks open and Ackley, hunching in the corner of this stone cellar, looks up. He is cold and hungry. As usual, an unseen figure slides a plate along the floor, out of reach. He catches the jibes of villagers for a second as they tease the guard, then the door slams shut.
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>With stick in hand he shuffles till his chains are taught, slumps to the floor then uses his prop to tease the plate closer. Ackley takes a ravenous bite from the piece of stale bread in his hand. It's not moldy this time.

Cheers.