Handcuffs. “What’s wrong? So scared you have to cuff me, Kate?” I tease, my words clipped.
She scoffs at my innuendo. “As if. It’s just protocol. Now get up.” But she contradicts herself and kicks my side. Her hand grips the chain in between the cuffs, like she was planning on dragging me out of here, and I seize my opportunity.
With every ounce of energy I can muster, my hands grip around her wrist, and I lift my legs up in one motion, securing my legs around her neck and pulling her over me. Her scream of surprise ricochets off the walls, and I hear the pounding steps of guards rushing toward the chaos.
I haul her up, pinning her back to my chest. “I thought you weren’t scared,” I breathe in her ear. All the air I lost is back, my stunt surprising her enough to release the hold she had on my supply altogether.
She lets out a guttural cry when I grip her hair and smash her face into the bars. Quickly bringing my hands up and over her face, I wrap the chain around her neck. She grapples against the restraint, trying to gain purchase and free herself, but she won’t—not unless someone physically drags me off her. And if they do that, I will be taking her fucking head with me.
The girl in the cell stares at me in astonishment. I can’t tell if she’s disgusted or rooting me on. I don’t give a fuck. I’ll get her out. I have to.
The guards pile into the room, and I can’t help but look at their starstruck features.
“What’s up, boys…or gals? Did you come to watch the show?” Just as the words leave my mouth, my whole body locks up. Electric shock courses through my body, and I seize.
My grip goes lax, and Kate drops out of my hold, crawling away as fast as she can. My knees hit the ground first, and my bones rattle, but another current pitches me forward, and I smack my face against the unforgiving concrete. Blood pools under me, and the taste of copper infiltrates my senses.
Another shock comes, and I’m forced onto my back, my bodywithering, trying to get away.
“She’s crazy!” Kate gasps. Maybe I am, because even as the current rushes through me, I can’t help the sinister smile that pulls at my lips.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” I egg them on. It works. Shock after shock greets me, and I’m desperately praying that one will push just enough to let me finally be at peace.
“Enough!” his voice reverberates, bouncing off the metal bars and sending another type of shock through my system. Instantly, my smile fades, and I slam my eyes shut. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to hear him. I just want him to leave me the fuck alone.
The bolts still run through my body as he nears, and I squeeze my eyes tighter in tandem with his steps, but my body stays unmoving aside from the involuntary jerks.
In one swift motion, Callum yanks me up, gripping the chain that binds my hands, and tosses me over his shoulder. The movement makes my stomach lurch, and it finds a new home against his shoulder. The little food I have stored there threatens to come up, but I push it down.
As soon as we make contact, the electricity dies, and my body sinks with relief. Once I have my bearings, I thrash, trying to break free, but his arm is slung over my back, holding me captive against him.
My body is overexerted from trying to fight my way out of the cell. Though it was fun, it was useless. I should’ve known better. But in the moment, it didn’t matter whether I was making it out or not. Any consequence would’ve been better than what it felt like when the biggest betrayal of my life stepped foot inside.
The long walk and the smell of bleach lets me know exactly where we are. I let my body go limp against him, despite all my instincts screaming at me to get away.
But I can’t.
Not gentle in the slightest, he slams me down on the patient bed. All the plans of swiping something off the table are gone as straps are pulled over my body, keeping me pinned.
Finally, it’s time.
When I open my eyes, I expect to see Callum, but instead, Kate looms over me, examining my body.
“You’re going to pay for that little stunt,” she seethes. Her hand raises and strikes me in the face. My head snaps to the side as the taste of copper instantly fills my mouth. My tongue snakes out, and I wince when it runs along a cut on my bottom lip.
I let the blood trickle out the corner of my mouth, like a river of crimson exposing all my sins.
“Gods, you’re pathetic.” She spits. Literally. “But just because I can’t kill you, doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun.” Kate has that glint in her eye, the same one she used to get when she had a great idea.
They were never that great.
Her next move comes faster than I can process. Even if I wanted to react, I couldn’t. She drags a blade down my arm, and I let out an ear-piercing scream. My vocal cords tear from the strain, and it feels like I’m swallowing nails, chest heaving with each breath I hiss through clamped teeth. Spit and blood fly out through my mouth, dropping back down, splattering across my face.
Fucking gravity.
“Do you know how many times I dreamed of doing that?” She beams, like a weight has been lifted off her chest and she can finally breathe.
I don’t respond. Not that there’s a chance to before she’s taking the knife and plunging it into my thigh. My eyes pinch closed, and I wait for the pain to subside.
