“Do you know, how, in our religion, we undo your marriage, Mr. Baker?”
I say nothing. Just stare back. My hand slips a little farther in the shackle, bone scraping metal. Warm blood slides down my wrist.
Come a little closer, you fucking prick. I’ll stab you to death with my broken bone.
“We will hold a feast in your honor,” he says.
What?
“You are being cleansed for it as we speak. Then a bolt will be driven into your temple, like livestock. We’ll skin you, section you, and roast the parts. We will all partake. Even. Your. Wife.”
Wait—what?
“So, say whatever you need to, boy. Make peace. Your time on this plane is nearly done.”
I mean…I didn’t even get to tell him to eat me out of spite.
Fine. I’ll make sure I give him indigestion.
Gideon smiles, offers a little bow, and slips out, leaving the threat hanging in the air like smoke.
Ice-cold water pelts my skin again, a sharp slap that shocks me awake.
My chest jerks, lungs refusing to cooperate. Every breath comes in stuttered gasps as my body locks, muscles seizing from the cold. The timed bursts have been breaking me down piece by piece—keeping me conscious just enough to feel every second of it.
The room is dim. Stone walls sweat with condensation. Chains bite into my wrists when I shift, the metal slick with blood. My body’s numb, sluggish, but my mind—my mind clings to one thing.
Sera.
I can’t stop seeing her face. Her hair. The way she looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
She’s my reason for every breath I fight for. I can’t tell how long we’ve been here. Days? Hours?
Footsteps echo through the hall. The door creaks.
Light spills in, blinding and cold.
Gideon enters, flanked by two of his men. Their shadows stretch across the wet floor.
“Your time draws near Mr. Baker,” he drawls. “Let’s see how much faith you’ve got left. Hopefully enough to fill my family.”
“F-f-” I say shivering.
“Forgive you?” Gideon asks. Smiling, leaning closer. “How sad, the fight looks almost gone from you. You were so chatty earlier.”
“F-f-” I try again.
“I will not. I have told you what is to—" He begins to smile.
“—Fuck y-you.” He pauses. Eyes alighting. Before I know it
the first punch lands hard across my jaw. Next the ribs. I take them both, silent, refusing to give him a sound. The chain rattles with each hit, scraping deeper into my skin.
I lift my head slowly, locking eyes with him through the blood dripping down my chin.
“C-cold.” I grind out. This seems to piss him off more.
“H-hey, G-gideon.” I say teeth chattering. “B-bet my dicks still bigger.” I say with laugh, half mad from pain that radiates through me. Each wave of water has me spluttering and grinding my teeth hard enough to chip them, pushing my mind to the brink.
