“Leave the room immediately," Damien said from next door. The extractor didn’t need to be asked twice. He gathered his tray and ran. Damien sighed in annoyance.
I wasn’t being suffocated so much that I was left gasping on the floor anymore. Who knew I’d miss that? Not me.
“Why do you think you miss it?” Doreen asked. I groaned. It was obvious why I missed how things were before I left my room and saw Levi’s rotting corpse. Now, not only was I left with the visual of Damien tongue fucking corpses, but I also had metal shackles on each wrist and a metal collar around my neck. Each was attached to chains that disappeared into the walls. Usually, they were loose enough that I could move around the room. However, whenever anyone came in, Damien picked up his phone, clicked a button, and the chains were pulled tight. At this time, my arms were held wide apart, only able to move a few inches. The neck shackle was attached to the ceiling and was slightly looser.
Also, the oxygen levels were now kept lower at all times. Just enough to be out of breath. No more fluctuations. Just a steady state of mild deprivation. I always sounded as if I’d been running. Panting and inhaling through conversations.
Now, as far as Doreen, my new roommate. It could be the consistent oxygen deprivation. Maybe it was the anemia. Hell, perhaps I’d just had a good old-fashioned psychological break. Either way, Doreen had shown up in my room yesterday and had not stopped with her questions since.
When my chains didn’t loosen after the extractors escaped, I swung my glare to Damien, watching me in his own plexiglass room next door.
“I’ve got some good news,” Damien said. Apparently, this news required me to stay chained up tight.
I took a big inhale. “Yay,” I mumbled.
Damien smiled. Doreen, however, was less entertained by me. She rolled her pale eyes and recrossed her legs in the chair.
“Your partners are on the way here,” Damien said. My mouth dropped open, and my legs gave out. The collar became a noose as I hung from it. After flailing around, choking myself for a few seconds, I finally got my feet underneath me again.
Bree, Nemo, and Orson flashed in my mind. A slow smile spread over my face. I’d see them.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Doreen asked.
Oh, shit.
She was right.
They couldn’t see me. Not only was I looking pathetic, but there was the issue of being deathly toxic. They weren’t supposed toeverbe here. Not to witness me barely able to hold myself up, or to, ya know, die by my hand.
“You said you’d leave them alone,” I said.
“I’mnot bringing them here.” Damien’s eyes slid over the chains holding me up. “They’re on the way here to rescue you. Isn’t that nice of them?” Damien flashed me a smile. “Let’s see, there is a mutated half-vampire hybrid. That’s interesting.”
I glared at him. Hearing him describe Bree like a specimen made me angry.
“A mutated werewolf. That one’s exciting. Injected with the serum in utero—I’d love to figure out his abnormalities.”
I swallowed thickly.
“The vampire, though.” Damien shrugged. “Worst test subjects there are. Although Doctor Orson is still technically an employee.” He tapped his chin.
“Tell them … to leave,” I ground out. Damien refixed his attention on me. My face itched as he looked on. If I had more breath, I’d remind him of our deal. That I was here, willingly. That I never tried to escape. But he knew all that. Damien didn’t forget things.
“Try thinking like Damien,” Doreen said. I sighed. “How are they useful to him?” I shot her a look of surprise. Who knew Doreen could actually be helpful?
“You need them.” I paused to catch my breath. “To control me.”
“Mmm,” Damien hummed. “Lately, I’ve been thinking, why keep reminding you of your past? It’s time to think about your future here at Supra.” Damien walked right up to the separating wall. “You need to let go of them. They hold you back.”
My gut felt tight. “What?” I asked, appalled.
“I’m doing you a favor. Because you’re right, I won’t be able to control you as well anymore. I’m doing that for you.”
“For me?” My eyes widened. Oh, no. He’d fucking lost the plot. “I’mnotyou,” I rasped, thinking of what he did with his own partner.
Damien chuckled. “ Oh, Baz, you just can’t see it. But you will. After this.”
I pulled on the chains. They rattled.
