“It’s not in their best interest to let you die, rose, especially not this early in the game,” he hummed quietly, like the ghost that haunted your nightmares. “Your best course of action right now is to do everything you can to survive, but do not give them anything, not even false information. That will only lead to worse punishments, and I don’t like to give out hope, it’s againstmybest interest, but these people who have latched themselves onto me will stop at nothing to find you, all that is required of you is to hang on until then.”
They jerked my head up and I coughed and gagged, the water burning my nose.
“Control it, you’re going under in three…two…”
I inhaled again and as if they heard him, they slammed my head back into the water.
My lungs screamed louder this time, begging me to fight, to do something, but I stilled, forcing myself to remain calm. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, and I knew that if I stayed under more than ten seconds, I would start thrashing again, but for now, this was what I could manage.
Focus. I just had to survive a little while longer before I could live. Just a little while longer.
About twelve seconds in, my body jerked, my head pushing back on his hand. I tried to fight against that feeling, but my body was working of its own accord now, my lungs screaming for air as I fought the urge to inhale.
They jerked me out and I gasped, inhaling some water, coughing and gasping for air, my hair soaking through my clothes, warmth spreading between my legs, mixing with the cold water. Dammit.Dammit!
“Oops,” Lillian laughing as I continued to regulate my breathing. “Guess she won’t be needing that bathroom anymore.”
I managed to get one good glare in before I went back into the water.
Over and over again, they did that.
Until spots sparked behind my eyes and my head spun from lack of oxygen.
Until the room started to go hazy and my limbs started to feel heavy.
I lost count of how many times I went under, but it was enough for the bowl to be refilled twice.
Enough for my entire body to be soaked from head to toe.
Enough for Lillian to grow bored of it, leave, and come back with food.
By the time they decided to hang me back up, I wastoo exhausted to do anything but let them. Like a ragdoll. I was barely conscious. Their words sounded far away and underwater, and I half wondered if maybe I had died.
Maybe I hadn’t focused as well as I thought.
Isaak promised to be back later, and they took their things and left, leaving me shivering and exhausted, hanging in the corner of the room. I just wanted to sleep.
“Olivia,” Malachi spoke.
My throat was raw, my lips swollen. “She was eating a hamburger,” I mumbled, my own stomach so filled with water, I couldn’t even fathom eating. “Smelled cheap.” In fact, I felt as if I was going to throw up.
“That’s good, you’re doing great, darling.”
Fuck, I was so tired. Everything hurt. My head hurt. “Ev,” I whispered. I didn’t even have the energy to say his whole name.
“I’m here,” he spoke, his voice shaking in rage.
“Can I go back to sleep?” I asked, unsure why. Rationally, I knew I didn’t need his permission. I knew what his answer would be, I knew I could rest whenever I needed, but irrationally?
I don’t know, irrationally I just needed him to tell me it was okay. I wanted to do this right. I needed to do this right. Follow the rules to the letter.
Protect The Family. Protect him.
“Yeah, pup, rest.”
“Okay,” I breathed out, my lungs sore, my throat raw. “Okay, just for a few minutes. Just for a few…”
~~~
