It's Cora I worry about, not me. But even then, she volunteered, and literally forced the issue of her coming, so there's a sense of responsibility on her own behalf that she's going to have to come to terms with.
"Are we going to stand out here all day or what?" Cora says while tapping the toe of her boot to the ground.
"Come on, Angel." Silver slides his hand around hers and takes off toward the door to the building.
Miller walks a bit faster to get in front of them, and I follow up the rear because I don't really know my place in this.He opens the door for the rest of us and we step inside, the scent of dirty metal and plastic hitting me the second I'm inside.
It takes my eyes a second to adjust, finally settling on the man tied to a chair in the near distance, thick plastic coating the concrete floor around him. A single bulb dangles in the air above him, lighting up the space like he's the opening act at a show. Near him are various trays and if I'm not mistaken, they’re lined with countless devices to torture him with. Although, from my spot near the door, I can't quite tell.
Another guy greets Silver, the two of them exchanging a few words before the man walks past us and slips out the door we just came in, leaving the rest of us behind.
Miller turns toward us, his attention focused on Cora. "You can leave at any time, okay? You don't have to be here if you don't want to be."
Cora stares up at him. "I want to be here." She doesn't appear nervous, not in the slightest. I can't tell if that's good acting or if she really is totally okay.
"Aren't you worried he's going to be able to identify us?" I ask Miller, my gaze trailing past him to the guy who's tied up.
He lowers his voice. "He's not going to make it out of here alive."
Cora doesn't even flinch, she simply blinks at him as if what he said was a completely normal thing for a person to say.
I knew shit would be brutal in here, but killing someone, was I really prepared for that?
There's no backing out now, especially since Cora is on board with whatever it is Miller and Silver have in store for this guy.
"Let's get this over with," Silver says. "You two keep your distance."
I nod in agreement because what other choice do I have.
Silver and Miller leave me and Cora where we stand, the two of them approaching the man they wish to harm.
"You good with this?" I lean over and ask Cora.
"If it gets us answers, yeah." Cora turns her head toward me. "Are you?"
"Yeah, for sure," I lie.
She points ahead to a pillar a bit closer but still far enough we shouldn't pose a distraction. "Let's go over there."
I place my hand on the small of her back and guide her over to the spot she suggested, pretending in my head that this is some kind of date we're on.
Cora leans against the sturdy surface, and I place myself behind her, still being able to see over her head with ease.
We don't speak as we watch Silver and Miller start what they came here for.
Miller snaps something underneath the nose of the man who was sitting there, unmoving.
He jolts to life abruptly, his head whipping around until he settles on Miller. "The fuck?" he blurts out.
"Harry, my guy, good morning." Miller crosses his arms and looks down at Harry.
Harry pulls at his confinement, his forearms attached to the metal of the chair arms, and his legs secured to the bottom. There's no escaping and I can only imagine he's just realized this. His sights land on Silver, who is busy determining which torture tool he plans on using first.
"What's this about?" Harry asks, turning his main focus onto Miller.
"I think you and I both know what it's about," Miller tells him. "Now, you can tell me what you know, and we can make this painless, or well, do I really need to explain the rest?"
"I'm not saying shit." Harry chooses the worst option possible.
