Stein told me as much. He laughs too close to my face, the scent of iron and rot strong in this underground hovel he led me to and left me in with his guards, all three of them behind me now.
And he’s back, from smoothing things over with his former Duo. From lying through his fucking teeth.
The only sound aside from his mirth is a dripping from the ceiling, water or grime plinking to the cement floor.
My hands are bound at my back in tight metal cuffs, and I sense Stein circling me as his laughter falls away.
I don’t move, trying to steady my pulse. Even my breaths. If I’m down here, trapped with Stein, then he isn’t near her. And the only thing that kept me sane these hours is knowing her dad won’t let her get hurt, not while they’re all together.
But I refuse to think of the doctor. Nearly a worse nightmare; I have done my best to never replay those memories, and focus on my various nurses over the years instead. Stein’s personal doctor never healed me. It was always… the opposite.
“Do you want to know where she is?” Stein asks quietly in the dark, coming to stand directly in front of me.
I see the darkness of his gaze, the whites of his eyes. I’m bigger than he is, but with three armed men behind me and my wrists bound, what does that matter?
I knew this time, he wouldn’t let me run again.
Thisis what I’ve been dreading, no matter how cowardly that makes me, but I tell myself it’s okay.
Better me than her, no matter what.
I don’t answer him but I don’t look away either.
He takes a step closer.
I refuse to flinch.
The scent of his cologne is too pungent, overly rich. I want to gag, but I clench my teeth together and don’t allow myself.
“Do you want to know what I’ll do to her, when we’re done here?” Stein speaks calmly, as if we’re discussing the weather.
I don’t say anything.
I don’t let myself think of her. Of his question.
I hope Von and Isa protect her.
I—
Stein moves so fast I don’t realize what he’s done until it’s too late.
A sharp, blinding pain in my abdomen.
It’s cold.
Wooziness rushes through my head and I briefly, frantically,strangelywonder when the last time I ate was.
Maybe I’m hungry. Perhaps my blood sugar levels are low.
All thoughts tumbling through my brain until I feel something oddly warm along my skin.
And Stein moves back.
The warmth floods, gushing over my hoodie, under it, too.
I try to bring my hand to my center, but the clank of metal reminds me I’m bound.
My knees tremble, then give out entirely.
