"She wasn't just hurting—she was unraveling, thread by thread, under hands that didn't care who she was, only what they thought she knew."_Unknown
Maeve blinked her eyes open, her head pounding like a war drum. The world around her was blurred, unfamiliar.
The air smelled sharp—acrid, metallic—mixed with something fouler, like mold and blood. The walls were painted navy blue. Strange choice for a room this empty. Aside from a lone table and two chairs pushed into a corner, there was nothing.
She reached up instinctively to cradle her throbbing head, but her hands wouldn't move. Manacles bit into her wrists, bound to chains bolted into the wall. She wasn't gagged, but her jaw throbbed from the pressure building behind her eyes.
She sat slumped on the floor.
Then the memories surged.
Katya. The mall.
Noelle's shrill scream when the bullet tore through her thigh.
Maeve began to sob, her breath hitching uncontrollably.
She had been kidnapped.
Her mind raced, trying to recall the faces of the men, but they were blank. Were they targeting her because of Levi? Was this about ransom?
She cried harder, her guilt sinking deeper.
Not even a year into marriage, and I've already become a burden...
He didn't deserve this. Not this.
The metal door screeched open, flooding the dim room with light and temporarily blinding her.
Footsteps. Heavy. Measured.
Then she saw him—the man who shot Noelle.
Terror seized her body.
"Well, well… Sleeping Beauty is awake." His voice was smooth, mocking. "You're crying already? But I haven't even started yet."
Maeve swallowed hard and remained silent, stifling her sobs. If she stayed calm, maybe he would spare her.
He crouched in front of her. "We're just going to have a little chat. Nothing too painful—if you cooperate."
She nodded, barely.
"Have you ever heard of the Bratva splinter cell?"
She shook her head, confused.
His eyes narrowed.
"What about Vadim?"
Another shake.
Vadim?
The slap landed fast. The sound echoed in the hollow room, her head snapping sideways.
"I swear, I don't know anything!" Maeve gasped, trembling.
Another slap. Harder.
Her body slumped forward, held up only by the chains. Sobs racked her as pain bloomed across her face.
"That was a trick question, sweetheart," he said, standing. "And you failed."
Maeve's breathing quickened.
"You're telling me… you don't know the father of your husband? You think I'm here to play games?"
Her heart dropped.
She stayed silent, eyes shut, body trembling. The pain in her head multiplied like fireflies behind her eyes.
"Do you know who I work for?" he asked.
"No," she whispered, still curled inward.
"Do you know about a weakness that we can use against Levi."
"No." Which kind of questions were this?
A pause.
"You're choosing the hard way," he murmured, stepping back.
He turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open.
A minute passed. Then two.
He returned with a silver case in hand. Dropped it on the table with a loud thunk.
Maeve flinched.
He came straight for her, grabbing the manacles and unlocking them. She instinctively tried to pull back, but he yanked the chains downward. Pain surged up her arms, ripping a scream from her throat.
She sobbed harder.
He hoisted her effortlessly over his shoulder and dropped her onto the cold metal chair. Then came the black cuffs—heavier and thicker than normal ones. Her wrists were locked in place against the arms of the chair.
"Please," she begged through tears. "Please let me go. I don't know anything. I won't tell anyone—just let me go."
Her beautiful face was slightly swollen and red from the slaps, her hair disheveled.
He smirked. "Honey, you're the one making this difficult. All you have to do is answer truthfully."
Maeve knew he was lying. She wasn't getting out of this alive.
He picked up a remote.
"You know what this is?" he asked, casually raising it. "A controller. For that torture device on your wrists. Press this button…" He pointed. "And needles will shoot out from inside the cuffs—straight into your flesh."
Maeve's eyes widened in horror. Her breath caught. She could already feel phantom pain.
"All you have to do… is answer," he said gently, like a patient teacher. "Okay?"
She nodded, barely.
"Do you know Alexander and Evangeline?"
Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened.
Her parents.
Why was he asking about her parents?
"Y-yes," she stuttered. "They're my parents."
"Good girl," he said, hovering his thumb near the remote. "Simple, right?"
He stepped closer. His tone darkened.
"Where is the information capable of destroying the BSCs?"
"What?" she gasped. "I don't—I don't know what you're talking about!"
Click.
The pain was immediate and searing.
Maeve screamed.
Blood trickled down from her wrists, her whole body writhing in agony.
"I don't know!" she sobbed. "Please! I don't know anything!"
Her tears blurred her vision. Her shoulders shook violently, panic overtaking her completely.
"Next question," he said, unfazed. "Do you know any way we can infiltrate the compound?"
"N-no! I don't! Please, please, I'm not who you think I am—!"
He chuckled, wicked and cold.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
And then the screaming continued.
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