The leader's voice is flat.
Dangerous.
"—sector of the entire academy system, and honestly, if you're going to be technical about designations, then you should really consider the geographical implications of?—"
"I saidshut up." He steps closer, one hand moving to the knife at his belt. "Or I'll slice your throat."
I groan.
Loudly.
Dramatically.
Letting my head fall back against the chair with enough force to hurt.
"Thankgoodness." The words come out almost reverent. "I was going to do it myself, but you know how it is when you're suicidal—you start to wonder as to whether there's an afterlife. God. The Devil. Or maybe if there's an afterparty when you die."
The men exchange glances.
I can see the confusion rippling through them—the dawning realization that they've kidnapped someone who doesn't react to threats the way normal people do.
Good.
Keep them off-balance.
Buy time.
"But at least I know if one of you kills me, then I'm guaranteed entrance into the golden gates." I flash a bright, slightly unhinged smile. "Thank goodness, becausefuck, all this thinking is giving me a headache. And when I get migraines, I become more manic and insane, and you don't want to trigger the whole bipolar part of me because she's just cynical."
One-two-three-four. One-two-three-four.
My fingers flex behind my back—open, close, open, close—four times each while I continue talking.
"You know, hearing voices, giggling, a killing machine if you ask m?—"
"NO ONE IS ASKING YOU!"
The shout makes me flinch.
Genuineflinch.
The loudness of it triggers something old and painful—memories of other men shouting, other rooms, other moments when the volume of someone's voice was a precursor to violence.
Don't go there. Stay present. Count.
One-two-three-four.
I whistle, low and impressed.
"Well damn. Don't need to yell."
One of the minions—a shorter man with a crooked nose and the kind of face that suggests he's been punched more times than he's done the punching—mutters something under his breath.
"No wonder why she's packless. She's a nut case."
I pucker my lips, considering.
"I'm not that bad if you get to know me."
