And I fail. My stomach empties itself, projectile vomiting over my lap, with any luck catching him too. He curses, stepping back, leaving me spasming in the chair as I retch again. My throat’s burning, but I don’t know if it’s the acid from my stomach or the screaming. The cloth slips from my head, catches the arm of the chair, and falls to the floor.
My abductor leans against the table, folds his arms, and watches me.
It hurts to breathe. It hurts to move. It just fuckinghurts.
And I can’t stop my body trembling.
Minutes pass—I think. I have no idea of time anymore. I don’t know how long he tortured me for, how long the clamps were pressed to my head. It could have been seconds, it could have been minutes. Gradually, the worst of the pain passes, leaving a dull, grinding ache that sets deep into my bones.
“Oh, you’ve got a message from Alex. Did you know?”
His words draw my eyes. Turning my head is a mistake; my vision swims before it clears.
He’s holding my phone.
“What’s your pin?”
I want to tell him. I want to know what the message says, knowing whatever it is will be the last I ever hear from Alex. And I sure as hell don’t want him to torture it out of me.
But I can’t speak. My jaw’s locked tight.
He seems to know. “Take your time.”
“Two…”
“Great… great. Five more?”
“Six…”
He whistles a tune between his teeth while I struggle to complete the simple task of speaking a string of words. But the pain is loosening its hold on me, and it becomes easier to speak.
“One… Six…”
“Am I guessing two-six again?” He makes a disappointed noise, even though that’s right. “So predictable. Hmm. The news isn’t good, I’m afraid.” His voice takes on a mocking tone. “‘I know I said I’d collect you this evening, but something’s come up. I’msorry I won’t be able to, but Iamcoming, though it’ll be late. I’ll explain then.’” My abductor drops my phone back on the table. “That must be disheartening. Is that typical behavior?”
Pain on top of pain, and the words of Alex’s message hurt almost more than the shock torture, and certainly bite deeper. “You have no idea.”
“You’re speaking more easily, at least.” He nods to the battery. “That was a five. Shall we try that setting again, or skip to seven?”
I can’t answer; I can’t speak. My stomach clenches, and I struggle, even knowing it’s futile. The ropes bite into my wrists.
He picks up another wet cloth and steps forward, collecting the cables from the floor. “One more with the five, I think.”
“No…” It comes out as a whisper. I can barely hear it; I don’t know if he has. “Please…”
The cloth falls over my head and face. The first clamp lands, and I cry out in fear, anticipating the pain. Then the second touches, and my world turns white. The pain collapses inward, a pounding hammering behind my eyes. Fire scorches all my nerves, and my jaw locks tight… until it doesn’t, and the scream that I release comes from deep within.
The torment cuts off at last, leaving a raw, buzzing misery in its wake, my skull feeling like it split in two. My body heaves, but there’s nothing left to come out. A mouthful of bile, which I spit away. I can’t open my eyes, it hurts too much. The cloth is still there, draped half over my face, but my strength is gone. There’s nofight left.
“Some good news to go with your bad,” my abductor says casually. “Van Wyk will be here soon, and then this will all be over.”
And I’ll be dead.
It’s like those words have summoned him, for we both hear someone coming down steps beyond the door. It’s still open, proof my screams are of no concern to my abductor.
Now Van Wyk has arrived. I think of Juliette. Of Amelia. Am I the next woman he murders?
The figure that appears in the doorway is in shadow, just like my abductor was, and I blink as I see him. I can’t focus properly, my vision swimming, and I lower my eyes. I don’t want to see his gloating face, the gleam of light on his karambit, the curved blade taking my fingers or cutting my throat. Even though I know it’s going to happen, and there’s not a single thing I can do about it.
