Emma’s body convulses as carbon dioxide builds inside the bag. The plastic fogs with her breath, then clears, then fogs again as she fights for air. Her legs kick out wildly, heels scraping against the floor. Her fingernails tear at the material until one splits and begins to bleed. She gags inside the bag, her breath growing louder and more ragged.
Sophie holds her steady while Asher keeps the seal tight at her throat. At fifty seconds, Emma’s movements slow. Her hands drop from her face and twitch weakly at her sides.
Elliot lifts his hand. “Time.”
Asher rips the bag off in one quick motion. Emma collapses forward, dragging in a violent, broken breath that turns immediately into coughing. She sucks in air and chokes on it at the same time, her body shaking uncontrollably as oxygen rushes back in. Her eyes are bloodshot, tiny vessels burst around the whites. Saliva and tears soak her face.
Jared breaks free from Elliot and drops to his knees beside her. “Emma. Emma, look at me.”
He pulls her into his arms, brushing damp hair from her face with trembling fingers. “I’m right here. I’m right here.”
Emma can’t answer. She coughs and gasps against his chest, her body shuddering as she tries to regain control of her breathing.
Elliot watches with calm satisfaction, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. “Very good, Emma.”
Emma is still shaking when Elliot shifts his attention to Jared.
“Well, since the two of you are so devoted… it’s only fair Jared gets a turn.”
Jared’s shoulders stiffen. He looks up slowly, eyes wide with dread.
“Fuck, please,” he whispers. “Please don’t—”
Elliot smiles gently, like this isn’t torture but a fond conversation.
“Jared, would you rather…”
Silence tightens around the room.
“…have Emma take the bag again for another full minute…”
Emma makes a tiny terrified sound, part inhale, part sob.
“…or would you prefer to take the cattle-prod shock yourself?”
Jared freezes.
Emma reaches blindly for him, fingers trembling. “Jared—no—no. Please. I can’t—I can’t breathe—I can’t—”
Her voice breaks again into a violent cough. Jared’s face crumples.
He cups her cheek. “I won’t let them do that again. I won’t.”
Elliot tilts his head. “Your choice must be spoken, Jared.”
Jared doesn’t look at Elliot. He only looks at Emma. And whispers, voice shattering, “…shock me.”
Emma sobs and grabs at his shirt. “No—Jared—no—no—”
But Knox already steps forward. He presses the cattle prod into Jared’s ribcage and fires. The sound is a brutal crack. Jared’s entire body seizes, back arching violently, muscles spasming under the current. A strangled cry tears out of him, before he collapses sideways on the floor, trembling uncontrollably.
Emma reaches for him, crawling with shaking limbs.
“Jared—Jared—baby—” She holds his head, sobbing into his forehead. “I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—please, please breathe—”
Jared gasps weakly, chest spasming, eyes glassy, fingers twitching.
Elliot watches them like a delighted spectator.
