Page 116 of Locked in Wonderland

Given the day I’d had and the state I was in, there was no way my body should have reacted to him, but react it did. So much so that I had to force myself to focus on what he was saying.

“We’re not out of the woods yet.”

That much I'd already gathered.

“Right now they’re probably arguing. Kellan isn’t used to anyone saying no to him. You get that, right?”

I nodded.

“And contracts mean nothing to the Harts when they become inconvenient. Once they remember that, I can't guarantee they'll honor it. Not with Kellan throwing a tantrum over losing his toy.” His voice remained low and even. “They'll want to solve both problems at once. Stop me from leaving and put you back where you belong.”

Bile threatened to ignore the presence of the gag. I swallowed it down and forced myself to breathe. I’d already seen enough of Kellan's plans for me. I had no intention of finding out the rest.

“That only gives us a short window of opportunity,” Nico continued. “If we don’t get on tonight’s boat, we’re not getting on one at all. Do you understand that?” I nodded again. “We’ll both be fucked. My rights to come and go as I please will be revoked, and you―”

Yeah… I didn’t need him to spell it out. My future in Wonderland would consist of a period of abuse―short if I was lucky, longer if I wasn’t―and then death. In other words no future at all.

Nico unfolded one of the knife blades. “If I remove the gag, you have to promise me something.”

I nodded enthusiastically. Nothing mattered more than getting the thing out of my mouth and being able to talk again. I'd worn it so long I'd forgotten what normal even felt like.

“You do exactly what I tell you.” The blade hovered near the strap. “No questions. No arguments. No suggestions. This is not a democracy.”

I nodded again. Even more enthusiastically this time to emphasize that I meant it.

Nico looked unconvinced. “Obedience doesn't come naturally to you.” His mouth twisted. “That's why I had to pay so much for you at the slave auction. It's why Kellan wanted you. It's why your face is bloody. That’s why I―” He shook his head. “Never mind. That’s not important right now. The point is that rebellion usually lasts no longer than a few hours here. The fact you've held onto yours this long is practically miraculous.”

I tried to communicate sincerity with my eyes. Apparently I failed because Nico rolled his.

“Turn your head.”

I obeyed. For a moment he hesitated, as though genuinely considering whether removing it was wise. I made the only sound available to me. A small, pathetic whine. It was embarrassingly dog-like. Kellan would have loved it.

A few seconds of sawing and it was done. I eased it from my mouth, glaring at the ball of silicone like it had been its fault rather than the people who’d put it there. It looked far smaller than it had felt. My instinct was to throw it out of the window. However since I’d promised Nico obedience I settled for dropping it on the floor and nudging it beneath the seat with my heel. Once that was dealt with, I worked my jaw experimentally. Everything felt stiff and wrong.

“Better?”

“Yes.” Even speaking felt strange.

Nico produced a bottle of water and handed it over. I hadn’t been given anything to drink since the gag had been forced into my mouth. Despite my raging thirst, I hesitated.

“It really is water,” Nico said dryly. “What reason do I have to drug you? Do you think I want the inconvenience of dragging around a dead weight.”

“You might want me more docile.”

That earned a laugh. “If drugs are what it takes, we’re both in trouble.”

The water tasted incredible and I didn’t stop until I’d drained the entire bottle.

“Don’t worry,” Nico said. “I didn’t want any.”

“Sorry.”

“I'll survive.”

He took the empty bottle back and reached for the partition controls. Before pressing the button, he fixed me with a stare. “I need you to cry.”

Then the partition slid down.