Splash.
Ice cold water drenched me from head to toe. My body burned with pain, faint marks covered my torso. Lucian stood in the shadows, his eyes glinting with twisted interest.
I struggled with all my might but the chains refused to move. Footsteps echoed closer and closer. I shut my eyes—then—
"ARGH!"
A sharp strike landed on my stomach. Pain exploded through my being and tears spilled from my eyes.
"Hmm. What's so special with 091?"
'Damn psycho..."
***
'Where could he have gone?'
I had been searching for Adrian for some time now, with no idea where he could run off to.
"Madam Vivienne!"
"What is it?"
"It's—It's Adrian! He's missing!"
"Calm down. He's probably in his room."
"No! I looked everywhere!"
"That's… strange."
"Why?!"
"The CEO mentioned he had a new… interest. We must go to the freezer!"
Both Madam Vivienne and I rushed there.
'Adrian…. please be safe!'
***
"Huff... Huff…"
"Magnificent! You've endured fifty strikes! No one has even reached ten! How splendid!"
His smile stretched from ear to ear.
'I need to... get way. I... can't just... die... here...'
"What a feisty one! No matter. I'll finish this—"
"Halt!"
A commanding female voice echoed through the room. Even with my eyes closed, I recognized it—it was the Vice. And… another set of footsteps?
Gasps filled the air. More people had arrived.
Whispers spread as I slowly opened my eyes.
-Is this the Ceo's cruelty?
-Poor thing…
-Sucks to be him, hahaha…
Some sounded sympathetic. Others mocked me.
I wanted to throw up. All those stares… they made me feel exposed.
My vision blurred again.
Someone please, just get me out of this hell.