Emil!” I screamed, pounding on the window. How could he do this to me? I had trusted him, and he had just thrown me to the lions like a piece of meat.

Suddenly, Mavis yanked me back into his body. Since my wrists and ankles were tied, it made fighting him off all the harder. Nonetheless, I did everything I could to ward him off, but it wasn’t enough. His hands continued to roam my body, pawing at my curves, the smirk on his face becoming permanent.

“Oh, I’m going to have so much fun with you,” he chuckled.

“Go to hell!” I screamed, thrusting my head back as hard as I could. I groaned in pain as it collided with his face.

“Fucking bitch!” he roared, holding a hand to his now bleeding nose.

“Can you get her under control?” Roxanne asked, her expression bored.

“I’m trying. She’s a feisty one.”

“Well, if you don’t succeed, she won’t be the only one screaming tonight. You got that?”

Fear flashed across his eyes. Quickly, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a switchblade. With the press of a button, the sharp edge came within inches of my face.

Fuck, I was in trouble now.

“Don’t damage her,” Roxanne growled.

“No promises,” Mavis answered, pinning me down onto the seat.

I wiggled underneath him as best I could, trying to defend myself against his advances, but as soon as I felt the cold metal against my neck, I stopped, frozen in place.

“That’s right,” he mused. “Now, be a good little girl and no one will get hurt…” He brushed back my hair. “At least… not yet.” He laughed like a madman as the car continued down the highway, bringing me toward my unknown fate.

In that moment, all I could think about was my daughter. What would happen to her if I died?

No. I couldn’t think like that.

One way or another, I’d survive this. I had to. For her sake.

Still, even as I racked my brain for every ounce of training I’d had, I came up short for options. There was nothing I could do but go along for the ride.

* * *

We drove for what felt like an eternity. I had a hunch that Roxanne was doing circles just to disorient me. It was working. I had no bloody idea where we were.

But finally, she stopped the car. I lifted my head, trying to see out the window, but before I could do so, Mavis grabbed me by the hair. “Close your eyes,” he hissed, with a knife once again against my neck.

I did as he said. He didn’t seem like the most stable of characters. The last thing I needed was for him to lose his cool, especially when I was tied up and helpless. I would make my escape, but I needed to wait for the perfect moment. Making a rash decision would only get me in trouble.

Soon, he tied a blindfold around my head and pulled me out of the car. The cords around my ankles were cut. For a moment, I thought about kicking him and making a run for it, but there was little chance of that actually working. So I suffered through the humiliating march into the unseen building.

Suddenly, I was thrown into a chair. I gasped as the air flew from my lungs. With my mouth open, they took the opportunity to stuff it with a gag that made my cheeks bulge. I tried to spit it out, but already, duct tape was being wound around my head.

This wasn’t good.

If Roxanne wanted VanGuard secrets, then she needed me to talk. The gag meant she was more interested in torturing me.

When rough hands grabbed my wrists, I lost myself and struggled as hard as I could. I nearly freed myself, but before I could succeed, a stabbing, electrifying pain shot through my thigh. It pacified me in a second, my muscles turning into mush.

Roxanne took off my blindfold and smiled at me, a cattle prod in her hand. “I’d suggest you be a good little girl.” She brushed back my hair with the tip of the torture device, her eyes shining brightly.

This woman was sick in the head.

How did people like this even exist? It didn’t seem possible that anyone could be this evil, yet as I looked into her eyes, they were as dark as night. This woman had no soul; she had sold it to the devil long ago.

And I was in her clutches, betrayed by the man I loved.

Fuck.

“Now, we are going to ask you some questions, and you’re going to answer them for us, alright?” She smirked, enjoying the game of cat and mouse she had set up.

I tugged at my bondage, but Mavis seemed to know what he was doing. It would be impossible for me to free myself.

Things were not looking good.

Still, I had to keep faith that I would survive this – that I would get to see my daughter one more time.

The thought brought tears to my eyes.

“Aww, would you look at that?” Roxanne remarked.

“What?” Mavis stood beside her, his eyes bloodshot from a recent hit. He rubbed his nose, sniffed deeply, and looked at me, his head cocked in question.

“She’s already crying. We haven’t even started yet, dear.” She leaned in, her hands on my thighs. “But don’t worry, there’ll be plenty to cry about in just a second.” Her long nails dug into my skin, nearly drawing blood. “So, let’s get this party started, shall we?” Without hesitation, she shoved the cattle prod into my stomach.

I spasmed with pain, my muscles cramping with the overload of electricity.

“Oh, and to make things a little more interesting, why don’t we make this personal?” She reached into her back pocket, pulling out a picture of Kimmy. “Cute kid. Too bad she’ll be dragged into this, too.”

My eyes widened.

No.