Relief shuddered through my body at the final squeaking of the cell doors as they closed. I collapsed into the wall, my eyes burning with the tears that were already tracing lines down the front of my dress. I wanted to wipe them away so badly but I just couldn't gather the will to lift my shaking and bloody arm.

"I'm so sorry." Nico mumbled, but I hardly heard him, the shaky audio of pain covering my ears like headphones playing static.

They hadn't hurt me much. Not as much as they could have but that didn't dull the pain they did see fit to inflict. I could still feel the electricity racing beneath my skin in the persuit of frying every atom of my being. I could still hear Bill's laughs and torment with every shock he pulsed through the bands around my wrists. I could still hear the lady screaming at Nico about something I couldn't hear through the jumping electricity. I could still feel my own spasming limbs and inaudible pleas.

I lay my head on my knees, my hair providing a welcome veil from the harsh metal of the cell. Nico was talking to me but I couldn't make out a word.

I felt lost inside myself.

---

To hear the squeaky hinges of the cell again sent a jolt through my body and I tensed in panic through I didn't dare look up.

"What do you want?" Nico demanded through the static, though his voice was clearer than before and just hearing it sent a wash of relief through me; like breathing in country air after living inside for far too long.

"Don't worry." The woman's icy voice replied. "We won't hurt you."

Underneath my curtain of hair, I couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"Aren't you going to let us go?" Nico asked. "I told you what you wanted."

"Of course. But first, you both must join me for dinner. Bill will take you to get cleaned up." I heard the clip of her heels walking back down the corridor to be replaced with a heavier set.

There was the clink of chains and keys before suprisingly gentle hands lifted me to my feet and I collapsed into Nico's familiar embrace.

"Are you okay?" He whispered.

"I'm better now." I replied before we were roughly pushed apart.

"That's enough." Bill said gruffly, pushing us down the hallway with a huge hand planted on each of our backs. He shoved Nico and I into opposing rooms. "You have ten minutes." He snapped.

I just caught the panic in Nico's eyes before the doors snapped shut.

Notes

Yay for long weekends! Any feedback at all is welcome!

-Phoebe :D