They sit still as stone. Both staring at a bleak wall. Emptiness fused into their glazed eyes. Showing emotion for this has to be deemed wrong, feelings are irrelevant now anyway.

She dares to speak. She isn't one for the rules. Never has been. He wasn't listening though. 

Fuck.

"Just hold your breath darling because you'll only make things worse" is his whispered, yet forceful response.

She obeys. That's one rule she can never bring herself to break, defying him. Never. It always did get her into trouble. Everything else was fair game. Or so it seemed. 

He thrived on her sharp tenacity. He found it fascinating to watch her dominate people. It makes him want to...well, that's another tale for a different place, I think.

They remain deathly still. Frightened? No, it wasn't quite the feel, but they are now aware, it's coming. He knows she will put up a fight. This will need to be rectified. It has to run smoothly, her controlled, otherwise sentiments will get in the way. Who needs that on a night like this? 

He will manipulate her. The only person who ever succeeded in this corrupt niche. This unbelievable to other dwellers caught up in their passionate presence.

"You will not speak. You do as you are told. Understand me buttercup?" he means business. Buttercup.

Shit.

Her gaze is still fixed on their bleak wall. Eyes refusing to face him. She nods slowly with a tear of frustration sliding down her cheek. This will kill her, but he knows she wont go against him. This demand will at least protect her dignity or protect his virtue. Right? 

No. Wrong. 

She holds back the fire as he wishes and sits, waiting obediently.

The door opens slowly. It is about to take place. Her muscles tense and stiff. Knuckles white, clutching onto the sheets belonging to the bed she has been placed onto, but still, sitting so tolerantly. Her fingertips now red raw. That pale glass like face of hers remains emotionless. This is for his benefit.

She's removed from the grey room and marched away without struggle. Like she was ordered. She obeyed like she always did to his demands. Gone now.

Just like that.

He is left behind still, cold as stone. Staring, eyes now bloodshot and sore.

Her scream is the last thing that echoes through the walls of this icy building. He laughs uncontrollably. 

What! Laughter? Yes you wouldn't have thought that would you? The sound of his menacing howls, harsh even to his own ears.

That was it. The damage has been done. The sense of relief that takes over him is welcoming of course, but the guilt will never allow him to be truly free. Freedom was something he didn't expect from this deed. He knew that. The thorn in his side just needed to be pulled out. Released. Selfish tendencies.

He will never have to feel envious again that's for sure, the jealousy that tears his insides daily. 

Removed. 

Love for the tenacity, yes. Love for the attention she drew and flaunted, no. She was his and only his and now she is tucked away. His little gem. His little secret, safely kept. Her spirit too strong to handle. He couldn't bear to have her so he made sure no one else would.

She doesn't scream any more they tell him...