"Hurt me
with the truth.
But never comfort me
with a lie."

-unknown

---------------------------

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟝

ℕ𝕠𝕣𝕒

I woke up to the doctor just as he finished drawing my blood into a clear plastic bag.

I watched as a nurse changed Nora's diaper, tying the new one on just a bit too tightly, as she squirmed and cried out, before she got a slap to her arm.

I bit my lip, and kept my mouth shut, knowing it was best to not utter a word. Blinking rapidly, I tried to wet my eyes as they suddenly felt dry.

My eyes shot to Nora as I saw the nurse roughly stretching her wings and rubbing it between her fingers.

My hands clenched as I felt liquid fire pool into them. "Don't you dare touch Nora." I said, voice dangerously quiet.

The doctor chuckled and waved me off. "Dont worry about her." He said, reasuuring the nurse.

She nodded unsurely and went back to prodding at Nora.

The doctor turned to Sebastian, who was waiting near the doorway like the obedient puppy he was. There were a few moments of silence, where they maintained eye contact. After a while, Sebastian nodded, and approached my bed.

I glared at his hand, furious when it came closer to my stomach. My eyes glistened against my will as I could do nothing but watch. So I looked down, refusing to show weakness.

Just before his rough palm touched my sensitive stomach, he paused and looked at my face. Knowingness filled into them as they scrutinized my face.

His hand moved to my arm instead, and I let out a breath of relief. I felt bile raise in my throat as his hand enclosed my arm, holding it gently. The covered area immediately started throbbing with what felt like small sparks underneath my skin.

The doctor hummed as he stared at the area. Upon his command, Sebastian took away his hand. I tried to ignore the cold that he left behind, as a blue flexible sheet of paper was pressed onto the area.

After a few minutes, the paper was peeled, and stored away safely.

"Call them in." I heard the doctor say.

I saw Sebastian hesitate for a second before he opened the door, revealing several people in what looked like clothing made out of steel. It covered every inch of them from head to toe.

But what made me struggle was when a metal table covered in pure white clothing was rolled over to my side.

The doctor promptly stepped to the side as one of the steel masked people picked up a slender instrument, with a hole on one end.

With a click, the end was on fire. It burnt bright, flickering occasionally, and was tinged blue at its center.

With no warning, the device was lowered down onto my skin. I didn't truly register the pain before the scorching feeling of heat set in. Immediately, I tensed up and held my mouth shut as tight as possible, squeezing my eyes shut as the pain intensified.

When I felt the tip pressing harder into the bleeding spot, I screamed, throat going hoarse, as I yanked at my restraints. Amidst the commotion, I heard Nora cry too, as she saw me.

I sobbed in relief as the object was finally removed from my body, only to be pressed into a lower spot right on my rib cage. The attacker made sure to press down hard on the bone, as I felt the skin melt away. My body rapidly tried to heal the wound, and just as it closed up, they would bring it back down again. I flung my head from side to side, screaming as I tilted it backwards. Endless tears failed to quench my scorching cheeks.

"Kane!" I called out brokenly. "Please, I take back my promise. I take it back! Come back," My mouth let out another sob. "Please."

I noticed Sebastian clench his jaw as his eyes darkened. But they soon faded into pity as he turned away from the scene.

I couldn't comprehend a thing later, as I blacked out from the pain.

——————

I was still strapped to the scratchy bed. I felt my chest ache as the burnt skin stretched above it.

I was covered in a sheen of sweat, that turned ice cold each time a breeze hit me from the open window.

I stretched my head upwards slowly, wincing as another bout of pain hit me. I felt my face morph into ugly features as I noticed Nora knocked out cold. A straw brown collar was wrapped tightly around her neck. A steel chain attached the material to a hook on the corner of her small cell.

I jumped as I heard the door slam open.

"For a tortured little soul, you sure have a sexy body." Reya said, as she flung her jacket to the corner of the room.

I kept quiet, and turned my head away when I saw her raking her eyes over my body.

"You don't happen to be a lesbian, do you?" She asked.

I shook my head with with just enough movement for it to be classified as an answer.

"Such a shame." She said.

I heard clicking, and a dull smoke filled the room immediately after. I shifted my eyes to her, and felt my eyes widen dramatically.

"No! Don't smoke in here. Nor-" I cut off abruptly. I didn't want her to know about Nora too. Who knows what she would do.

But Rey's had already turned around, and was watching her with a blank expression in her face. A muscle in her jaw twitched, before she took the cigarette out of her mouth, and stamped out the flame.

She started walking at a fast pace towards my bed and I started panicking.

"N-no, don't hurt me." I cried, and braced myself for the hit.

But there was no hit. Just a stab.

I groaned as I felt Reya let go of the knife that was now hilt deep in my stomach.

"Oops. I guess my knife slipped."

I would've glared at her if I wasn't in crippling pain.

Reya leaned over me, and I saw her fumbling with my wrists. With a snap, I felt my hands jerk as they were finally freed. Within seconds, my feet were out of its binds too.

I hissed as I felt the blade dig in deeper when Reya pulled me up. I moved to pull the blade out, but Reya stopped me with a slap to the hand. She walked to the other side of the room and grabbed her jacket, throwing it on me. Though it didn't cover much, I was still glad to have something.

With a few more twists and clicks, Nora's cage was open, and soon, she was being pulled into Reya's arms.

She cried out, as she felt unfamiliar arms wrap around her. Reya grabbed me with a firm grip with her other hand. "Come on, we have to move fast."

She ignored my attempts to grab Nora as she dragged me to the door and flung it open.

I stumbled after her, feeling the knife stab new places each time I took a step.

Surprisingly, there was nothing outside the door except for concrete steps that lead downward. I swallowed my sharp gasps as Reya ran down the stairs, pulling me with her same speed.

We reached the landing within seconds. There was nothing special about it. It was just an empty room made out of the same concrete that the state was made out of. At the end of the room was a heavy-duty metal door.

Reya held up a key card to it, and it let her through. Nora's eyes were wide and red-rimmed. Her wings hung down, as they always did when she was scared.

Another set of stairs were revealed. This time, leading upwards. I felt myself getting lightheaded as we reached the top of the stairs. The knife was completely coated in blood as the think liquid dripped slowly from the hilt.

A curved archway led to a brightly lit corridor, where we were immediately questioned by a bulky guard and a thin skinny stick next to him who I suppose was a guard too.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Reya put her most serious face on. "The captive has been stabbed. I must take her to safety immediately."

The bulky guard nodded, while the stick thin one seemed a bit apprehensive. But after Reya gestured to my still bleeding stomach with the knife still stuck in it, he nodded, letting us move forward.

I ignored the crude remarks and whistles I heard as we passed by. I could feel my burning cheeks.

As soon as we were out of eyesight, Reya grunted, and adjusted Nora higher up on her waist. "You can remove the knife now."

Gee, thanks.

I knew it would be a hard task, as my skin had already started healing around the knife, closing up around the foreign object. With a yank and a small scream, the knife was out and tossed on the floor, which left bloody stains on the dull surface.

I wrapped the leather jacket tighter around me, finding newfound confidence at the fact that I wasn't bound anymore. I pulled my hair out of its messy bun, and let it tumble down in frizzy messy waves.

"Well, don't you just look like the perfect 'island survivor'". Reya said, grinning as she quoted with her fingers.

I scowled at her, and reached out for Nora, only to be pushed away. I was on the verge of attacking her before she smirked and said, "Hold on for a while."

I could barely register my surroundings. Not when Nora was in the hands of a killer. Soon, we reached a plain-looking brown door, covered in splinters that screamed 'I dare you to touch me'.

Another corridor was revealed. This time, much more fancier. The air smelled sweetly of raspberries. As we walked further and I grew more aware of my lack of clothing, I heard footsteps.

I turned to Reya, but she was already dragging me into the nearest room. She gently shut the door, and leaned against it, breathing hard. I glanced at Nora worriedly. Her wings were completely deflated and quivering, her eyes dilated as they shot around the dim room.

She started whimpering and squirming slightly.

"Shh!" Reya scolded her.

I was just about to give her a piece of my mind when the voices neared the door that we were leaning against.

It seemed like they were speaking German, but they passed quickly and I sighed in relief.

I could understand by the tension in Reya's featured that if we were to be caught by those people, it would lead to trouble.

Strong arms wrapped suddenly around my waist, and my mouth my covered immediately as I tried to scream.

"Don't worry, I'll save you, Phira."

I turned around to see Sebastian holding onto me tightly while glaring at Reya. "Don't you dare think you can harm her."

Reya tutted and folded her arms on her chest. She looked at Sebastian like he was the most insignificant thing in the world. "Come to me if you want good, Zephira. It's all your choice." Sebastian whispered behind me.

My eyes shifted between both people. I couldn't trust either of them.

I gasped as Reya held her dagger to Nora's pale neck. "Well, come to me if you want her life." She giggled in a high pitched girly voice mockingly. "It's not your choice anymore, is it?"

I wiggled out of Sebastian's arms, and pushed him away gently. Without another word, I silently went back to Reya's side.

"It's just the drugs acting on you, Phira!" Sebastian shouted. "Don't trust her. I can give you a life full of love. I love you, Phira."

My heart thumped wildly as I watched his pained features and glazed eyes.

But I knew that I valued Nora's life more than his pathetic attempts at love.

Reya grinned at her victory, and shifted the knife so it pressed more sharply into Nora's delicate skin. My arms itched to just grab Nora out of danger's reach.

"Freeze him, Zephira." Reya said, grinning.

I hesitated, but immediately moved as Reya tightened her hold on Reya. My arm trembled, as I raised it slowly, and pointed my palm at him.

I had no idea how to do this.

The best I had ever done was burn someone, or create a few fun snowflakes.

My lips wobbled as Sebastian's face crumbled with defeat. "I'll always love you, Phira."

I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side, as my arms froze with the chilling power flowing through it. I screamed, as I felt my arm turn colder, and colder, until it felt like they were on fire.

But I couldn't stop halfway.

So I gritted my teeth, and sighed, as I felt the cold slowly leave through my fingers, taking away all the pain and ice with it.

I shivered, as the room suddenly filled with cold air, the smell of frost reddening my nose.

Slowly, my eyes opened, I gasped when I saw the mess that I had made.

My palms remained out straight, facing the room, whose walls were covered with pure frozen ice. The floor wasn't quite completely covered, with only a few pieces of ice scattered around the floor.

My heart stopped, as my eyes laid upon the frozen solid figure in the center of the room.

Sebastian's eyes stayed wide open, frozen beneath the thick layer of ice. His lips open in his last protest. Part of his arms were still not covered, and I backed away as I noticed his fingers moving slowly.

My heart skipped a beat when Reya grabbed my arm with bruising force. "Come, we must go now, before he melts. You're not that good at your skills as I'd thought."

Thanks.

I tried not to look back, as Reya pulled me out of the door, with an urgency that she hadn't had before.

Various twists and turns that I knew were important, flew through my mind before I could grasp onto them to remember.

Reya burst out into the open, and glared at me as I dragged behind. The thick jacket on my body rubbed against my burns occasionally, which made me wince from time to time.

I gaped at the scene before me. Stretching as far as my eye could see, where miles and miles of sand. I spluttered as a sudden gust of wind blew hot sand into my open mouth.

Bright sunlight burned my skin as I shielded my eyes from the blinding light.

"Where did all the trees go?" I managed to ask. I clearly remembered the beautiful greenery that I had seen right outside the window.

Reya laughed. The full-blown laughter, with the head tilted back and everything. After a while, she calmed down and shook her head at me, a smile still lingering on her lips. "Come on."

We trudged past random rocks and thin snaked that zoomed by. I eyed Reya's hands that were wrapped around Nora in distaste, feeling an overwhelming surge of protectiveness flow through me.

Nora remained frozen in Reya's arms, wide-eyed and with dried tears on her chubby cheeks.

After a while, a black object came to view. It had huge round circles with ridged surfaces placed under it.

I pushed my fear down as I marched to the device.

It had a roof, and I sighed as I stood under the relieving shade. I jumped as Reya hopped into the device and settled herself on the chair that was placed inside of it.

She leaned over and held Nora out to me, but just far enough that I had to get into the device to reach her.

Nora blubbered as she reached out to me. Her tiny wings flapped in excitement.

I couldn't resist anymore, so I hopped into the contraption, and snatched Nora from Reya's hands, hugging her to my chest. I gasped as I felt the object rumble to life and shoot off with so much speed, that held onto my seat for dear life.

I refrained from looking out the sides either, as I saw sand, rock and debris whirling past in blurs that made my head dizzy.

I jerked as I felt hands crawl under the unbuttoned jacket on my body. Nora seemed to have found her hidden reserve, as she started sucking away on my breasts, like her life depended on it.

It hurt, but I was willing to sacrifice my comfort if it meant I could fill Nora's tummy.

I blushed as I noticed Reya glancing at me, but she quickly turned around, deciding to give some well-needed privacy.

I sighed and suppressed an aww when I saw Nora's wings quivering occasionally in pleasure and content.

Leaning back, I rested my head on the back of the chair, making sure to shift Nora so that she didn't hit any of my burns.

I was fast asleep before I even knew it.

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So I just noticed barely any of you read my latest chapters. You can't help but be disappointed when you write your soul out and no one even reads it.

But I will continue writing, because I actually like to do so. So, if any of you readers happen to see this in the future, I hope you enjoyed my story.

Do pat that star [#preventstarabuse], and leave a comment.