Fuck.

Hands grabbed me, pain scorching my body as I stumbled. I swallowed, staring up at the male who held my biceps in his grip. Dark blue eyes were narrowed, nostrils flared as he stared down at me. I grinned sheepishly at the wolf, trying to hide the wince from how tightly he held me. He scanned my face before his eyes drifted to the loose, long strands of my hair.

Footsteps came from behind me, and I dared a glance to see dumb and dumber limping toward us. Shifting my gaze back to Henrietta, I pretended his sudden fascination with my hair was totally normal.

"So are you going to be a bad guy or..." I grinned up at Harold.

He glared, his fingers flexing on my biceps, before he cast a glance over his shoulder. Looking that way, too, I noticed Bleak was behind him, with a scowl on his face. They shared a look before Harold's hand moved and snatched the key from my hand.

"I will have that." He clicked his tongue, throwing the key behind me.

I frowned when one of them caught it and unlocked the cuffs.

"Spoil sport." I muttered.

Surprisingly, Harold's lips quirked in the corner, but it was so slight I could not be sure.

"Want to tell me how a five-foot-five human beat the two of you senseless?" He asked, moving his grip to hold onto my elbows.

Damn, his hands were warm.

I rolled my head, wanting to watch the admission. I looked over my shoulder to find the both of them glaring down at the ground. It was Nasty who spoke, Grumpy staying silent.

"It caught us off guard." He muttered.

I huffed, rolling my eyes to look back at Harold's chest. It rose deeply before he exhaled rather loudly. His shirt was neatly pressed, unwrinkled and untainted. It was the nicest I've ever seen Harold, and the closest we've been. It'll be a shame if my bloodied wrists ruined it.

"Get back in there and shower." Harold demanded, tightening his grip on my arms.

"But-

"Human..."

"Harold!" I begged, widening my eyes. "I... can't."

I didn't want to admit I feared what would happen. I couldn't help but let the scary thoughts rampage through my mind. Harold could not be that cruel. He thought I was hilarious, right? And I was not a virgin, but the last thing I wanted was to be taken advantage of.

"Wash him with his clothes on." Harold commanded them, releasing me. "Teach him a lesson."

"Yes, Beta." They bowed.

I glared at Harold as they took an arm each. His eyes narrowed, looking down at my face before darting his eyes to my bloodied wrists. His nose twitched, and a strange emotion that looked a lot like disapproval passed through them before he clicked his tongue and turned.

"Harold! I will get you back for this!" I hissed.

Bleak remained, watching as they dragged me back into the shower room. He grimaced as well, taking a hesitant step closer before the door swung shut behind us.

Thank goodness, I didn't have to see his ugly ass handsome face anymore.

"Stand there," Nasty snapped, pushing me into the wall. "And stay still."

I glared, pressing my tired weight into the wall. Every day in the cell I would do a little workout, just to keep my stamina up, but it seemed even that was not good enough and made my wounds only burn more.

Damn, I was tired.

Suddenly, a frigid blast of water rained down from above and I gasped, jumping out of the shower head above me. But before I could run away, another came from behind. This one was so strong, it sent me flying forward until I fell onto my knees. Instantly drenched, the cold water was unforgiving as it pelted my back.

The water, harsh against my sore injuries, made my lungs tighten as my hair flew across my face. I turned around when it stopped, gasping for breath. The two men stood there, amusement in their gazes.

Spluttering, I narrowed my eyes their way. "A little warning would've been nice-

Another blast had my words falling short. My chest ached with the pressure as I fell to my ass, my hands thankfully catching my weight. My sore shoulder screamed at me, and I hissed with pain.

The water cut off, and Grumpy snickered. "Think that's enough?"

"Another won't hurt. Make sure he is nice and clean." Nasty hummed.

My teeth chattered. "Come on, guys, we can be friends-

Nope. Not today, it seemed.

I braced myself against the current, gritting my teeth until it subsided. When it did, and I heard the hose clatter to the floor, I found the shower head above me was hotter. I shimmied my way under it, shivering as I hoped to stay warm. But alas, even that cut off, and I was left as a wet, limp lettuce on the floor.

My hair stuck to me; the ground painted with my blood. I grimaced when Nasty came toward me and yanked me up by the bad shoulder. I glared at him, slipping on the floor, but he ignored my look and held me tight.

I gasped, "Fucking arsehole."

He ignored me, shoving the cuffs back on my wrists. I was shaking as he passed me over to Grumpy, who took me by the elbow. They dragged me out of the shower room and down the halls, exchanging no words. My breaths were harsh as the sound of water hit the floor. I was leaving a massive trail of both blood and water, and raised my eyebrows at my realisation.

"Surely this is making more mess?" I muttered. "Everyone else got a towel."

"Saves water when we mop." Grumpy shrugged.

As I was being dragged, dripping wet, back to my cell, prisoners stared at me. I realised they were all clad in clean clothes and eyed them with envy.

"Do I get some sweet jail digs?" I wondered.

Reaching my cell, Grumpy unlocked it. "No."

Shoving me inside, I stumbled as my feet slipped on the floor. The door slammed shut behind me and I spun around with alarm.

"The cuffs?" I wondered.

Grumpy didn't respond, walking down the hallway without another thought. I cursed, glaring down at them. Now I was cold, wet and tied up. This was not the holiday I was hoping for.

***

A clatter woke me.

At some point, I had fallen asleep in the centre of my room. I had sat there in hopes of the water from my clothes going down the drain; too tired and afraid to remove any layers. I was shivering, my lips chattering when I woke, and my bones screamed at me when I forced myself to sit. Being naked was easier to warm, but I would not expose myself. So instead, I froze.

There was another clatter, and with sore, tired eyes, I looked up to find the source. Grumpy stood at the door with something in his hand. I sighed, not in the mood.

"Yes?" I muttered, my voice hoarse.

"Food," he grunted.

"Not hungry." I murmured, setting my head back down.

He hesitated before I heard him turn and leave. Tutting, I lay my head back down and went back to sleep. Sleep was kind to me; sleep was warm and pain free. I didn't ache in sleep.

***

Grumpy came to me a few more times, and I lost track of it. Over the course of... however long, I felt overwhelmed. A strange ache started in the back of my head, one that spread warmth across my entire neck and temple. I was still slightly damp, like when you left clothes to dry too late and the sun already went to bed. But the chill in my bones had gone, and I felt warmer. Thank goodness.

Another clatter, as a boot crashed into my cell door.

"Food." Grumpy announced.

I ignored him, like I had a handful of times, and rolled away. My mind was a warm haze, but I submitted to it. It was tired, and just wanted rest, so who was I to restrict it?

"Human, I said food!" He snapped.

Still ignoring him, I licked my dry lips and faced the wall. I heard him growl and walk away, and I rested my head on the cool concrete. Ah, that felt so nice. Someone must've lit a fire, cause it sure was getting warm in here.

There was a jangling again sound before footsteps scraped across the floor. I groaned when someone grabbed me by the arm and rolled me, unhappy to be disturbed. Blinking up at the figure, I found it was Bleak above me. His bright, piercing eyes shone through the tendrils of his hair.

Great, just who I wanted to see.

The mean handsome one.

"Go away." I frowned.

He scowled, eyebrows creasing as he blurred above me. "How long have they not eaten?"

"Third day." Grumpy muttered.

Bleak hummed, staring down at me again with marred eyebrows. It was odd. That look reminded me so much of Neo when he was trying to figure me out. The bird-eye view didn't help. Perhaps Neo and Bleak were the same person, and this was all a dream?

No, Bleak's eyes darkened, the grey shimmering to a light black. Neo's were just yellow.

"What else?" He asked.

"No stupid fights." Grumpy grunted.

Bleak raised an eyebrow, and I rolled my body and eyes back to the wall, uninterested. Bleak didn't let me get that far, though, grabbing me by the waist and forcing me onto my back. My head screamed in protest, wincing up at him as my vision blurred.

"Hey..." I complained softly. "Stop..."

"They've been quiet?" Bleak wondered, scanning my body. "Immobile?"

"Very." Grumpy muttered. "I think it is dying."

It? How charming...

I just wanted to sleep. I didn't realise being tired was a crime.

"No reaction, definitely not normal." Bleak huffed.

Okay, Doctor meanie. You don't know me.

"To the darkroom?" Grumpy asked.

"No! No, I have orders not to let them die." Bleak tutted. "I will take h-them to the medical room."

Grumpy remained silent and my eyes widened when Bleak suddenly lifted me. My head rolled onto his chest, a sharp hiss escaping me as he pressed me into his body. He was as colder than I thought he'd be, but admittedly, he felt rather comfortable. His hands curled around my thighs and back, fingers spread across my ribcage.

Dammit, why did the mean one have to smell good too?

My hand weakly smacked his chest, a frown turning my face.

"Hey, non-consensual..." I mumbled.

Staring at the underside of Bleak's jaw, I watched the shadows dance on his face as he walked me somewhere. He had grown a beard, albeit a short fuzzy one. That made me wonder how many days have passed.

My head swung with the blurring of movement, making me nauseous. I focused my eyes on Bleak's jaw, watching as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. His chest, although both hard and comfy, rose and fell softly, almost like a lullaby. The concrete walls turned to white paint, and the faint smell of chemicals met my nose.

Bleak came to a stop before he looked down at me. Grimacing, he shifted me in higher in his arms. It was as though I was a feather as he pushed me away from his body.

Damn, I needed some of that strength.

I moaned with pain when he placed my head on something cold. It was a sharp stinging that had my fingers clenching around his forearm. He was comfy, and I didn't want him to let go.

"Relax, it's just a table." He grunted, releasing me.

"My head..." I mumbled.

He frowned, his eyes swirling above me. "What about it?"

I groaned, unable to answer him as the bright lights mixed with his face and burned my eyes. A dull throbbing started behind them, which had me tiredly raise my arm to cover the harsh light. It didn't make it go away, and I whimpered at the realisation I would have to endure the endless pounding like I did all last night. Or was it a day? How many days did Grumpy say? Three?

How the heck did three days pass?

Footsteps scraped across the floor before an unfamiliar voice graced my ears.

"What's wrong with it?"

It? Again? Dammit, I was a she-he-human.

"No appetite, no speech, always asleep." Bleak answered. "Guard says they've not even urinated."

Gross. Grumpy watching me pee?

"Any sign of trauma? Poison?".

"Not that we are aware of."

"Yes, I suppose no food would mean no poison..." the new voice muttered. "Last thing that happened before this?"

"Shower time." Bleak replied.

"I assume he was showered in his clothing going by the smell."

"Yes."

"Any signs of injury prior to the lethargy?"

"A... few."

"Such as?"

"Stomach, arm, thigh... head injury."

The new man hummed. "Head injury? How long ago?"

"I dunno, a week?"

Someone pried my arm from my face, and I blinked, glaring up at the unknown face. It was a male, with short blonde hair and alarmingly blue eyes. He smiled softly down at me, muttering a hello.

"Can you hear me?"

I glared, ignoring his annoying ass, too. These blokes had a thing about interrupting a peaceful comfort, didn't they?

"See, that isn't normal." Bleak poked my arm. "They usually snap by now."

I glared at Bleak now. Why did he poke me? I'll get him later; I'll show him where poking will get him.

"I'm Doctor Nathaniel." Stranger introduced himself. "I'm going to roll your head, okay?"

As I still glared at Bleak, Nathaniel took my silence as an okay and gently rolled my head to the side. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut as the new position strangled my brain. I felt Bleak's hands press into my side, holding me in place. Nathaniel's gloved hands poked and pushed at my hair before finding a spot that had me jolting and shouting with alarming pain.

Looks like Bleak wasn't the only one who would not have ten fingers tomorrow.

"Well, that solves that."

"What is it?" Bleak asked.

I groaned, curling onto my side to get comfortable.

"Infection," He stated. "Pretty nasty one too."

Infection? Huh, never had one of those. Neo always looked after me well with his magic spit. It was gross, but it unfortunately worked.

Yet another thing that was the cat-bird's fault. He should be fixing me up!

"Why now?" Bleak asked.

"Perhaps the water cleared the debris that was keeping it from becoming infected. It can happen." Nathaniel sighed.

"What next?"

"Cleaning it to get a better look. Perhaps draining the wound, if it's that bad. A harsh round of antibiotics and plenty of hydration should do it." Nathaniel explained.

There was rustling before I felt a sharp pinch in my neck. I grunted, rolling away with a muttering of complaints. I hoped one of them made sense, because before I could even realise what happened, my mind was forced to shut down into unconsciousness.