Angie had been brought back to the torture chamber after a brief stay in her cell. It had been so fast and so sudden, she'd been unable to compute anything. And once she was back there, the scream had torn her throat open.

Because Cannon had left Tom unconscious and bleeding on the floor, his arms cut up from his shoulders to his wrists, as if the psycho had tried to permanently etch a spiderweb on them. She'd spent the next hours trying to stop the bleeding with her shirt and crying herself silly.

Even if in the back of her mind something screamed that she should stay strong, hold on to hope, she couldn't bother. This was hell and she and Tom were both better off without the pain, the constant fear. What was the point of holding tears in, pretend that seeing him like this didn't tear her apart, that she wasn't terrified?

After a while, the bleeding subsided so she sat next to him and pulled his head in her lap. It was very little comfort, but sitting there, playing with his hair, was the only thing that stopped her from going crazy.

"I wish you were awake," she said to the empty room. "Though not really. I bet it hurts like hell." Worse than hell. Worse than anything in this life. "Maybe not the whipping."

Why did it have to happen like this? Why did she have to realize how much she loved him, wanted to be with him now? All the time she'd wasted, all the drama which could have been avoided if she hadn't been as stubborn as to not tell him what had really happened when her family died, pushed him back when he finally got over what he did. Try to act like they didn't belong together. Yes, their relationship had always been difficult, complicated, but it worked for them. Because they made each other feel safe, built each other up. Made everything better.

And yet... She'd slept with him and ran away. And she refused to get the message even when that didn't make him give up on her.

"I'm so sorry, baby," she whispered, stroking his forehead. "I promise you that if we get out of here, I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. I won't belittle your problems anymore. Or mine. We are who we are, and that's what makes us right for each other."

The left behind. The broken ones.

She was definitely insane. But she was at the end of her rope. Her entire body ached, her soul bled, and she'd lost all hope of even returning to their cage, let alone the outside world. It would have been less cruel if they'd died frozen in that room the first time.

Footsteps outside had her muscles tensing and her first impulse was to scurry away into the darkest corner. But she couldn't leave him alone to be the target of those sickos. He'd saved her and now it was her turn to do the same for him.

The wooden door slammed open and Cannon filled the frame, that sick grin twisting his hellish face. In spite of her best efforts, Angie couldn't hold in the whimper that escaped her lips.

It only made the sicko grin, his yellowing fangs glinting in the little light.

"Please tell me he's not dead. I'm not done playing with him."

"Stay away from him!" Her voice was high and desperate.

"Oh, I plan to. He's no fun like this." Cannon shook his head as he stepped inside the room. Two men lingered in the doorway behind him, obviously unwilling to come any closer, witness whatever he had planned.

"I'm not even sure he can talk anymore. I will miss his witty comebacks."

Angie couldn't help it. She scurried back on her hands and heels, as far away as possible, until her back hit the wall. Cannon grinned at her, obviously satisfied with her reaction,  but he didn't follow. He stopped next to Tom and prodded him with his boot as if to assess if he was any good anymore.

"Tsk, tsk. This won't do. I need him awake."

She hugged her knees and pulled further back, trying to make herself as small as possible. Maybe he would go away, maybe he would let them be for another few blissful minutes without him.

"I know what will wake him up, though." Cannon stepped over Tom, kicking him on the way and headed for her. "Hearing you scream."

"Get away from me!"

She knew she should do something. Stand. Try to tackle him. Fight. But the fear in her was so complete, she could hardly speak. The thought of him touching her sent bile up her throat and tears in her eyes.

"But how can I play with you if I stay away?" He let out a laugh and it sounded so wrong. "We can start nice and slow. I won't go straight for your baby maker. I need to test the quality of your skin first, see how well it stretches, how thick it is."

That was it, she was throwing up. But instead, she tried to get to her feet. Her knees buckled, but she forced herself to stand. She would not go down on her knees.

Cannon only laughed again. "You're only making it more fun for me."

"I won't let you touch me!"

"You don't have to let me. I'll take it myself. Do you think your boyfriend let me?"

Angie was sure Tom hadn't, but it didn't make any difference. Not when they were exhausted, hurt, malnourished, driven half-insane by the constant torture and imprisonment.

Cannon raised an eyebrow. "You didn't contradict me. So he is your boyfriend."

"What difference does it make?" she asked between her teeth.

"All the difference in the world. You owe me some thanks for bringing you lovebirds back together."

Angie used the last tiny bit of saliva she had to spit in his face. The backhand across her cheek was instant and she swayed on her feet. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. Still, once she caught her footing, she raised her fists.

"You're so cute," the psycho cooed. "But it won't stop me. And now that your boyfriend can't save you, there's nothing stopping me from cutting you open."

"I'm stopping you, dipshit."

Angie's eyes widened, and Cannon glanced over his shoulder, surprise on his ugly face. Tom hadn't moved, but his eyes were open, glaring holes into Cannon.

"Look at you! Can't resist a threat now, can you?"

"Get away from her," Tom's voice was ragged, and talking was obviously draining him.

"Or what?"

"Or I'll kill you."

"You can't even stand."

Cannon made a very good point, but Tom still somehow managed to huff.

"And that's the only reason you're still breathing."

As always, Tom's taunting worked. Cannon half-turned away from her, his attention now on his favorite target.

"You pathetic little shit," he said, his voice filled with savage pleasure. "Why won't you just admit that I broke you?"

"You. Broke. Nothing." Tom tried to move, but he only groaned in pain.

"Really now?" Cannon knocked his head back and laughed that insane sound. "You couldn't hurt me even if I let you." He gave up on her and walked closer, stopping next to Tom.

Angie took a step towards him, but faltered. The two men in the doorway had their eyes on her, obviously ready to prevent any attempted attack from her part. Maybe she could take them, but she wouldn't risk Cannon hurting Tom.

"Come on," the man taunted. "Come at me! Hurt me. Kill me."

To her shock, Tom actually turned over on his stomach. Sweat dripped down his face and some of the cuts on his arms opened again and started bleeding. Cannon just laughed some more, obviously enjoying the strain, the pain he was causing.

"Look at him, fellas! Little animal has drive, I have to give him that. But he won't manage shit. I'll still skin his girlfriend and make him watch."

Tom managed to raise on his hands. His elbows shook and the pain on his face drove a thousand knives through Angie's heart.

"Stay down," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Cannon threw her a fleeting glance, then returned his attention to Tom. "No. Now you put your money where your mouth is. Because if you don't finish me off, I'm cutting her open."

She took another step forward, torn between the need to attack and curl into a helpless ball. There was no way that was happening and everyone with an ounce of brain knew it. Cannon was just trying to make Tom feel like whatever followed was his fault, like he could've prevented it somehow. It was all an illusion. Cannon could as well have asked him to climb to the top of Mount Everest.

And yet, he crawled forward, his hands reaching Cannon's boots. With another sick laugh, the goon aimed a kick at Tom's face. He fell over, but it only lasted a second.

"Aren't you adorable?" Cannon cooed as Tom grabbed his ankles. "Do you really think you can avoid this? That you can stop me from cutting your girlfriend open, skinning her? Oh, no, you can't."

Tom didn't answer, just pulled himself a little higher, his bloody hands on Cannon's knees. Angie took another step forward, her heart pounding, her knees shaking. Cannon had a knife strapped to his waist, a weapon he'd used on both of them before.

"Tom, get off him." She didn't want to see this, see Cannon slit his throat or hurt him in any other way.

Her plea fell on deaf ears and only further amused Cannon who seemed to greatly enjoy Tom's efforts to climb up him.

"Look at him! He's so stubborn! So hopeful!" And he laughed some more like the maniac he was, relishing in their fear, in their pain, in their lack of options.

She didn't get it. Why he just stood there and let Tom claw his way further up, why the two men didn't tell him to knock it off, why this was all happening in the first place. And still, Tom managed to grab Cannon's shoulders and lift himself up until they were almost face to face.

"Having trouble there?" Cannon started laughing again. "Look at him! He thinks he's dangerous. That he can take on me when we all know he couldn't hurt a fly even if he could stand. Isn't that right, Tommy? Aren't you a scared little boy?"

Tom ignored him as he finally managed to find a semblance of balance.

"What are you going to do now? Kiss me?" the psycho asked with a grin.

One of Tom's hands slid off his shoulders and Angie took in a sharp breath. The fear morphed into something else entirely in the second it took her to realize he wasn't about to fall over. It was with purpose. His hand gripped the hilt of Cannon's dagger.

"It's spelled with a double l, asshole," Tom said between his teeth.

In the blink of an eye, he pulled the dagger out of the sheath and sank it between Cannon's eyes with deadly precision.

Angie shot forward before the two men could tell what had happened. She reached them just as Cannon's body hit the floor, Tom on top of him. They reached for their guns, but she tackled them both to the ground. With a swift hit to the liver, she incapacitated one of them for the time she needed to knock the other out with a well place jab to the jaw. Then she turned and took care of the other one.

"Drag them in a close the door," Tom instructed. He'd managed to roll off the carcass, but now lay panting on the floor.

She obeyed at once, marveling how that horrid room had suddenly turned into their safe haven. Then, she hurried to him and moved him further away from Cannon. The psycho's eyes were open in shock and blood kept flowing from his wound. Angie knew she should yank the knife out, but the thought made her sick.

"I can't believe you did that," she breathed.

"It was long time coming," he mumbled, trying to ease up into a sort of sitting position.

She sat behind him and pulled him against her. "Don't feel sorry. Don't you ever feel sorry for what you did."

"I'm not," he said. "I just made the world a better place."

"Agreed."

They weren't empty words. For her, it was just like the time he'd punched the teacher who was sexually harassing her. It was wrong, but at the same time needed. Just like murdering Cannon was necessary. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this safe.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Half dead. Ready to pass out."

"That's okay. You need to rest. I don't even know where you got the energy to do that."

"I told him a million times to stop threatening you." Tom's voice was deadly, but it didn't scare her. Just made her feel safer than anything else.

She tightened her hold around him and leaned her cheek on top of his head. "I love you so much."

He stiffened in her arms, but it only lasted a moment. "Fuck it. I love you, too. If I couldn't fool these morons, I doubt it would ever work on you. And you just witnessed me kill someone in cold blood and aren't running for the hills."

"I would've done the same given the chance." Or if she had his strength.

"We're both insane," he mumbled, though he sounded more amused than anything.

"He made us this way," she said, unable to keep the spite from her voice. "You're so right. The world is a better place without him." Though this was open war which could get them killed the moment someone walked in and saw what they'd done.

Tom seemed to have read her mind because he huffed. "Honestly, Angie, if we ever get out of here, you and I are gonna live forever."

"That sounds lovely as long as we're together." The words brought a weight to her heart, because everything was still complicated between them.

"I don't think I'll ever find someone like you. To accept me with all this darkness."

She hugged him tighter against her. "You are amazing. This doesn't define you."

"Yeah, I know." His voice was much softer now. "And what matters most is that you know that."

Before she could answer, more footsteps sounded outside their door. They didn't even have time to move before it opened.

Angie's blood froze in her veins and Tom pushed himself higher against her. There was a lone man in the doorway, wearing a cloak and a hood that covered his face.

"What the--?"

"How did you get in here?" Tom asked before she could finish.

The hooded figure didn't answer and seemed to be taking in the mess they'd made. "Holy shit," he breathed. "What did you do?"

"It was either him or us," Tom said, showing an insane amount of bravery seeing as they'd just been discovered.

The figure spent another few moments looking at the bodies, then raised his face. There was nothing but darkness behind the cloak. "Grab him. We have to get you out of here."

Angie was confused beyond belief, but what he was saying sounded like the only option they had, so she scrambled to her feet, doing her best to support Tom. He tried to help, but his legs couldn't hold him so she ended up taking most of his weight.

The hooded man exited the room and the two of them followed as fast as they could. Which was painfully slow. Fortunately he was right outside the door, looking up and down the deserted stone corridor. He looked even more out of place under the neon lights.

"Over here," he said leading them to the room next to the one they'd come out of.

The wooden door was open and led to a room much like the one they'd exited except a little smaller. It was empty except for a wooden chair and a mattress on the floor.

"Get him in," the cloaked man instructed.

"This isn't much better. We're right next door," Angie pointed out. She hated how high her voice was, how filled with panic.

"Would you rather go back?" the man asked, obviously in no mood for logic or potentially deadly aftermath.

"Babe, we're taking what we can get," Tom mumbled, nodding towards the mattress.

He had a point, so she wobbled that way and dropped him on the softest surface they'd both seen in what felt like forever. Tom yelped, but otherwise showed no signs of defeat or pain, even if his arms were filled with blood and they'd left a trail behind. Angie's own clothes were drenched.

"Here." The cloaked man passed them two phials filled with reddish liquid.

"What's this?"

She couldn't even finish the question before Tom broke the top of the thing and downed it. With a knot in her stomach, she did the same. Even if it was poison, if he drank it, she was taking it as well. It tasted like nothing. Just some random liquid going down her throat.

"Take this too." The man threw something towards her.

Out of reflex, she caught the tiny box of what looked like some sort of cream. She instantly gathered it was for his cuts.

"Thanks, but..." She raised her hands. They were filthy and there was no way she was bringing them near Tom's cuts.

With an impatient clicking of his tongue, the stranger tossed something else at her. She didn't bother catching this time because it was obviously a pack of wet wipes.

"Thanks dude," Tom said, his voice low and hazy.

"Now do what you have to do," the man said and closed the door behind him.

Angie watched the door for another few seconds before she returned her attention to Tom. Her mind spun as she finally managed to put together what had happened.

"Is this the cloaked guy you mentioned? The one who--?"

"Saved Kyle's life, pumped Jimmy full of serum, helped me in the labs and woke Sam up from the coma?" Tom asked, trying to sit up but failing. "Yeah, that's him. And that's probably the same thing he used on my back last time. It's so weird for my back not to burn."

"As long as it makes you better..." She pulled out a wet wipe and started cleaning her hands. "But why is he doing this? Who is he?"

"I don't know," he said, his voice much weaker. "But he'll want something. When the time comes, he'll show himself and ask for a favor of his own."

Angie didn't care. At the moment she was just grateful that he'd saved their asses. And she had better things to do. Like make sure Tom was in the best shape possible. Who knew how long that would last after Snitch Gravel found out what they'd done?

🏯

Kay waved her feet as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed. It was so strange to want to get out of there when she knew they were heading back to prison and harsh stone. She'd actually managed to sleep properly in the few days in which she'd been in Snitch Gravel's infirmary.

But like all things, this had also come to an end. He'd come back looking annoyed with their presence and thrown her the jeans she'd been wearing, only that now they were clean.

This whole thing worried her. The fall, the stay there, Kyle. Especially Kyle.

She had no idea what he'd done after she fell, but it seemed to have left a permanent scar she couldn't even begin to understand. He'd hurt Snitch Gravel, and yet they were both still alive and fairly well. Kyle even had a new, clean t-shirt.

Then there was her aching body. It felt so weird, so foreign. So empty. As if her hope that she was pregnant had shattered and left behind a space that had never been there.

It doesn't matter. It's better that I'm not pregnant now. We'll get there.

The words still felt like lies, and as much as he claimed otherwise, she could tell Kyle was beyond disappointed. It was a muted ache, one that didn't cross over into his treatment of her. If anything, he showed her more love and care than before. But that was normal given that she'd fallen and hurt herself. It was just her mind spinning everything in weird ways.

But her body reacted oddly. Her period was weak and had almost ended. Still, she used any material she could find to form a barrier in case it changed its mind.

"Ready sweetheart?" Kyle asked. He sounded exhausted.

She just nodded and hopped off the bed to prove to him that she was fine. He gave her a small smile and the two of them exited the infirmary, passed through Snitch Gravel's bedroom and stepped into his office. He wasn't there. After their last interaction, he'd avoided seeing them completely. Instead, two goons awaited them next to the door and indicated that they should follow.

Kyle clenched his fists, but Kay took his hand to calm him down. She didn't think now was the best time to try and escape. They should follow and then figure something out. But, as it turned out, the men didn't lead them to their cage. They headed down another corridor, two floors down, and stopped in front of another cage.

Three more goons were there, standing next to the wall, shotguns armed and ready.

"Get out of the way," one of the men who came with them said to the cage.

Then he opened it up and moved out of the way so that Kay and Kyle could enter. Kay shook her head in disbelief. Sam and Jerry were there, together with Christine and Sarah. And Jessie. Jessie was actually in there, unhurt and more energetic than all of them put together, her hair so short it was shocking.

"Oh, thank God!" Sarah rushed to hug Kay as the gate closed behind them. "I thought Snitch Gravel killed you off."

"No, I just fell so we were in the infirmary for a while..." She was only half paying attention, her eyes on Jessie who had rushed to hug Kyle.

"Jess, how come you're in here?" he asked, taken aback.

What followed was a huge mess in which everyone hugged and spoke at the same time as they all tried to recount what had happened, make sure that the others were somewhat okay. The only one staying away from it all was Jerry, who leaned against a wall, hugging his knees to his chest. It became apparent why moments later once Jessie enlightened them as to how she'd come to be in that cage.

"Why are we all here?" Kyle asked Sam once the stories had been told.

Sam shook his head. "I'm not sure why he suddenly decided to pile us all in one place. And I don't know where Tom and Angie are either. They've been missing for days. Though now that we figured out where the two of you were, I honestly hope Snitch Gravel has a second hidden infirmary somewhere and they're there."

Kyle nodded, though he didn't necessarily seem to believe it. Kay didn't either and bile rose to her mouth. What if they were actually dead?

Her answer came moments later when new footsteps indicated company. The armed men next to the wall took position again as another three men appeared with Tom and Angie. Angie had minor cuts on her face and arms, but otherwise looked okay. Tom on the other hand...

Kay couldn't help but gasp. He had deep cuts running up and down his arms and the men were holding him up. He also seemed to be unconscious.

"Out of the way!" came the order from one of the goons while five of them kept weapons trained on them.

Sam and Kyle both tensed, obviously willing to tear their way out of there. But they wouldn't risk anyone getting shot, and Tom's state was problematic. Angie also didn't seem to have that much fight left in her. So they ended up pulling away, letting the ones who had been missing join the rest of the group.

The moment the gate closed, all men pulled back and left them to it. The cage suddenly felt crowded with everyone being there.

"What the hell happened?" Sam asked the moment the footsteps faded.

"Why is Jessie here?" Tom asked, opening his eyes.

"You look like shit," Kyle pointed out the obvious.

"It doesn't matter," Jessie said. "I'm here, but I'm so happy you're all alive even if..."

"Not in the best of shapes?" Tom let out a hallow laugh as Angie helped him prop himself against a wall. "This is nothing. Cannon looks worse."

"You fought him?" Tom's appearance pulled Jerry out of his stupor as he fell back into his mother hen role. He moved closer to Tom and Angie, analyzing the cuts.

"I didn't fight him, Jerry," Tom said with a shake of his head. "I killed him."

Everyone fell silent. Kay's heart started thumping against her ribs, but the feeling overcoming her was one of relief.

"You're kidding," Jerry said, sounding honestly surprised.

"Nope." Tom eased himself a bit higher. "Plunged a dagger right between the mofo's eyes. It was awesome."

"He was threatening to cut me open," Angie whispered as if they hadn't figured that out already.

That Tom wouldn't have killed anyone unless they were a direct threat. And Cannon was. Not just to Tom and Angie, even if they were the preferred targets, but to everyone. His mere existence was like a plague on the world.

"Good." Jerry said unexpectedly and sat next to them.

"Agreed," Kyle said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You deserve a medal."

"I wish I could stand though," Tom said, his gaze moving to Jessie. "This is it, isn't it? Jimmy is out there alone."

Jessie nodded. "And this won't end well. He's coming. He won't let this fly."

"This is all my fault," Jerry mumbled.

"Stop blaming yourself already," Jessie said, apparently already fed up with the argument. "I get it. Cannon was brutal. Which is why I'm glad he won't be a problem any longer. And it's not your fault. Jimmy and I should've moved faster."

"I think it's safe to say Snitch Gravel will get his wish," Sam said, cutting off all other arguments. "The question is, what then? What's he going to do once he has us all?"

No one had an answer to that. Jessie had been right either way. Right now, it was all up to Jimmy.

"We need a plan," Sam said. "Because if Jimmy will come, it will be the perfect opportunity to escape."

"And I think I have an idea of how to achieve that," Jessie said, her eyes resting on Kyle.

He grinned and the confidence in it brought a bit of hope to Kay.

"If it implies danger and brute strength, I'm down."

"Oh, it will imply both of those," Jessie said with a grin of her own.

It felt amazing not to be helpless for once. Snitch Gravel should have thought better than to let them plot together.

🏯🏯🏯

And there you have it. More murder! I'm full of murder in this book. Characters dropping like flies.

But everyone is right. What now? What happens when they're all together and how will they escape? And Jimmy? I guess you'll be seing him in the next chapter. Which, by the way, starts the climax. So hold on to your seats and prepare for mindblowing action! Or not. But be prepared anyway.

Don't forget to vote and comment for support. Only 6 chapters left now.