My cheeks became damp with wet dirt, the fingers on the back of my neck and head tight as my screams intensified, became muffled. I inhaled dirt and blood as my face was pressed forcefully against the wall of my cell, my broken nose throbbing and my lips split open from the backhanded blow from Kanes.

My teeth grinded against each other, another scream climbing up my throat as I was pushed harder onto the dark wall. I could feel hot tears seeping past my closed eyes, and the rope binding my hands behind my back dug into my skin painfully.

"That's it," Kanes cooed, hot air hitting the shell of my ear. "Let it out. Scream little Olivia."

And I did, bellowing as claws barely pierced the back of my skull, my body beginning to tremble and wrack as sobs escaped me. I attempted to move backwards, tried to escape from Kanes, but he refused to relent until I did.

Minutes passed as I roared my rage, my fear, my helplessness into that grimy wall, and when I finally stopped, Kanes jerked my drained body backwards, allowing me to crumble to the floor.

"I don't want to hear you talking with Clyde for the rest of the night, Olivia." Kanes snarled down to me, a heavy boot lifting and pressing into my ankle when I said nothing, too dazed to speak.

My eyes rolled upwards, mouth parting as I garbled out a plea for him to stop, agonizing pain worming up my body. And he eventually did, but crouched afterwards, using a dagger to slice through the ropes binding my wrists.

Blood from my nose dripped down to my mouth, smeared my lips and teeth as I panted and gagged at the iron taste, whimpering at the feeling of constriction in my chest.

Kanes left the cell, and only paused once to lock the door behind him before striding down the hall. My eyes almost immediately sought out Clyde, who sat cross-legged on the floor of his own cell opposite mine, and despite his recently battered face, he was trying to smile, to offer some sort of comfort through his own pain.

He made a gesture with his shaking hands, inhaling as he raised them slowly, lowering them as he slowly exhaled.

I followed him, inhaling and exhaling, doing so until I became calm and my heartbeat no longer pulsed erratically in my chest.

Clyde's hands finally remained lowered and I wiped at my cheeks, nodding my head as he whispered soft gentle, words,

"Be brave little Liv. Be brave."

************

"Have you ever killed someone?"

My question surprised Eric, and he looked down at me briefly, arching a brown, slashed eyebrow before looking ahead once more, towards a few unfamiliar and familiar faces.

Our fast paces matched, and both of our hands were tucked into pockets as we walked.

"Yes." Eric finally responded, small creases forming between his brows as he thought deeply. "Yes, I have killed before." His voice became cold, and I knew then not to pry anymore.

"And you have as well." Eric crisply spoke. My eyes diverted from his face and my pace strengthened as silence descended between us. Ryker must have told him about what I'd done to Anabelle.

My lips lifted in a half-smile when I heard Eric release a heavy breath in displeasure as he forced himself to keep up with me.

"Perhaps you should do some exercises with me at training, commander," My low voice was teasing, and I grinned slyly at his glare.

But my grin drifted away when we came to a halt outside of the large glass building. I could see a few men and women behind the double doors, some holding briefcases, others gripping heavy looking documents.

Eric held open a door for me to pass through, and I breathed a soft sigh of relief at the warmth that cascaded over me.

"This way." Eric's breath tickled the tip of my ear, his large hand resting on my back as he guided me towards a spiral staircase. A few curious looks were sent our way, and I smiled politely at those who did and then, with Eric's direction, entered an office.

"Olivia." Shrewd green eyes looked at me from above thick red glasses as I approached. "Is that it? No surname?"

I felt Eric shift beside me, evidently agitated by her tone but I lifted my head upwards, stepping closer to the woman draped in red, one of the females in the Council.

Eric had told me earlier that her name was Quinn Collins, and had wanted to meet me personally before I signed. I looked down to the paper on her black desk, seeing the list of names of those who would be entering Woodsworth Town to assist the humans there.

"Olivia Hamilton." I said, after the clearing of Eric's throat. The red-haired woman turned the paper so that it faced me, and dropped a pen on top of it. I glanced over my shoulder to Eric, who said nothing, but I noticed the flutter of a muscle by his jaw.

Lifting the pen I scribbled my name on the paper, and my eyes sharpened when she slid the paper swiftly away, merely a second after I finished off the last letter of my surname.

She placed it aside and rested her hands against the desk, the large chair she sat on creaking as she leaned forward, her thin, long fingers lacing together.

"Do you feel prepared for tomorrow, Olivia?" Quinn asked, her impassive expression sending a trickle of unease down my spine. Her eyes continued to pierce my own, and narrowed when I refused to break eye-contact.

"I believe so."

Her lips twisted, the edges tilting down into a frown and she finally dragged her eyes from mine to flicker them up and down my body before she turned to the silently observing Eric.

"I need to have a word with you privately, commander."

Eric nodded and I didn't hesitate to leave the room, breathing a little bit better after I closed the door behind me. I crossed the room and sat on one of the metal chairs in a corner, leaning forward to brace my elbows on my knees and looking around me.

Everything was quiet, except for the occasional sounds of shoes against the floor and low murmurs.

Persons walked back and forth before, none of them paying little attention to my awkward looking self as I waited impatiently for Eric, curious as to what he and the red head was talking about.

My boots tapped against the tiled floor, and I chewed on my lower lip when fifteen minutes passed and Eric didn't leave the office. I straightened eventually, contemplating whether I should just leave the building and see him tomorrow, but Eric opened the door and I stood.

He looked mildly irritated, and his eyes glittered with frustration as he strode out, but they softened at the sight of me. He exhaled loudly and offered a small smile, gestured with a tilt of his head, strands of hair falling down his forehead. "Let's leave."

I began to do as he suggested, but I caught sight of Mrs. Collins' eyes watching me from where she stood in the doorway of her office. Wordlessly, she took a step backwards and I flinched as her wooden door slammed shut. Several heads turned at the noise and I grimaced.

"Collins doesn't trust you." Eric revealed to me after we left the building and arrived on my porch. My hands, which had been searching through my pockets for the key for the door, jerked and I faced him, shaking my head in confusion.

Eric leaned against the outside of the house, arms folded across his chest and eyes regarding me in a strange way, as if he was trying to decipher me.

"Why?" I asked, finally feeling the key and pulling the small thing out. I unlocked my door and Eric entered the house with me; after training, usually in the late evening, Eric would at times stop by and visit, chatting over tea or sometimes dinner which I usually prepared.

We had developed a friendship over the several short weeks I'd been in Corozal. But sometimes, I'd catch Eric looking at me, intensely, softly, in a way that made me think that he wished for us to be more than friends.

"She thinks you may be a spy for Hannes."

I scoffed at that, walking into the kitchen after taking off my boots. I turned on the kettle. "A spy for Hannes?" I breathed in disbelief. I heard Eric moving closer to me.

"She believes you may be trying to find information about Corozal and eventually leave to tell Hannes about it," Eric shrugged a shoulder when I shot him an exasperated look. "She's just cautious."

"She doesn't need to be." I tapped a finger against the warm kettle. "Will you like some tea?"

Eric smiled, flashing white teeth but shook his head. "I need to make sure everything is prepared for tomorrow." His expression sombered shortly after he spoke, and his eyes took in a distant look.

I nodded in understanding.

"Tomorrow then."

Eric visibly hesitated, and a hand which rested on the edge of the kitchen counter tightened, but he nodded, pushing himself away, straightening. “Tomorrow.”

********

Things are about to get a bit crazy....

Inkitt.