Hours of silence passed. The time took forever to go by, as if it was taunting me. Taunting me with boredom and captivity.

My stomach growled. I couldn't remember the last time I actually had a decent meal.

As if on cue, a guard walked by with a tray of scraps of food. A slit of the barrier opened for him to slide it towards me. He closed the barrier and began to walk away. "How the hell am I supposed to eat this?"

"Get creative." He left, and I just stared at the food.

"Great."

"What's wrong? Aside from being imprisoned, I mean," Loki said.

"I can't eat my fucking food." He didn't ask why, but I knew he wanted to. "They've got my hands completely covered. I can't really do anything."

"Oh."

"I'm not going to let myself starve, so I'll figure something out." The plate was close enough, so I didn't have to bring it closer. The only thing I could think to to was to bend down and eat it. "This is fucking humiliating. I hate this."

"I know. I'm sorry." I bent down to eat the bits and pieces of food on the tray. I hated the process, but it felt so good to get food in my stomach, even if it was little bits of food here and there. I could tell it was just leftover scraps from somebody else's meal.

As soon as I finished eating, I felt drowsy. My head started spinning as I slouched against the wall. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Lilith? What is it?"

"They... drugged me." The words slurred out as my body went numb. "Loki—" The room went black, and I felt myself crumble to the floor.

******

I tried to sit up, but I was jerked backwards. I panicked, not knowing where I was or what was going on. I looked around to see my hands and ankles tied down, holding me to whatever table I was on. "What the— Help! Is anyone there?"

"Hello, child."

"Great, just the person I wanted to see. Well, hear, I guess, since you won't show me your face."

"All in good time, my child."

"Okay, you gotta stop calling me that. It's kind of creepy. I'm not your fucking kid."

"Such foul language for a girl like you."

"Girl like me? What does that even mean?" No answer. "Okay, are we done here? I have a prison cell to rot in."

"Ready to go so soon? This is only the beginning." I heard loud footsteps coming towards me. A large man-like silhouette grew closer. He stepped into the light to reveal his true appearance. He was much taller than anyone I'd ever seen before. His skin was purple, and he made me feel small. I looked up to his face. He looked like a fucking raisin.

"So, you're the guy?"

"My name is Thanos. And yes, I am 'the guy,'" he said with finger quotations. He pulled out a blade from seemingly nowhere. He came closer and fear grew in my heart.

"Don't touch me. Don't you fucking touch me." He jammed the blade in my leg, causing me to scream out in pain. He pulled it out. I felt the blood creep across my skin and slip towards the table. The pain soared through my whole leg. He impaled my other leg this time, bringing a much similar effect. "Stop! Please!"

He slowly dragged the blade through my upper arm. I cried out through every bit of it. My face scrunched up in pain. Please, wake up. Please wake up, I thought.

It felt like hours of torture had gone by. He was about to shoot the blade through me again when suddenly everything was gone.

******

I gasped for air as I jolted awake. The pain resonated in the areas of my dream wounds for a few minutes before disappearing. I couldn't do anything except for sit and wait.

Hours passed and the guard returned with another tray. When he left, I shoved the plate away from me. I wasn't too excited for sleep anymore. Even if it meant hours of endless boredom, I wasn't going to eat or sleep unless I had to. I wouldn't go back, not if I could help it.

I began to hum. Why not? I didn't have anything better to do. I hummed a depressing version of "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas. Yes, I am a nerd.

I got bored of humming after a while and started staring at the wall.

"From what I heard, that was beautiful."

Thanks.

"I wish I could see you."

Me, too.

"I'm terribly sorry for dragging you into this."

Loki, please don't. I don't want to hear any more apologies. Okay?

"Alright."

I felt like a caged animal, like a bird with clipped wings. In theory, I kind of was. They yearned to stretch already, and I knew it had only been a fraction of the time I was going to spend here. This would be nothing compared to the years I had left, no doubt. If I even survived that long.

******

Days passed with little food or sleep. At least I think it was days. I had food to eat but denied it until I couldn't take the hunger. When I did eat it, I slept with horrid nightmares of torture. I was surprised I hadn't gone insane.

Loki and I made conversation throughout the day, but it wasn't enough to keep myself grounded to the real world for very long. I often daydreamed of flying or being home with Loki until even that were corrupted with thoughts of Thanos. I would cry without knowing the tears were coming. Sometimes, I wished I had died that day.

"Don't ever think like that," Loki's voice interrupted.

What?

"Do not ever wish to die. Don't go down that path."

I can't take this anymore, Loki. I can't handle this.

"I know. I wish I were in there with you. I am so terribly sorry."

Stop apologizing. I don't want to hear that anymore.

"I will never stop apologizing for this because I will never stop feeling guilty. I know you hate it, but you cannot make me stop. I took so much from you, only to take away even more. I am a destroyer of life and happiness. I do not think that apologizing will ever make up for what I have done, but it is all I can do. So please, Lilith, stop refusing it."

His speech almost made me cry. I had tried not to think of Earth, but I couldn't help it. I had lost everything valuable to me. I lost my home, I lost my family, and I would never see my friend again. I essentially lost my life. What more could I possibly have to live for?

I had Loki. I had him right here, and he was enough reason to keep going. To hold on. Even if it killed me, I would hold on for Loki.

Thank you.

"What? What for?"

Just being here. I smiled as I slouched against the wall and stared at nothing in particular. I love you, Loki.

"I love you, too."