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Eli

I do not.

Never,

Miss me yet?

Eli

Tears splash over the beautiful script, written with those damn talented fingers. Hedid notput me through trigger after trigger to help the Centress wake up this stupid thing in me. I curl into a ball on the floor and stay like that for hours, listening to the sounds of labor. I pull my body tighter when the door opens and shuts.

“Hello, little Hollow.” A man’s voice slithers down my spine. “You’re not as wet as when I last saw you.”

I can’t hold back my whimper as I place his voice. I don’t dare turn my head to the black eyes I know I’ll see, the gaunt cheeks and the long hair Eli once pulled to heave him over my head and into the lake.

“And you don’t smell as much like vomit,” I say into my knees, not revealing I saw him after that, getting walloped by Sypher.

Poett’s hands clamp onto my sides, lifting me effortlessly from my safe ball on the floor. He shakes me, trying to get my arms and legs loose, but I stay tucked tight.

Go away.

He groans and tosses me onto the bed. My back hits the stiff mattress, and he leans over my bent legs. I keep them pulled against my chest.

“Let’s see what was so special that Eli would give his life to fuck you.” His pale, swollen face looms over me, at least four teeth missing, his nose narrowing as he scents me. His hair falls over his shoulders in greasy clumps.

“Get away!” I kick my feet into the black jumpsuit over his stomach without thinking, the small act of violence coming so easily.

He stumbles back then dives forward with renewed rage, grabbing my legs and chaining me to the rails with the dangling cuffs. I sit up and try to fight him off, but he shoves me to my back with one palm, pulls my arms up over my head and chains them too.

“That’s better. Now I can see what I have to work with.”

I pull on the chains, twisting and writhing while he laughs. “Are these hard for me?” He flicks my cold nipples through my shirt, and I silently curse Eli for slicing up my bra.

“Fuck off, asshole!” Finally—a voice when I need it. I try to turn away from his touch, but he runs a hand down my chest to my belly, then tugs at the front of my pants.

“No underwear either. He likes it easy, puts you in his clothes for quick access.” He snaps the waistband against my skin. “And nothing in the way.” His fingers trail from one hip bone to the other. “I prefer a challenge, maybe a chase, but thanks to you, I’ve been forced to work double shifts. I haven’t had a spare minute for release.”

“Don’t. Touch. Me.” Tears threaten me again.

“Don’t get too excited, Hollow.” He pats my mound, bending his hand to my shape. “I’m not here to give you pleasure—only pain.” Then he plunges his elbow into my stomach. Lips to my ear, he whispers, “But sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which.”

I groan, my body trying to curl up but stopped by the chains. Gasping, every muscle across my middle cramping and burning, I let the tears fall.

Even through the watery blur, I see Poett’s face light up with delight, the slow lick of his lips. “Is that the sound you make for the traitor when he takes you?”

“Please.”Don’t hurt me again.

His eyes narrow, a sick hunger in them. “I bet he likes your face full of tears, gets off on your pain while you beg for more.”

A pounding sound comes from beyond the door, sudden and desperate, as if someone wanted the pain to go away as much as I do.

He rests a hand on my lower abdomen, his thumb toying with my waistband, fingers caressing. I scream. I curse. I cry. His touch is sickening. He keeps his hand in place, waiting to speak until fatigue quiets me.

“You’re lucky the Centress didn’t send someone that already has their gift. They could burn your hair off, freeze your fingers before shattering them…or worse.”

“Lucky? Fuck you.”

His elbow lands on my thigh this time, and I can’t stop the gurgling sound of agony that escapes, the groan and whimper that follow.