Page 41 of Sadistic Obsession (Rise of Phoenyxx #1)

P hoenyxx

I am so fucking weak. My mouth is so dry, I can’t even work up any spit. My lips are severely dry and cracked. I am too weak to even be scared anymore. I just...drift.

My best friend, Valley. I love her with all of my heart.

I am only hoping that Bryan and my guys will look after her.

She'll need them. My guys...man. I’ve had nothing but time to think and feel.

I am in love with Ghost and Trikk. I feel it all through me.

I wish I could have told them that. I worry for them; my being gone will hit them harder than the others.

Then, there’s Frost—the fuck machine—the emotionless one.

I could see myself falling for him too, if I had the time.

Purge and Razor, I am just starting to build.

..something... with them both. Then there is Synn.

The sadistic torturer, who hates me. Who wants to hurt me.

But being in here with him, it’s changing things. ..

A shrill scream lurches me from my thoughts. It sounded really close. I try to strain my ears to hear more. A second later, another scream pierces the air. Louder than the first.

“Is that screaming?” I hear Synn ask, voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah, I think so,” I whisper. “There's been two so far.”

Just as I finish speaking, another scream rings out. “What the fuck?” I mutter. “Synn, where’s that coming from?”

“It sounds close. There shouldn’t be anything close by here, except maybe the morgue. Granted, it could be another hidden tunnel.”

I hear footsteps, and my heart stutters. No one has been here since the last time. My fluids stopped some time ago. An idea forms, which I quickly relay to Synn. “Act compliant when they come in,” I rush out. “If they think they broke us, maybe they’ll at least remove the restraints.”

“Good idea, Pazessca.”

My eyes cut towards the doorway, where the mean nurse walks in, mumbling about not having time for this.

She is holding two more IV bags. I wait until she attaches my bag before speaking.

“Please, may we have some food and water?” I ask meekly, not looking her in the eye.

She huffs, moving to replace Synn's bag.

"Ma’am? Please?” he asks quietly, a plea in his eyes.

“Finally playing nice, huh?” she retorts.

“We would appreciate it, thank you,” I whisper.

She takes a long look at us both—we're shaking, sweating, and beat-down. “I’ll get the doctor.” She turns and leaves the room.

“Fuck,” I groan. “We have to be convincing, Synn.” He grunts in response.

We don’t have to wait long before the same doctor comes in. “I heard you’re behaving? And asked nicely for food and water?”

“Yes, Sir,” I reply obediently.

“Yes,” Synn agrees.

“Alright, I’ll send some soup and water.”

He turns to leave, but I quickly pipe up. “Can we get the restraints removed so we may eat, Sir?”

He quirks his brow. “Not yet. You will have assistance eating. If you continue complying, we can revisit the issue.”

As soon as he leaves, Synn complains, “Motherfucker!” My eyes swim with unshed tears, too dry to actually cry. I don’t know how much more we can take.

Frost

We are all leaving the apartment to head back to the tunnels when a loud voice shrieks, “Wait, asswipes!” I sigh, turning to see a steaming-mad Valley approaching us. Razor rolls his eyes. “Here we go...”

She steps up, getting in my face. “WHERE...THE...FUCK....IS...NYX? What did you twats do to her?”

I swipe my hand down my face, with another sigh. “We’re trying to figure that out.”

“We didn’t do shit to her,” Purge adds.

“Tell me everything!” she demands, hands on her hips.

“We don’t have time—” I start to say, when Bryan sidles up next to her.

“Make time!” he barks out.

Dammit!

“We can help,” she pleads. “Please! I know her like you don’t!”

I look at the guys, and we all seem in agreement with pulling them in. “Come with us. We'll explain on the way. But know this—if you’re in, you’re in. No pussying out. Got it?”

“Of course,” they say together.

I explain everything as we head to the far end of the art hall, where Ghost’s tunnel is located. “Holy fucking chainsaw,” she reacts. Bryan's face pales, but with a firm nod, he seems to be on board. “I’ll do ANYTHING to get her back!” Valley adds.

I start to give out directions when my phone vibrates in my pocket. “Yeah?”

Hunter’s voice drills into my ears. “Get your asses here, NOW!”

“We have Valley and Bryan with us. They've been updated on everything. What's going on?”

He starts to respond, when I hear him choke out, “Oh...my...GOD! What...?”

“Harris!”

No response. The phone makes a clattering sound, like it’s been dropped. Without another thought, I break into a run, the others right behind me.

Hunter

My office phone rings, so I hesitantly pick it up. “Yeah?”

“Dr. Harris, I’ve been told you witnessed something you shouldn’t have,” Director Augustine’s voice barks down the line.

“Sir...With all due respect, as an employee here, I SHOULD have access to ALL areas of the property.”

“NO!” his voice thunders. “If you utter one word to anyone, precious little Cynthia will pay.”

WHAT THE FUCK? My younger sister, Cynthia, has been missing since she was six.

I was sixteen. We tried everything to find her and came up empty.

When I started communication with the merc group, ZYGOS, I had them utilize their numerous resources to find her.

Even with their expert hackers, it’s like she disappeared off the planet.

If she IS alive, she would be twenty-three years old.

My childhood was not good. We were dirt poor. My parents checked out when I was little, so I took the responsibility of taking care of Cynthia since then. My mom loved alcohol, and my dad loved drugs. Selfish motherfuckers.

“SIR?” I question, my hands shaking as I put the call on speakerphone. “Can you repeat that?”

“I think you heard me fine, Dr. Harris.”

“What the hell do you know about my sister?”

“Enough to know she is alive, and where she’s being kept. You should know that if anything happens to me, SHE will pay the price.”

I have to fight back the questions running through my brain. “What do you want?”

“For you to forget anything you saw or heard. To be clear—that extends to the students... Also... if you want your two students released into your care, you’ll comply.”

“So, what? I just promise, and that’s it?”

He laughs hollowly, “Of course not. I have a document drawn up for you to sign. My attorney will be keeping it. And you also need to understand that there are much bigger powers running things. The price for going against this is high.”

What the hell? Purge is an excellent hacker. I'm going to get him on this immediately. And I’ll be calling my contact from ZYGOS too.

“Fine,” I say, through gritted teeth. “I expect you to release my students right away.”

“Once you’ve signed the document. Come to my office now.” A dial tone greets me.

I fly out of my office, getting into the admin building through the back entrance. I keep my head down, so no one tries to stop me. I am heaving when I come to a halt in his office. “Augustine is expecting me,” I tell the constipated-looking secretary.

She nods. “Go in.”

I march right up to where he’s seated, like a king on his throne. I slam both hands on his desk, leaning in close. “I will sign it, but to be clear, if anyone harms a hair on my sister’s or my students’ heads, I will skin you alive!”

His lips thin as he slides a stack of papers in front of me. I skim through it, noticing how similar it is to an NDA. I am essentially signing away my freedom of fucking speech with this. For Cynthia, and my Pretty Girl, I'll do ANYTHING.

I quickly scrawl my signature on the last page, sliding it back to him. “Now release my students.”

He picks up his phone. He turns sideways in his chair, so I can’t see his face.

“Yes,” he says on the line. “This is Director Augustine. I need you to release patient eleven and patient twelve immediately. Joseph Franco, and Phoenyxx Solomon.” He listens for a minute, then replies, “Release them into Dr. Harris’s care.

He'll see to them. For NOW,” he adds, cutting his eyes towards me.

As if I don’t get the message already. “Bring them to his office.”

He hangs up, glaring at me. “You may go now.”

I am already up, walking out. Once I hit the back door, I full-on RUN back to my office to wait.

I'm only waiting for a few minutes when I hear footsteps coming my way. It sounds like multiple people.

I whip out my cell phone, calling Frost. “Get your asses here, NOW!” is all I get out before the doorknob turns, and a barely-moving Phoenyxx and Synn are dumped into my office.

They are only in their damn underwear! They both hit the floor hard, not making a move to get up.

Frost is still talking, but his voice dims. “Oh....My....GOD....What??” I scream out in a jumble, seeing these stick-thin, shaking, terrified students in front of me. My Pretty Girl...my GOD.

My phone is tossed onto the desk, and I bend down to Phoenyxx. “Pretty Girl? It’s Hunter. I have you, you’re safe.” I gently place my hands on her hunched-up body, trying to get through to her. Her eyes glide up to meet mine briefly, before they get shadowed and bounce away.

“Synn....” she mumbles.

Hearing her voice, he responds, “Pazessca, I’m here.” Pazessca? What the hell is going on here? He attempts to stand, only for his legs to wobble and collapse underneath him.

“Careful,” I tell him, helping him up. “What happened to you both?”

Before he answers, I’m at Pretty Girl’s side, lifting her and holding her against me, bridal-style. “Pretty Girl,” I moan out, nuzzling her hair.

“Hun... Hunter?” Her teeth chatter, and her small frame trembles uncontrollably.

“Yeah, baby, it’s me. Synn is here too. The others are on their way. You're going to be okay.” I shrug my button-down shirt off, draping her with it.

She breaks out into huge, mournful sobs. I cradle her close, holding my arm out for Synn. “Sit,” I tell him, leading him towards my chair. He falls into it with a grunt.

I spin around when the door flies open with a bang. The other five stomp through, followed by Valley and Bryan. They all rush towards Phoenyxx, and I turn her away. “Go easy, guys. I have no idea what they’ve been through, but we need to tread carefully.”

A wail pierces the air, and Razor breaks off, running to Synn's side. I am shocked to see tears rolling down his face. “Brother,” he sobs, throwing his large arms around him. Synn stiffens, then melts into the embrace.

“Brother,” he answers in a guttural voice.

Frost speaks up. “We need to take this back to our apartment.” I see emotion on his face, which I don’t think he realizes he’s showing.

“No,” I answer. “My apartment will be safer.”

He opens his mouth to protest, but then stops, nodding his head. Another cry bursts through the room as Ghost pushes forward, taking Pretty Girl right out of my arms. “Malishka, my Malishka....”

She burrows into him, and I hear her whisper softly, “I love you, Ghost.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I did NOT just hear her say that.

I let him hold onto her, as I peek outside my door, checking to see if the coast is clear. No one. Good. “Boys, go with Ghost to my building. Valley and Bryan, come with me.”

Poor Valley is gaping like a fish at both Phoenyxx and Synn. “Nyx...My GOD Nyx...”

I place my hand on her shoulder. “She’ll be okay, Valley.” Bryan squeezes her into his side, emotion in his eyes.

“A little HELP HERE,” Razor huffs, struggling to get Synn up and walking. Purge and Trikk rush over, helping him to stay on his feet.

“Right. Everyone except Valley and Bryan go together.” I look to them. “Let’s go now.”