Ruby walked over and crouched in front of me.
The scent of lilies laced with disinfectant hit my nostrils.
"Don't be upset. I'll take very good care of this one. After all, it cost your first eight their lives."
She dropped her voice low.
Every word dripping with provocation and gloating.
I jerked my head up and stared at her, unblinking.
Pure hatred.
"You'll pay for this."
Cecil kicked me square in the shoulder.
I crashed to the floor again, my vision going black, the pain nearly dragging me under.
"You dare curse Ruby? You must be tired of living. Someone get in here. Lock her in the basement. No one feeds her without my permission."
Two bodyguards walked in, grabbed me by the arms, and dragged me out.
I thrashed and fought, but it changed nothing.
"Cecil Delgado, you'll die screaming for this!"
The iron door of the basement slammed shut.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
I curled up on the freezing dirt floor, listening to the system countdown tick away.
50:00.
Time drained away second by second.
The pain in my stomach kept getting worse, sharper each time.
I bit down on my lip until I tasted rust.
I couldn't die. Not yet. Not before I watched them pay.
Ruby came down to the basement.