A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 53

Artyom

He snatched up the phone and looked at the screen. It wasn't a saved number, but Artyom knew it was Mathias. His finger shook as he pressed the answer botton.

Mathias's smirking face appeared on the phone screen. "Hey Arty. You look like shit mon cheri." 

"I want to see him."

"Of course." Mathias turned his phone around.

James was hanging from the ceiling by his chained arms, his head was bent forward, dark hair messy, coated with blood, and sweat. He was unconscious. He couldn't be dead...Artyom refused to believe that.

And his back...Artyom knew how it would look like from experience, but it still didn't ease the pain consuming his heart. James's once smooth back was a bloody, ruined mess, red welts crisscrossing the destroyed skin.

For a minute Artyom wasn't looking at James anymore. He was nailed to a chair, staring at Thomas. His back had been much worse. In some parts bones had been visible.

Artyom couldn't help the agonized sob that escaped his lips.

"Do you like what I've done to him?" Mathias asked proudly, drinking in Artyom's pain. "It's better than Thomas. He died too soon. Jamie is a tough one. I've had a lot of fun with him."

Artyom tried to find his voice. "Mathias..."

"Yes Arty?" He smiled sweetly, biting his lip.

"Please stop. I'm begging you. I'll come to you. Tell me where, and I'll be there. I won't tell anyone. Please let him go. You've hurt him enough... Mattie please, I'll do anything..."

He chuckled. "Did you just call me Mattie? You haven't called me that in a very long time."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for leaving you. I made a huge mistake, but I'll make it up to you. I'll come back. Give me a second chance. Please, mattie. I swear you won't regret it. I'll be yours again.

You can do whatever you want with me, but please let James go. You can whip me, fuck me. You can do whatever you want, Just let him go, and I'll do anything you want, be anything you want..."

Mathias laughed. "You really do love him, don't you? Just like sweet Thomas. But your pain seems different this time. It's...deeper. I love it."

"Please Mattie, give us a second chance..."

Mathias clicked his tongue. "As tempting as that sounds, I have to refuse. I'm loyal to my people, just like you are to yours. You can't have him back unless you give us Ada."

"They don't care about you mattie. Let's run away together. Just you, and me. It will be like old times, even better. You know their ways, how to hide from them. Come on, you know you want this..."

Mathias's face softened momentarily, and Artyom
saw a flicker of longing in his dark eyes, but then it was gone. "No. You had your chance. It's too late now."
He picked up a bloody leather whip.

"Mattie please don't. He's had enough."

"I beg to differ. Our boy's strong. He can handle me." The whip lashed out, connecting with James's scarred back.