Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 32

When I awoke next, I was back in my cold cell with a fresh set of clothing and not a mark on my body. I went through all that trouble. I did such unspeakable things in desperation, but had nothing to show for it, not even a scar.

Sasuke had such a devastated look on his face when he looked at me from behind bars. My eyes squeezed shut and I gripped the tooth necklace in my hand as I tried to keep from crying. He looked like he'd been going through hell, just like the rest of us.

I don't know what I was thinking, giving him the keys. Kabuto would obviously notice they were gone and it would be easy for him to come to the conclusion that I gave them to Sasuke. So all of that effort and trauma really was for absolutely nothing.

When my two friends across the hall awoke, they were extremely shocked to see me upright. Apparently I'd been out for more than two weeks. The guards had taken me somewhere at least once a day before returning my still unconscious body to the cell.

The passage of time had become a source of confusion for me. It felt like I'd slept overnight, not more than fourteen days. It had to have been at least two months since our capture, but for all I knew it could be even more.

Naruto and Hinata reconciled once he was able to forgive her for not coming forward with the truth about her lineage, which only made things more uncomfortable when he'd be returned to his cell after Karin called for him. I didn't know if he'd told her what they're doing to him, but I'm sure she'd figured it out by the look on his face.

My heart ached for the pair. Hinata had confided in me at the hotel that she was interested in experiencing sex for the first time with him and I know he felt the exact same way for her, but that tender encounter has forever been tainted.

No one came for the Hyuga heiress after she'd been moved to the cell beside the Uzumaki boy, which confused us all. Why go through the trouble of capturing her if they were just going to let her rot.

Multiple days passed after I woke before guards finally came and retrieved me from my cell. My friends could only give me concerned looks as I was led away. I didn't bother fighting this time around because whatever awaited me would likely wear me out.

Upon arriving in Orochimaru's lab, I was strapped down to the table as per usual, but was surprised to see a second table across the room. It had much thicker, metal, cuffs instead of the leather ones on mine.

Please tell me they don't plan to...

The doctor waited until the two guards were out of the room before addressing me with a bright grin, "Good morning, Sakura. You gave us quite a scare, sleeping for that long. How do you feel?"

My glare locked onto his form as he slid his hands under my thin shirt to feel for something near my pelvic bones, something he always did.

"Either kill me or let me go already. I'm tired of this."

My body became dusted with goosebumps as a crash sounded right outside the door. Orochimaru didn't even turn or pause in his actions as six guards struggled to control a muzzled, shackled, and raging Sasuke. His eyes glowed a dangerously bright red as he fought. Two more guards came in behind them and I caught a glimpse of multiple unconscious or maybe even dead guards in the hall they'd come in from.

My face fell in disbelief.

His movements froze when his glowing eyes landed on me and I watched in horror as they danced down to the doctor's hands under my shirt. All hell broke loose and he quickly freed one of his arms by throwing two of the guards several feet away, but he was quickly subdued by the other six and soon had his wrists and ankles held down by the metal cuffs on the other table.