The Steam Lounge

Disc 1 - Track 9

Empty Threat - CHVRCHES 
"Taking back an empty threat, more than you could ever know. Take it back with no regrets. I was better off when I was on your side and I was holding on."
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The feeling in Mercy's head refused to subside, making her almost nauseous. Mercy heard Patrick step away from her and go to the kitchen. After the sound of a few cabinet doors opening and closing, there was a comforting silence. She assumed that he had left but still waited a few minutes before opening her eyes just in case.

Patrick was sat on the floor directly in front of her but, before she could close her eyes again, he was staring directly at her. They kept eye contact for a moment before either of them spoke.

"Hey sweetheart." Patrick's voice echoed through her ears. She cowered away from him, gasping as one of his hands rested on her knee. Mercy had enough experience of Patrick on his own and what she'd seen, she didn't like.

"Please don't hurt me." Mercy whispered, her voice much quieter than she had anticipated. Her eyes were wide and she was attempting to sit up but soon found that she couldn't. She hissed in pain and Patrick placed a hand on her shoulder, pressing her sharply back down onto the sofa.

"Relax. You've hurt your neck and if you move you're only going to make it worse." He reminded her, stroking her collarbone with his thumb. She tried to push his hand away but his fingernails gripped into her skin.

"Patrick, please don't-" She pleaded with him to leave her alone. He frowned, entwining her fingers in his and holding tightly.

"Don't move." He said firmly. Mercy let her body relax onto the sofa and Patrick smiled to himself slightly. "Good girl. Do you remember what happened?" He asked her. Mercy wasn't sure how to approach the question, not wanting to aggravate him when he was calm.

"I came in here and then its all fuzzy. I just remember you and Pete stood up. I think Andy was here too." She lied, pretending to think about it. Patrick looked convinced so she relaxed.

"You fell over and hit your head on the coffee table. I think you tripped over your own feet or something." He explained. Bullshit.

"Yeah, sounds like something I'd do." She responded, trying to sound like she'd been convinced by his lie.

"How's your head?" He asked, sitting up straighter. Mercy winced, looking upwards for a moment. She wasn't sure how much longer she could put up with it for.

"Better than my neck." She commented before trying to move. She let out a shriek and Patrick jumped, his eyes widening.

"What do you need?" He asked calmly. Mercy's face was twisted with pain, her eyes tightly closed.

"Painkillers. Please get me some painkillers." She hissed. Patrick walked over to the kitchen to get a glass of water and the tablets. When he came back, she struggled to sit up. Patrick pushed the glass into one of her hands and popped the pills into the other. She hesitated, staring at the pills she was holding.

"Can I see the box." She whispered, looking over at him. Patrick looked confused for a moment before realising what she wanted to look at.

"I'm trying to look after you Mercy. Can you just try to not be such a massive bitch for five minutes?" He asked outraged. She sighed to herself, still in unbearable pain.

"Please just show me the box, you could be giving me anything." She said bitterly. Patrick looked her up and down.

"I'm helping you out and you still don't trust me." He said to her accusingly. Mercy was full of anger, adrenaline from the injury had filled her with some kind of confidence.