Darkling

30. Are You There?

Their screams pierced my soul, lifting my hands from their switches. As my hands shook, I wiped away my tears.

"Mari...stop please" Alya groaned, eyes widening. At the revelation that they knew it was me causing them pain. The TV turned on and I saw both of them strapped to a table. Their bodies convulsing, Alya's hair was disheveled and both of their noses were bleeding. Alya was watching Nino as his head slammed into the table. A sickening, cracking sound echoed throughout the room and the TV turned off.

My hand covered my mouth as I gasped. As more tears fell I started hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe.....I can not breathe. Blinking viciously I started pulling at the collar.

"It is essential that you continue." Letting go of the collar I knew what she wanted me to do.

The one person that she wanted me to hurt.

"Please continue."

"No, you're going to have to kill me first!" Gripping the chair I prepared for the shock. Still breathing hard while waiting, waiting, and waiting.

"Aaaaaah" the ringing started again, my hand covered my ears. Soon my back started rocking, eyes closed. Trying to block the horrible sound out.

She wasn't going to break me!

As the ringing continued I was now hunched over. Elbow on my thighs my hands pressing my ears to my skull.

How long was this going to last this time?

Soon enough my own screams intertwined with the ringing. Screaming until my throat felt raw only stopping when I felt something wet. A hand went to my nose and I felt blood flowing down my face.

Shit.

Letting the blood flow I covered my ears. Sitting up as the blood fell onto my bra and torso.

The fear of becoming deaf was immediate. Suddenly the ringing had stopped, sighing in relief. My hands were moving away from my ears yet the sound of an air duct came on. Blasting cold air from above onto my body. As it tensed up, strands of my hair were blowing in front of my face. Arms wrapped around my body to try to keep warm. Goosebumps started to appear as I stared at the switches.

Resisting to pull Adrien's no matter what she did to me.

I will not push that switch!

Eventually, my nose stopped bleeding as the room got colder. The sound of the vibrations of the air duct was unsettling. Whipping my nose I saw the mixture of blood and snot.

"So what's your game plan here Lila? To defeat us with the common cold." In retaliation, the blaring of the air duct seemed to get louder. The air was slowly becoming frigid. My body starts shivering and my teeth chattering.

Rubbing my arms faster I felt another blast of air. This came from underneath the table and brushed against my feet.

Fuck!

Both of my legs were starting to cramp up and my heart rate had elevated. Raising my hands I started fumbling with the wires. Slowly becoming drowsy, limbs heavy, trying to focus on my breathing. To conserve my energy, my eyes fluttering close. My head fell onto my shoulder; as my shoulders slumped and my head fell backward. My eyes flew open as I lifted my head.

Stay awake!

Once again shifting in the seat to keep my body alert. My bones were shaking as I glanced down at my body. I could see red splotches starting to form. Whimpering as I leaned over to try to free my legs. Fingers trembling as I pulled on the locks. Slowly breathing I rubbed my nose, narrowing my eyes. To sit up and focused on all the wires attached to me.