Days of Decay

Chapter Thirty

To Asha's surprise, Jude left her in her room straight away, letting her 'recover' from the injection. His reasoning didn't surprise her though. He said she was no use to him like that, which only made her dread what he would do to her when the medicine wore off. She was tied to each bed post, it made her feel incredibly vulnerable and horribly uncomfortable.

She lay staring up at the glowing stars that littered the ceiling, finding herself thinking about when she'd see real stars again, if she ever would. She thought about the hundreds of times she'd stepped out into the night and looked up to see a clear sky sparkling with fallen suns. She remembered how it filled her with a happiness that she couldn't describe.

Looking at them and finding the few constellations she knew, grounded her, filled her with wonder. Her favourite one was the Little Bear because it was the first one she'd learnt about, and it was a little harder to see than others; making it just that much better when she did spot it.

Please let me see them again, please.

True to Harry's word, the drugs started to wear off around the two-hour mark. She could feel a tingling in her fingers and her toes first. Then the feeling spread through her like wildfire, igniting her limbs into action. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief. A tiny part of her thought she'd never be able to move again, thankfully that wasn't the case. She rocked and pulled against her restraints, hoping to make some sort of leeway, but she was tied down with little room to move.

The door handle turned and its metal squeak pierced her ears. Her heart stopped.

"Good," came the voice from behind her.

She closed her eyes and refused to open them. She didn't want to see the look in his eyes, the look that would tell her that she was his and there was nothing she could do about it. She felt his footsteps as they curved around the bed. She heard him bend over her and then felt her gag being taken out. She tore her eyes open then, staring him down.

"Why?" She seethed, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips quivering.

"Why what?" He asked nonchalantly, sitting himself by her on the bed.

"Why are you keeping us?" She pushed, a blaze in her glare.

"I thought I made myself clear."

"We aren't like anyone else you've had," she pleaded, her eyes threatening to fill.

"I know, that's what makes you so... enticing," he grinned, his blue eyes glittering.

"But we can put an end to Nox, we can make the cure. You just have to let us go!" She begged now, losing her anger.

"You forget that you're the one that's special. Don't lump yourself in with the rest of your group. They are nothing but mere meat to be harvested," Jude said, his words cutting her.

"...I need them," she whispered, not meaning for it to come out; the urgency betrayed her.

"Rule number one. Don't show your weaknesses. Someone might use them against you. Although, it's a little late for that. You've already told me everything I need to know," he said lowly with a chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.

Asha's heart started to hammer furiously. He was right, she had trusted him, they all had. They revealed everything to him; where they were headed, what their plan was, and worst of all, who they were to each other. He had every bit of leverage he needed to mould and burn each and every one of them. And they had no choice but to give in. Asha immediately thought of Kit and how he would die for her, without question. The reality of that decision was imminent and that very fact made her blood turn cold and her hearing pulse loudly in her ears.