Phoenix's Lies

Ready, Set Race!

River

Almost Two Weeks Later

It takes a while to get an answer about my bail. Maeve's in every day trying to help me but it's no use since most of the people assigned to my case appear to be working with or have ties to Ivar and the Spades. Something that makes getting answers all the more difficult. The ones tasked with getting a confession out of me spare no punishment for my refusing to answer Ivar's questions that first morning we came face to face but that does little to break me since I know the tactics and how to keep myself from breaking. From giving in and letting them get what they want.

The nightmares are another issue. I rarely sleep not out of habit but because I find I'm unable to rest with so much nervous energy coiled inside me. So much fear in my veins I find myself jumping at every small sound. Rattling locks, jangling keys, footsteps of a passing officer or guard. All have me wanting to jump out of my skin. Leaving me spending nights curled in a ball on my side, watching the bars to see what happens. Trying to keep a hold of my sanity by reminding myself that Nix was safe since when I last saw Ash and my friend swore he'd keep Nix safe for me until I got out. Something I want to believe will happen but with the days inching closer to my threatened court date and no news from Maeve it's getting harder to keep that dream, that hope alive.

"Still here are you traitor? Seems your 'family' abandoned you. Even with how much you boasted you never left one of each other behind. Left you here to be whatever we want you to be." The sound of Hawk's voice through the bars to my cell has me opening my eyes with a blurry blink. Talon and Scar are with him, Connor strangely nowhere in sight. A sight that lets me breathe a little easier, just a little. "What no comeback now? Shame I thought you had more fight than that. Guess we were wrong."

I sigh, turning my head more where I'm lying on the ground after they left me in here the last time I received a 'visitor' trying to get me to talk. I smile lazily, a hand on my stomach and one lying on the floor. "I do have fight you asshole, maybe you just aren't worth my time. pequeña perra débil y patética." Hawk glares at me when I say that but doesn't come inside, just leans through the bars with a scowl on his face. "I'm not afraid of you. Any of you. And especially him, you can tell him that if you want I don't care. Feel free to fucking relay my message: I'm not fucking afraid of you, worthless pieces of shit."

Hawk's scowl deepens, eyes darkening as he leans further in, "You should be. You should be afraid of us little bitch; you might be the Black Aphrodite but don't think that keeps you safe if you push him too far. He will kill you if you do."

I shrug in response, bored with the conversation. Sensing they'll get nothing out of me the three of them resort to trying to intimidate me through the bars since I'm guessing Ivar had a rule for who can touch me, hurt me. Turning my head back to look up at the ceiling I swallow and let out a low breath as my eyes find the bracelet and ring. Promises I made to someone to keep going. Ones I intend to keep.

I hadn't seen Maeve in a few days so I can only hope she's trying to work out if I can get bail if she can get me out of here. I see Ash from time to time and he tries to slip me something since I think he can tell that whatever they're giving me isn't enough. Small things like sweets can be concealed and keep me awake. Caffeine tablets too when I asked for them, not wanting to sleep in fear of my nightmares or someone coming for me in the dark. Terrified of the whole goddamn world. Of what could happen.

Sparing a glance in the direction of the cell door I see the three of them still watching me but I don't choose to engage with them, rather looking back at the ceiling since they'd left me dumped on the floor again a few hours before coming back to stare. To torment, should it get to me. Looking the other way I close my eyes and remain like that until I hear a sharp rapping on the door, the distuned jangle echoing in my head.