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When Jeanie came to again, she thought she was dead- hoped she was dead, but she still felt her shallow breaths. She still felt the ropes chaffing her wrists and the cold metal against her butchered thighs.
She must have let out some sort of sound because seconds after she felt that she was awake, a hand gripped her chin, and squeezed, lifting her head up and turning it to the right. A gentle hand brushed her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear- what was left of it.
"There you are," a voice cooed. "We thought we were gonna have to do rescue breaths for a second. Had me a little worried I'd lost you before I got what I want."
Jeanie pulled her head away, but not in a defiant way, just to show she could hold it up herself. She kept her eyes lowered, feeling as if she were just floating. She could make out Ray sitting in a chair across from her, and she wondered what he was going to do now.
"Where are Tommy Miller and Maria Allen?"
At this, Jeanie lifted her eyes in confusion, panicking for a moment, wondering if she had told him at some point when she didn't remember. "H-How did you-" it hurt to speak.
"Oh, Jesse told me. Three days ago. The first day you two were here actually. He did his part, it was just you who wouldn't cooperate." Ray's voice was chiding.
Jeanie sniffled at the revelation, shaking her head in denial.
"Where are Tommy and Maria?" he asked again, for the millionth time, and she swore couldn't recall.
"I..." she began before lowering her head, admitting she still didn't know.
"Jesse mentioned they fell into the river. Is that correct?" Ray questioned.
Then, it slowly began coming back to her. She did know. She did know and she'd caused Jesse so much pain and anguish. Her stomach clinched and she cried, her chin pressed against her sternum. She told him everything.
"We came from Wyoming. We were just passing through- came back for... things in our hometown. Then your guys started shooting at us and the bridge collapsed!" Her sobs turned into hiccups. "I really don't know where they are! We were looking for them when... you guys-" she suddenly remembered how she and Jesse were captured and the feeling of the metal bear trap biting into her flesh. Her tone changed to that of a whisper. "The... bear trap. And I- and I told Jesse to go but he..."
Ray nodded, "So you did know. Everything. This whole time. You really couldn't give two shits about him, huh? Y'know, he cried. Called out for you to help him."
"Stop!" Jeanie cried, a tear slipping down her cheek in devistation.
"We brought him in earlier. You must not remember. He had tears streaming down his face and you wouldn't even look at him- went as far as to tell him he was disgusting. I could hardly believe it."
