A.S.S.A.S.S.I.N

Chapter 23: Descent into Darkness

The darkness in Adrian's compound was suffocating, each step Tori took further away from Derek felt like a descent into her own personal hell. Adrian's grip on her wrist was unyielding, his presence a constant reminder of the control he held over her. Every fiber of her being screamed to fight back, to resist, but the threat to Derek's life kept her in check. For now.

Adrian led her through a maze of cold, stone corridors, his silence more oppressive than any words he could have spoken. Tori's mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, despair—but beneath it all was a steely resolve. She had submitted, but only because she had no choice. Adrian might have won this round, but she wouldn't let him win the war.

They finally stopped in front of a large, reinforced door. Adrian released her wrist and keyed in a code, the sound of metal locks disengaging echoed in the quiet hallway. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room that was more a cell than anything else. It was cold, sterile, with only a small bed and a single chair. No windows, no escape.

"Get inside," Adrian ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Tori hesitated for a fraction of a second, her instincts screaming at her to run, to fight, to do anything but comply. But then she remembered Derek, broken and battered, barely clinging to life, and she forced herself to move. She stepped into the room, her feet heavy, her heart even heavier.

Adrian followed her inside, closing the door behind him. The click of the lock was loud in the confined space, a finality that sent a chill down Tori's spine. She stood in the middle of the room, her back to Adrian, her fists clenched at her sides. She could feel his eyes on her, the weight of his gaze oppressive.

"Sit down, Tori," he said, gesturing to the chair.

She didn't move immediately, her defiance still simmering beneath the surface, but the memory of Derek's unconscious form pushed her to comply. She sat down slowly, her eyes never leaving Adrian's.

Adrian watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "You're thinking of him, aren't you? Of Derek."

Tori didn't respond, but her eyes betrayed her, flashing with a mixture of fear and anger.

Adrian chuckled, the sound dark and humorless. "You always were too sentimental for your own good. It's your biggest weakness."

"I won't let you hurt him," Tori said, her voice low but steady.

Adrian leaned in close, his face inches from hers. "You're in no position to make demands, Tori. I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want. And you'll do exactly what I tell you, or he dies. It's that simple."

Tori felt a surge of rage at his words, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't afford to lose control, not now. She needed to keep her wits about her, to find a way out of this.

Adrian straightened up, watching her with a calculating look. "You know, I'm actually impressed. You've come a long way since I first found you. But no matter how strong you've become, you're still that broken girl I took under my wing. And deep down, you know it."

Tori clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wouldn't let him get into her head. She couldn't afford to.

Adrian's smile was cruel, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Let's test that resolve of yours, shall we?"

He reached into his coat and pulled out a syringe filled with a murky, dark liquid. Tori's heart skipped a beat as she recognized it—the same "medicine" he had used before, the one that brought back all those painful memories, the one that made her question everything.

"No," Tori whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay strong.

"Oh yes," Adrian said, stepping closer. "This will remind you exactly who you are, and who you belong to."