Lassoing the Cresent Moon

28.A Bleeding Heart

Author's Note: Torture and graphic descriptions. Reader Discretion is advised.
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I clenched my fists. "What do you want from me? And what did you do to dogday?"

Catnap paced slowly, his eyes were still on me, testing my patience. Pride radiated off of him in some sort of sadistic glee. He relished in my helplessness.

Disgusting.

"Do you what I've always found fascinating about you, Audrey?"

I glared at him.

He came closer again, his paws grabbing my face as his claws pinched my cheeks as if i were some sort of doll. "What sets you apart from others... What makes you so special... Is that massive bleeding heart of yours."

I slowly lifted one of my legs and pressed my foot against the wall as I brought my knee closer, pushing myself up.

"It reminds me of someone else. A heretic so bold... so pathetic- that I couldn't just kill him. I wanted to break him. I had nearly finished when you, an intruder whom I'd been nothing but merciful and kind to, freed him. You trespassed into my territory, insulted my god after siding with the enemy, and had no hesitation stealing one of my most prized possessions."

My heart beat faster as his claws so gently pressed deeper into my cheeks making me pout. That was starting to hurt- "You were warned Audriella- but you just had to play hero. You just had to know if i was worth saving."

I clenched my teeth wanting nothing more than to use the leverage I had from my leg to push myself against the wall and head butt him painfully in an act of defiance- but he made sure that i was in a position where I had to be perfectly still. I could feel his claws digging into my cheekbones- just waiting for me to make a move.

"Keep playing with fire. It amuses me."

I couldn't even speak, not like this. I knew the moment i moved my jaw those claws would sink through without hesitation. They twitched eagerly, as if teasing me to do it.

He waited for me to snap, and cause my own destruction in the process.

I tugged at my restraints, my wrists growing numb.

This was barbaric.

Maybe he was right. Maybe Theodore was gone with nothing but this monster to take his place. I couldn't believe that THIS was the real Catnap. 

I had felt for the cat- I had really thought we had some sort of relationship. Whether it was a friendship or helpful ally. I wasn't an idiot, but without him I wouldn't have survived Mommy. Without him I would have drowned in Poppy gel. 

...but no. Ollie was right. 

He saw an interesting prey, someone he once knew, and decided to play with me first. The hunt was slow but I could see on his face that it was every bit worth it to him. My bleeding heart...  naive loving heart... was nothing but a source of entertainment. 

My eyes widened as the truth of his words sunk in. He didn't want to break my body.

No.

I remembered the way dogday told me to leave- how he protested when I tried to save him.

He wanted to break my spirit. 

After a moment, he sighed and backed up. The moment his claws pulled away from me I released a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. "I've taken him back- the heretic. The moment you fight back, is the moment swarms of mini critters will get my permission to lunge at his scent and get back to the meal you deprived them of." He looked away from me but smirked. 

He could feel it.

He could feel how my heart sank deeper at his threat.

I...