The Seventh Sin | Wattys2016

☩ Chapter Three ☩

My cuffs eat at my wrists until they are raw; they're starving wolves that bite and tear into my flesh like the hungry beasts they are. But my own hunger seems far worse.

Food on a tray slides under a flap in the door every few hours like clockwork, but eating the food doesn't help. And they know it.

The food has no taste and the texture is about the same. My stomach may be full, but there's still a pit inside of me. It's the kind of ache where you're about to forget, but then it sends another shot of pain through you.

It's torture.

I hear footsteps outside my door. They belong to someone heavy. Either it's a really big girl or it's that dreaded Antonio. I hope it's the big girl.

The door swings open on squealing hinges and a pair of black combat boots step inside. Hands place a tray of gray mush in front of me (what they call food), and my stomach drops when I recognize the silver scar across the knuckles.

"Hello, Antonio." I greet him with as much sunshine as I can muster. My grin pulls my chapped lips painfully tight, but I keep on the facade. "How's the weather? Is it pretty out?"

Antonio nudges the tray closer to me with his toe. "Care to spill your guts yet?"

"You know," I continue, bluntly ignoring his question, "I heard the Jets played last night. Did they win?"

Antonio's knees pop as he crouches in front of me. "You know you are hungry. Tell me and you'll be full again."

I tilt my head until my eyes are locked on his. I lean forwards, as far as my shackles will let me. Antonio leans forward with anticipation. I'm close to him now. I wonder if I can hurt him as I stare at his jawline. Could I possibly break it?

My lips brush his earlobe and I can sense his suppressed shivers. His heartbeat quickens, but I can't tell if it's from anticipation of receiving information or something else.

"Nope." I fall backwards and laugh at the burning expression on his face. His face is cherry red. "You're such a hoot, Anthy." I pretend to wipe tears from my eyes. "Can I call you that?"

"No."

"Yes?" I smile back up at him. It's fun to mess with him. My favorite part, though, is when I infuriate him so much that he storms out of my cell severely pissed. "I think we are going to be great friends... Anthy."

Something inside him breaks. His hands turned into balled fists at his sides, and for a second I'm scared he's going to hit me. He looks like he wants to say something, but then he shuts his mouth and leaves. The door slams shut behind him.

I let out a shaky sigh and lean against the dirty wall. I scowl at the tray of cold mush.

Raised voices filter through my door, but the door is too thick to make out what they're saying. I inch forward, hoping for some clarity in the sound, when my cell suddenly goes black.

"Hello?" I hate how vulnerable I sound. "The lights went out..."

My senses are distorted. Is that scratching I hear in the corner? Is someone in here with me? I tell myself to calm down. Nothing is in here except the tray.

I scooch back to the wall and hug it. The awkward angle has long since sliced open my wrists. Warmth drips off my fingertips and lands with a gentle tap on the ground. Memories I've tried so hard to suppress begin to fill up the dark room.

No. I won't let the dark affect me. and then it dawns on me. Antonio. He did this.

Like a tick, I swell with hatred. I feel as if I could spit poison. A plan begins to form in my mind, and I revel in my imagination.

All I have left now is to wait.

Not to freak anyone out, but this chapter has 666 words. OoO I know my chapters are a bit short, but it honestly felt like it should stop here. So if you want me to update soon, please vote and comment!

-Sophia