The Seventh Sin | Wattys2016

☩ Chapter Five ☩

Antonio's Point of View

"Has the demon said anything?"

I clench my fists under the desk. Of course the damn demon hasn't said anything yet. She was the most infuriating creature (and most stubborn) that I have ever encountered.

"Not yet, sir. I believe she might spill soon. Turns out she's terrified of the dark. Add that with the starvation and she's bound to tell."

The man before me states at me. Analyzing me. I hold his gaze. Even the slightest twitch will show my weakness, and I can't afford that.

There's only the sound of bodies shifting in leather seats and anxious breathing. Finally, he clears his throat.

"I expect the demon to talk soon, Antonio. At... any measures necessary." He folds his hands together and leans forward. "Do we understand each other?"

Breath in. Breath out. Maintain calm. "Yes, sir."

He nods. "Good."

He stands up, brushes down his suit, and eyes the room before leaving. Once the doors seal close behind him, the tension eases. 

People stand up and break off into groups. The gentle murmur of conversation hums in my ears. I stare at the wood grains of the table. I need that damn demon to talk, and soon. I can feel my time slipping between my fingers.

"Hey." A small hand rests on my shoulder.

I look up into the face of Valerie. She's frowning at me, her hazel eyes concerned.

"You okay?" she asks.

I muster up a smile and nod. "Of course I am."

Valerie tilts her head and I catch my eyes following the sweeping motion of her hair. It brushes against her collarbones, and I have the sudden urge to push it to the side.

"Look here, there's no need to lie," she says as she tugs on my bicep. "We all know what a hard ass the boss man is."

It's true, I have to admit. There's not a single person alive who isn't intimidated by the man. He reeks of cool, calculated intelligence, the kind of intelligence that knows how to get you dead in .09 seconds.

"Drink something. It'll calm your nerves." Valerie pushes a glass into my hands.

Someone had broken open the alcohol cabinet, and drinks are being handed out amongst the group.

I stare down at my glass, swishing the amber liquid in circles. I'm tempted to drink it, but my time is limited. I don't have spare time to drink.

As if sensing my thoughts, Valerie says, "Oh no you don't. I know that look. You are going to relax for once."

I sigh. "You know I can't, Val."

"Come on! Will it kill you to have the slightest bit of fun?"

My retort catches in my throat. I look at her and her pretty black dress, and I look at everyone around me laughing.

"Fine." Val grins, but I hold up my hand. "After I check on the demon."

She pauses to think before saying, "Fine. But I'm giving you five minutes."

I push my glass back in her hands and slip out of the conference room.

The hallways in the facility are something out of a horror movie. The fluorescent light bulbs flicker against the shiny tile floors. The walls are plain white like the walls of a mental institution. Everything about the facility feels like a prison.

The stairs down to the basement are worse. The walls become slabs of watermarked stone. The steps become uneven and slick.

The basement is comprised of a hallway with metal doors inlaid in the stone. Each one leads to an interrogation room, but only one of them is occupied.

I fish the keys out of my pocket and jam it into the lock. The demon's door screeches open, a single sliver of light snaking into the cell hold.

It's quiet. Suspiciously so.

I lean back and switch on the light to the cell.

Trays of uneaten food are gathered by the lip in the door. Not a single one has been touched. My eyes flicker to where the demon is.

"Ah shit."

She's laying face first into the concrete. Her arms are twisted at an unnatural angle behind her; dried blood coats her forearms. Her skimpy dress is torn and dirty, and you can no longer tell it was once red. She's as pale as the color of chalk.

I step over and crouch beside her. My fingers find her pulse on the side of her neck. It flutters against my fingers like an injured butterfly.

"Shit," I say again.

I whip out my phone and dial Valerie.

"It's been more than five minutes," she answers.

"Val, I need your help. The demon... She's passed out or something. Won't wake up."

I hear a sigh on the end of the line before she replies. "Fine. Bring her up to the infirmary. I'll meet you there." A click signals the end of the call.

The shackles are harder to get off than I imagined. The dried blood glued the shackles to her wrists, and when I pull them off she starts bleeding again.

Once her arms are free, I roll her onto her back. She looks like shit. Her nose has swollen up and looks a faint purple. Her lip is busted, and the veins on her cheeks are prominent.

Carefully, I slide my arms under her neck and knees. She's lighter than when I first carried her. That thought alone concerns me. If she dies... Everything will go to hell. Literally.

When I reach the infirmary, Val is already there with her doctor coat on.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" she says as her eyes land on the demon.

I glare at her. "Just make sure she doesn't die. We need her."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just place her on the bed over here." She gestures to a hospital bed in the corner.

Valerie inspects the demon, occasionally prodding with her finger.

"Nose broken. There will definitely be some scarring around the wrists." Her hands touch the demon's ribs. "I can't tell if there's any damage... Can you hand me the scissors on that tray?"

I place a pair of tiny surgical scissors into her outstretched hand.

She begins to cut at the straps of the dress. "What are you doing?"

"Removing her clothing if that's alright with you."

"Is that necessary?"

She looks up at me. "If it bothers you so much, why don't you leave? I have a patient to attend to."

I open my mouth to make a sharp retort before snapping it shut. No need to distract her. Besides, I have blood stains on my shirt. I should probably change before someone sees me.

"I'll be back later," I say as I back out into the hallway. My eyes avoid settling on the now naked demon.

"Kay! Grab some alcohol when you come back."

A/N: So what do you guys think about seeing things from Antonio's point of view? Let me know in the comments down below.

-Sophia