Apocalypse [Pentatonix AU | Kavi / Scomiche]

Chapter 36 - Disloyalty

Kirstie had no concept of how long she'd been in the room. It could've been hours, could've been days. Her stomach ached from hunger, and her hands had lost circulation from being tied behind her back for so long. The edge of the long table in front of her pressed gently against her abdomen, the chair she was sitting in bolted to the floor beneath her.

However her thoughts were focused on Avi rather than herself. She couldn't even consider the possibility that he was dead. She wouldn't be able to physically or mentally cope with that, not now. Right now she needed to focus, figure out a way to escape.

But just as she began to devise a plan she heard the door at the other end of the room click, and in walked a single man.

He was intimidatingly large with messy dark hair that curled slightly at the end and rippling muscles that were clear even through his loose black t-shirt. His smile made Kirstie sick to her stomach, and she pulled subconsciously at the rope that bound her hands.

He slowly approached, sustaining eye contact. Kirstie kept her eyes locked with his, unblinking. Slowly he drew a knife from his behind his back, tapping it across his hands as he walked. Kirstie grew tense, but remained expressionless.

When he was close enough for Kirstie to smell his musty scent, he pushed the tip of his knife gently against the center of her throat. She sucked in a breath, titling her head up slightly, but once again showed no sign of weakness. The man let out a soft chuckle before lowering the blade and crossing behind her. She expected him to slit her throat, understood that this was the end, but instead felt him cut the rope binding her wrists.

As soon as her hands were free she stood, facing him. He towered over her, a full foot taller at least. Kirstie acted as if they were the same height, squaring her shoulders and looking at him vacantly.

The man gestured to the chair. "Take a seat." She didn't move. "Don't test me, Kirstie." Without asking how he knew her name Kirstie sat, aware of the fact that this wasn't something worth risking her life over. "We'll take you back to your people, if that's what you'd like. Explain to them this was all just a misunderstanding. If you tell us where they are, we'll drive you there."

"I want to see the man I was with."

"Now, I can't allow that. You just tell us where your group is, and we'll bring them here. You'll be safe, I promise. Both of you." Kirstie looked away, grinding her teeth. "No? Fine. Let's try something else. Stand up." She paused, glaring at him, then slowly stood, knowing she had to pick her battles. "Take off your shirt."

This was one of them. "No."

"Well then I guess I will let you see the man you were with. Only his hand, though. I'll just cut that off and bring it in here." Kirstie felt sick to her stomach. "Or you could just take off your shirt."

And in that exact moment Kirstie realized she was completely powerless. In the past, in situations like this, she knew she was strong enough and smart enough to escape with her life. But now that she was emotionally connected to another person for the first time in over a year, and now that that person was in danger, she was completely defenseless. She couldn't fight, couldn't run, couldn't kill. Because she understood that if she hurt the man with dark hair in any way, it was the equivalent of killing Avi.

So she took her shirt off. The man smiled disgustingly, nodding his head toward her black bra. She took it off as well, quickly covering herself once it had fallen to the floor.

She knew what was going to happen next.

Slowly the man rose from his chair, crossing over to her and standing behind her. Gently he brushed his hand across her collarbone, sweeping back her hair, and it took everything in her not to turn and snap his neck.