Uncovered

Chapter Thirteen - Nyrie

-BRAX-

I can't bring myself to look at her. Not after what I just allowed to happen. My hands won't stop shaking as I stand at the entrance to her cot in the infirmary, even after I ball them into fists. Pregnant. She was pregnant and I said nothing. Did nothing. When Ivan entered her room, I knew it was all over for her, knew why he was there, and my body went into shock. I should have fought them. I could have, and I would have won, I know it. The worst part is, they both knew it too. But Ivan is a conniving man, he played the love I have for Nyrie against me. He knew I wouldn't fight because I had to be here. To look after her afterwards, bring her back, console her. Rat fucking bastard I should have gutted him when I had the chance.

She offered herself up without a fight to save my ass. I'll never forgive myself, and I hope she doesn't either. I don't deserve to be anywhere near her, I failed to protect her at her weakest moment. I knew she wasn't just sick; she'd had colds and flu's before, and this was different. She looked different. Now everything had just been brutally taken away from her, there was no escape from this place. So long as she could make Ivan money, she'd be here until her last breath.

The tortures she's already endured through her time here that I'd been witness too and had let happen because it was both our duties, this was the last thing Nyrie deserved. I force myself to pull back the medical curtain from around her bed, my body jolted with fear as I saw her upright in her bed smiling at me. I shook my head. Trust Ivan to tell Lorna to dose her up with the strongest batch of drugs to heal her as fast as possible so she could get back to work.

I don't know what to say to her, but at this point in time, I don't think it will matter.

***

Nyrie could see the world, but she wasn't actually there.

Her body felt numb but there was an underlining thrumming flowing through her, some kind of elixir pumping around her body that gave her a tingling sensation. It felt nice she supposed.

Someone was standing at the end of her bed looking at her, but she wasn't sure who it was, so she smiled at them. So many figures had come and gone they were all a blur, like the world was in fast motion.

Nyrie's brain couldn't keep up with what was going on.

This was the most pampering she'd had in years, maybe she'll ask one of them to paint her nails too. They bathed her earlier, all she remembered was that they used red water.

This place was very noisy, it was like she was cocooned inside a white pillowcase, and all around her were white walls made from material that seemed to float and wave around like her silk night-gown. Nyrie knew she wasn't inside her own room because it smelt funny here, it was a familiar smell, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

A swoosh of black velvet crossed her vision and then a second figure joined the one already at her feet, this one much smaller, frail even. She watched them converse for a time, but that got boring, so she began painting the air with her finger.

Delicate flowers first because they were easy enough, grass and a meadow next. She'd seen these things once before in a book or her dreams. Finally, a large bird sweeping across the field.

Nyrie flapped her own arms, trying to escape until something happened and they had been pinned down to her sides.

"Let me go!"

She screamed and flailed at her large capturer with flames atop his head.

The force squeezing her arms was too great to bear, she'll explode if he doesn't let go. Silver eyes like storm clouds met her own. They were terrifying and she couldn't stop the tears which fell free from her eyes.

It got really hard to breathe, he was suffocating her, and she was trapped.

She struggled and fought for her life, kicking and screaming but he was so big and strong.

A pin pricked her in the arm and that's when her eyelids stopped working, followed by her body as she welcomed the blackness that came to claim her.

***

Sweat beaded down her brow as she got flashbacks of pain, her breathing increased and her heartbeat accelerated at an uneven pace as she remembered snippets at a time.

Nyrie had endured many things before but the things she was remembering hurt her body so much she wished there was a way she didn't have to re-live the nightmare again and again.

She thrashed around silently in her cot struggling to erase the things she was seeing but it couldn't be stopped.

The helpless feeling of being restrained.

Who was restraining her.

The disgusting smile on Ivan's face.

The sound of bone cracking as a big leather boot swung for her abdomen.

The trickle of blood that slid down her thigh that only had one explanation.

Nyrie scratched at her throat as the recollection was vivid in her mind again at the struggle to inhale air into her lungs after Ivan's fatal blow. Even now her throat felt restricted, the white material walls surrounding her were closing in fast.

She hadn't even realised she'd cried out in fear, everything inside her was numb, her ears were ringing as Brax and Lorna were in front of her in a heartbeat.

The familiar prick of pain in her arm was there again. Strong arms pulled her close to a warm, familiar body and she let them hold her as she sobbed until the pain went away, her lungs were full again and sleep claimed her.

A/N - I wasn't going to include Brax as a POV but thought it was crucial that the readers know what he was feeling while Farrah was being beaten and maybe provide an insight as to why he didn't do anything to help.

If you've actually managed to read up to here, congratulations and thank you! Leave me a comment with how you find the story so far. Did you like being inside Brax's head? I did!