The Manipulation Room

Chapter 26 - Trapped

Manipulation Room victim no. 763352
Name: Hero Cassandra 
Age: 36 years old
Occupation: Waiter 
Family Member: 32-year-old wife, Renne
Description: Penetrating a knife of 6 inches through the heart, before taking another stab at the right lung. 

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"Lyric...Lyric, are you- are you okay?"
My neck turned rapidly to face him, my sleeve flew to my cheek and wiped away the tears that hadn't evaporated yet. Ezra had finally awoken, after an hour of pure silence, only filled by my not-so-silent weeping. His eyelids were flickering and he was folded in on himself, all of his limbs weak. He was croaking and coughing as he tried to form words, his caramel skin was pale and he looked seriously ill.

"Lyric...you're here." He groaned, leaning his head against the bars between our cells. I scooted towards him and leant my head against the same bar, "I'm here, and I'm okay. Are you? Ezra, you look really ill." I could feel his breath against my cheek and it was cold. He shook his head, but even that seemed painful for him. "I'm totally fine. He...he stabbed me with something, I don't remember much after that." He wheezed, rubbing the back of his neck.

He looked around, taking in the ambience of the cells and the ominous atmosphere. I saw a shudder run down his spine as he turned to face me again. "Lyric, I'm so sorry." He uttered huskily.
"Did you throw me into this cell?"
"Well, no but-"
"-then you have no reason to be apologising."

He sniffed and my heart ached at how solemn and depressed he looked. I longed for one of his gorgeous grins but there was nothing for either of us to be smiling about. "This was my idea; we wouldn't even be here if it weren't for me. You'd be safe at home...probably doing homework or rewriting an essay for the second time." He spoke throatily, coughing. We both laughed at that comment though the joy in our laughter was fairly limited. Neither of us had any happiness left. There was nothing joyful about our current situation.

"Ezra." I whispered. "I'm scared."
He carefully weaved his hand through the bars and held my own, staring deeply into my eyes. "I know...but we're going to be okay. We're gonna be okay." He whispered, squeezing my hand and pressing his forehead against mine. I could feel more of the cold, iron bar than I could the warmth of his skin and it was deeply unsatisfying. When I looked into his eyes, I could see how unsure he was of that statement. He didn't even know himself and I couldn't blame him. Our odds were slim and that was an increasingly terrifying thought.

I tightened my grip on his hand, "Even if we don't...make it. Promise me, throughout this whole thing, you'll never leave me." I whispered, my lips trembling as I spoke. He smiled solemnly, tears welling up in his eyes, "I promise you Lyric, for as long as this heart beats-" He pointed to his heart with his free hand. "- I will love you and I will never leave you."

I was sure that was the first time he'd said the L word to me. I just wished the circumstances had been different. If they had, I would've kissed him...hard. I would have hugged him so that there wasn't a single part of our body that wasn't touching. But all I could do was look into his deep blue eyes, holding his hand in my own, and tell him what was in my heart. "There's a special place in my heart for you, Ezra Ray. And even when my heart stops beating, it'll remain there." I spoke, trying my best not to tear up mid-way and ruin the moment. It was hard; especially when I saw him beginning to cry, his eyes sparkling with the reflection of his tears.

His hand trembled as it lay in mine, "Oh God, Lyric. You don't even know. I love you so, so much. It's driving me crazy." He sighed, not once taking his eyes off mine. "You don't know how much I want to kiss you right now." I replied, trying to laugh and failing tremendously. Because as much as it sounded like a joke, it wasn't one. I really, truthfully did and I could tell that he did as well.