Grant

Chapter Ten-Remembering

*TRIGGER WARNING FOR NEARLY EVERY TRIGGER*

When I come to, I'm incredibly thankful to be free of the cage before I become aware of my position. I'm spread eagle in mid-air with my limbs cuffed to metal poles. My suit has been stripped from me, so I'm left in my boxers. The room I'm in is dark, grey and round with nothing else in it but me and a few flickering lights. There's a door in front of me and I take a breath before trying to shift. My shout of pain echoes in the room as I'm shocked with high voltages of electricity. I writhe in the air, fighting against the cuffs to no avail until the electricity fades. My body twitches with the aftershocks as I pant from the pain.

"I'm sure you're used to these cuffs." A voice creeps out from behind me and I huff at the sight of Eli as he moves in front of me. He's in pressed slacks and a button-down shirt with sleeves that he's rolling up to his elbows.

"They're somewhat familiar." I sass and he chuckles quietly.

"Good to see your spirits are still high. I'd be disappointed if they were to fade so quickly."

"Hate to disappoint." Eli shakes his head as he steps forward and frames my head with his hands.

"I'm sure you do. You've certainly never disappointed me." He breathes and I try to pull away from him, but my chains hold me still. "You and your sister were just...perfect." I snap at his hand and he flinches back while I smirk. "Yes, you always had claws. Remember this one?" His finger reaches up and taps the scar creeping up onto his face. "Caused by you."

"Want a few more?" I suggest and he sighs, moving behind me and rummaging around in something that I can't see. Until I smell propane. I swallow when he comes back around with a blowtorch and moves close to me. He turns it on and holds the blue flame between us where I can feel the heat on my bare chest.

"I think I'll give you a few more scars instead, Redhallow. I want you to remember me this time." He whispers and I wince when his finger instead of heat traces down the hollow of my throat, over my chest, then my stomach, and finally just under my boxers. Bile fills my mouth before I swallow it, but the moment after my skin feels like it's bubbling off the bone as he holds the torch over my hip. A scream rips out of my throat and the metal beams creak as I strain against them, but Eli's face only lights up with sick joy.

I'm covered in sweat when he stops to admire his handiwork. He sighs and leans forward slightly to touch the wound while I hiss with pain. "That's right. You'll remember my touch from now on, won't you?" He coos as he moves a bit closer so his lips are just beside my ear. My head quickly turns and I latch onto his ear with my teeth, sinking into soft skin as my mouth fills with blood. I jerk my head away from him as he stumbles backwards and spit out half his ear along with his blood. Then I give him a smile with my teeth stained red.

"You'll remember me too." I swear as he stumbles out of the room with a hand held to his ear. Once he's gone, I look down to the snaking burn that travels from mid-thigh, over my hipbone, and towards my belly button. I take a breath and stare down at the floor while trying not to focus on the pain. I try to focus and think back to why he's so familiar. Why does he want me to remember him? Why don't I remember him?

Five days pass before I see him again.

I've received no food and no water, so when I'm suddenly awoken from a dead sleep by a bucket of water in my face, I'm almost grateful. I lick what water I can off my lips and catch droplets dripping from my hair until he slicks it back from my face. "Do you want water?" He asks softly, lifting up my hanging head so I can see his eyes. The green focuses on mine and I sigh.

"I'd prefer whiskey, but hey. Gotta take what you can get." His lips curve up at my response before showing me a bottle of water in his hands. My mouth waters despite myself.