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Pain. Dull and persistent, it pounded behind my eyes, swelled down my neck like hot water and I blinked, a cry escaped my sore lips as I did and I could taste blood. Slowly, I opened my eyes and touched a shaking finger to a fresh cut on my lip. Pulling it back I squinted at the red liquid on my fingertip and touched my lips harder as if I couldn't believe I was bleeding. My right eye felt heavy and as my hands roamed over my face, the skin around both eyes was hot and swollen, tender to the touch and I winced bracing myself. I shot up from laying on my back and doubled over clutching at my stomach as bile surged up my throat.
"Fuck."
Dark spots littered my vision as I blinked down at the liquid that splashed back at me on the floor. I was laying on the concrete, cold, and hard. Lifting my heavy head I looked around the room. It was a cell. A small cell with concrete walls and a heavy-looking door with no window. Where was I? What am I doing here? A thousand questions ran through my mind and I palmed at the concrete, it was cool as I pulled myself up to my feet, not very sturdy, but I was up. Swaying, and swallowing a swell of saliva I lurched towards the door. A heavy fist came up to hit at it.
"Hello? Let me out!"
I was yelling at no one.
"Please, let me go! I'm sick."
It was just dead silence that made the quiet louder after every one of my words. I banged against the door again, crying out, "What do you want from me?!"
With what little energy I had spent and waning I shuffled back to the opposite wall and slid down the hard, cold surface, pulling my knees to my chest. I stared at the door hoping it'd open and that someone would come to get me.
A loud noise startled me, my heart began to race as my mind thought of who might be coming through that door. Were they going to kill me? Hurt me? I wanted to melt into the wall to just disappear and as the door groaned against the lock and lurched open, I yelled at whoever came in to stay away from me.
"Don't come any closer, please! Leave me alone." I hollered, my voice cracking with fresh tears.
"Annie."
"Ben," I gasped, choked on my tears, and shuffled across the concrete floor I reached for him. He met me halfway, pulling me close to him. I clutched at his back as if he was my lifeline. The smell of his sweat was oddly calming as I grabbed at him.
"Did they do this to you?" His eyes were dark as he pulled my face back to assess the fresh bruises on my skin. I nodded and he squinted blowing out air from his nose, his eyes closed momentarily before he opened them, "We've got to get out of here."
Nodding and trusting, I slipped my hand into his and for the first time noticed the gun in his hand, "Ben where did you get that?"
"They didn't lock my cell and I found it near a security system. There were dozens of cameras, that's how I found you. Come on, we have to go." He stated gripping my hand hard, he pulled me towards the door and I held my breath as I dreaded him opening it. It was loud as it was before but there were no angry eyes, yelling voices, or sounds of boots to greet us. Panic bubbled up in my veins and I reached out to grab Ben's arm with my other hand. The hall was cold and our feet echoed, the halls looked almost tunnel-like. As if someone threw concrete and plywood together to make a sad-looking hallway. The walls were cracked, small piles of debris laid at our feet and my heart were pounding against my chest, I was growing hot with fear but a quick gust of wind ruffled my hair and had me looking back over my shoulder.
