Chapter 10: David's POV

DAVID'S POV

I sat, wrist and ankles bound in a small concrete room that reeked of horror. At some points, I shivered once my mind shifted to Jessica. How was she faring?

If I had listened, she'd be harmed by now. And if I hadn't, It was still going to be the same.

At the thought of it, the air became suffocating, hitting me as twice my misery and then I stared — blankly at the floor somehow praying it just let me have my way and at another thought, I shuddered it off, laughing away my selfish prayers or rather impossible.

The air is stale, sweat breaks on my forehead and just a single light bulb swung overhead and a squared shaped small size mirror staring back at me, as though it mocked me of whatever I was going through.

But was Jessica really okay? It's enough mess I've put her into from the arts gallery. I've hard choice to either let go for her safety or hold onto her and fight when danger comes our ways, and here, we are — locked up and bound in seperate room by my brother — our own greatest enemy.

And just in cue, footsteps approaches, boot echoing, the scent that followed need not remind me who it was if not Victor. I shuddered at the thought — what if Jessica was being tortured?

The tiny door's knob twisted, it's creak so loud that it was almost deafening and then Victor walks in sight — strolling in like some demigod and goddesses would always do at carnivals and even more.

It was the aura that pissed me off. The type that always reminds you of fragile truths, hunting memories and the eyes that spread with flames of fury, anger and flashes of revenge in them.

Our eyes locked, the tension deepening, neither of us wanting to speak. And the first to? I wouldn't.

“She screamed you know, I thought she was all with strength if not just endowed with facades of lies and deceit she must've learnt from you.“ somehow, his words hit me. I had always let her around like she was to be controlled and so she often cowers while I'm angry to pacify me. Somehow, those words felt true, but I wouldn't let him have it. Not today!

“And Victor…” I called gently, letting him pay full attention to me and not surprisingly he did, turning his head. Those eyes darting around like they were going to note every words that fell from my mouth and expressions that played on my face.

“You know, you've always been predictable. Always acting hero whilst knowing well you were nothing but pathetic and being a fool.“

His concentration wavered. Those words — they hit him as expected.

“And this!“ I added, with a firm, solid voice

“Is just the same you craving for attention.“ I mouthed. He was never different even while we were younger, he'd always show up at events telling everyone to their faces who he was. My father's child — that could do wrong just to be seen. And that! Was pathetic!

I saw in his eyes — raw emotions, guilt? — maybe.

“You think your empire is loyal?“ I would have ignored but Victor never laid empty threats and now I knew — danger lurked around and even inside.

I shifted a bit from where I sat, my knuckles turned white but I chose to ignore them and play never scared. I shot a gaze at him and then smiled at him. Pretense, you may call it.

Someone was eating me up since or soon? I needed to find out.

I was lost in thoughts of who could play two men when Jessica's screams caughts up in the air distracting me from the present.

My jaw clenched and victor? He stared back at me searching for what I wouldn't show. Fear.

But the scream came in again. This time, it cut through the silence like some bleeding knife that had just been used to slit a throat and for a moment, everything stopped — no motion. My thoughts. My breath. My body went rigid and even the sound of that damn bulb swinging above me.

But Victor. He didn’t flinch.

Instead, he smiled.

That sick kind of smile the one he would always wear when we were kids and he broke something valuable just to see how far he could push before Dad snapped. Only now, it was Jessica he was testing. Jessica he was trying to break.

I wanted to let loose the bounds that tied me so I could smash his face into the wall, but all I could do was stare. I was helpless, hopeless and here — burning with rage and terror.

“She’s tough,” he said, crouching low so as to meet my eyes.

“But even glass shatters with enough pressure.”

“Touch her again, and I swear—” I threatened but he cut me off — calm, cold.

“You’ll what?”

“Bleed on me some more?” He leaned closer.

“You’ve already lost, David. You just don’t know it yet.”

He stood and dusted his coat like the dust on it mattered the attention he gave. Like Jessica didn’t just scream and twist something in my chest so violently I thought my heart would split open.

He was walking out when I forced my voice out to speak.

“Whatever you think you're planning, won't end well.“

He stopped in his tracks once he got to the door, hiis fingers clawed around the door's knob and then he turned his head slightly, enough for me to catch a glimpse of that damn smile again.

“Right,” he said with a smirk following. “That’s the fun part.”

The door slammed shut.

And then..

A third scream.

But this time, it wasn’t Jessica.

It was someone else.

It was short, strangled, and then cut off completely.

I froze.

Even Victor’s footsteps stopped.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

And before I could piece anything together, the light bulb above me flickered violently, then blew out, leaving me locked in here with darkness.

And silence.

The

one that had horror spread at it.

Dead, carrying all weight of terrifying silence with it.