Chapter 23

Valerie.

We were at it for a few minutes until I felt something sharp pierce my arm and I froze, a stinging sensation flowing up my arm.

I pulled back slightly, clutching my arms as my brows creased in pain. I glanced at her hands and I spotted a syringe.

"Are you insane?" I gritted my teeth as pain shot up in my arm.

She smiled widely, grabbing a hold of the arm, digging her nails into it, and her other hand grabbed at my chin, "The only one who would be going insane soon, is you dear."

Snatching her hands away from me, I retorted, "What did you do this time? Do you have any fucking idea how this messes with one's system?"

For fuck's sake, I couldn't believe she would do this again. But this time, it was different. My knees suddenly gave out and it felt like my whole body was being paralyzed.

I could barely raise my head as I glared at her with so much disdain, seething, "You are not getting away with this. I promise you!"

"Well, I can't wait to see what you are capable of after you have been taught a lesson."

She scoffed, " You are nothing but a mere slave in this Pack, and laying your filthy hands on me should be punishable by death, but I would do you the honors of an extension."

This time I couldn't feel my legs and hands anymore as I just lay on the floor, a whimpering mess.

"What did you do to me?"

For some reason, I could still speak, but I was immobile.

She crouched beside me, stuffing a piece of clothing in my mouth, and said, "You will find out."

I saw something in her hand swing forward and before I knew it, something hard hit the back of my head and everything went blank.

*****

By the time I regained consciousness, I was in a dark room. Well, not necessarily a room as all I could see were chains and cages.

Plus, the place reeks of a very pungent smell. I sat up on the floor quickly, making my way to the cage, only to realize my hands and legs were chained to the sides.

Clutching at them made it more painful and even after a few attempts, it proved futile.

"It's useless," I heard a gruff voice say, and I quickly snapped my head to the direction it was from.

It was a man, leaning against the wall. And he seemed to be in his early thirties. He was also in a cage, which seemed to be conjoined with mine.

From the dim light penetrating the... whatever this place was, I was able to see his red sunken eyes, as well as his bony structure.

I almost fell back in my tracks at the sight.

"Don't be scared. I get that a lot from the newbies," I think he was smiling as he spoke and I could only stare in astonishment.

"What...what is this place?" I asked, a

my eyes roaming around.

"We are in the dungeon, love. Only a miracle can make you escape the tortures that come with this place."

"What are you talking about?" I felt my insides churn at the door that kept emanating from the place. This was not a place meant for people.

And I wondered what Ellie planned to achieve by bringing me down here.

"Don't worry," the strange man continued, "I have been here for five months and counting...others have been here for much longer. You would get through it."

"But..." I tried to ask, "What is the essence of all these? I still don't understand."

I could see a flicker of a sad smile played on his lips between the cages and he replied, "I am sure you must have committed a grievous offense, which might probably be the reason you are here, or you managed to piss him off, or..."

"Or what?"

"You were accused wrongly, just like my very good pal," he gestured to the far end of his cage and I could see a body lying on the floor.

"Who is that?" I asked, "What happened to him?"

He sighed, "Same old, same old. Starved, beaten to a pulp every single day, until he gave up the ghost."

A gasp escaped my lips at that, "Oh my God!!"

"But why...why is the body still there?"

He began to cough suddenly, "That is what they do. It is a means of punishment."

I felt like throwing up at his words. That was inhumane. "How can they do something like this? How?"

Suddenly, I heard footsteps, loud footsteps, coming closer and closer to us, until a figure stood in front of the cage.

"How's the bonding going?"

It was her. Her voice was laced with mockery and spite as she stared through the holes.

On reflex, I sharply made my way forward, but the chains held me back, making me groan in pain.

"Be careful. You wouldn't want to lose an arm, do you?"

I glared at her, "What do you intend to achieve with all these, huh?"

She smiled, crouching down a little, "Oh, not much. But for starters, have you met your father yet?"

My eyes shot up at that, and I blinked rapidly. I didn't say a word, simply stared at her.

"How...how do you know my father?"

She laughed at that, "Oh that makes it more interesting."

I sprung forward, only to be restricted by the damn chains again, "What the fuck are you talking about? Where is my father? Is he here?"

"Oh...now I feel so sorry for you. You think Lorenzo gives a crap about you?" She scoffed, "Your darling father, has been dead for a while now, and his body," she gestured to the other cell, "Is used as a lesson to others. It's a shame."

She tsked, and then she stood up abruptly, leaving the space.

I was still. Everything went still at that point, my heart beating furiously against my ribcage.

She can't be serious, could she?

Could she?