“My name is Alice. Your name is Luka,” she said, motioning first to herself, then to him.
He tilted his head again but didn’t respond.
“It’s okay.” She tried to make her voice reassuring, “I can just talk for both of us. I’m good at that.”
A low grinding from the door sounded, smothering the calmness she’d been feeling. Alice dashed into the corner when the door to the cell opened, revealing a pleased Helas and Sal.
Luka snarled and began pulling on his chains, struggling toward her.
“Secure him!” Helas barked.
Sal ran forward and attempted to zap Luka with a long metallic stick, but Luka rammed his shoulder into the man’s belly. The force of the blow caused his chains to break.
Keeping his eyes on Helas and Sal, Luka backed up into the corner in front of Alice.
Is he shielding me?
Finally, back on his feet, Sal retrieved the metal stick from the floor and limped to Luka, his gaze flashing toward Alice momentarily. Had that been fear for her illuminated in his eyes? Can’t be.
Helas removed a slim silver weapon of his own and began stalking toward them. Luka crouched further, ready to pounce.
“Luka, stop! They’re gonna hurt you!” Alice cried from behind him.
When the men were within arm’s reach, Luka lunged, using his body weight and legs to land blows on each man. Alice couldn’t help but marvel at the strength and skill he was able to access even with his arms tied behind his back.
As he shot his leg out behind him, connecting solidly with Sal’s chest, Helas shoved the metal stick into Luka’s bruised ribs, making him roar in pain and convulse. Before he could get his bearings, Sal had joined Helas and was shocking him from the other side.
Excruciating seconds passed, then Luka fell to his knees, his eyes glued to Alice’s.
“You’re going to kill him! Stop!” she screamed, tears running down her cheeks.
When he was lying on the floor, unable to hold himself up, Helas took a small cylinder out of his pocket and sprayed a fine mist in Luka’s face. Almost instantly, his body went limp.
“Get her to her cell,” Helas said, letting loose a savage kick to Luka’s ribs.
As Sal passed him to retrieve her, he looked down at Luka with a sneer.
Alice ran forward, dodging Sal, and pulled at Helas’ arm, trying to put distance between him and the motionless Luka, but it was no use. Everyone here was so much stronger than her. She’d always been content with being gangly and just a little too thin, but right now, she detested her slight frame, how weak she was. They could beat him to death, and all she’d be able to do was watch.
Her measly efforts seemed to have some effect, because Helas shrugged her off and turned to exit through the open door. Sal followed, grabbing her roughly by the arm. With a grimace, he dragged her out of the room, down the hall, and to her cell, ignoring her pleas to make sure Luka was alright.
He pushed her through her open cell door, but before releasing her, hissed, “Stop!” Darting a glance over his shoulder, he continued, “You need to be worried about yourself. Follow the rules.” He held her stare, inhaling deeply. Before closing the door in her face, he whispered, “You can’t help him.”
Once alone, Alice’s gaze whizzed around unseeing, and salty tears poured down her cheeks. She was furious they’d injured Luka and miserable that she couldn’t do anything about it. She felt so helpless…was so helpless.
Alice forced herself to ponder Sal’s parting words. Was he right?
She began pacing around her room, absently rubbing her palm on her hip. Under the circumstances, Luka had been incredibly controlled, but as soon as he’d gotten free, he’d lost that control. He’d fought without thinking, maybe out of some instinct to protect her, but it’d been stupid. There was no way he could’ve won in his drugged state. How many more impulsive things would he do? As she thought, her gaze kept slipping toward the wall in the direction of Luka’s cell.
Don’t think about him! Already she could feel herself caring more about his safety than her own, and in a place like this, that was stupid. She inwardly cursed. She’d jumped into the fray today. How idiotic had that been? There was a difference between standing up for someone and putting yourself in the line of fire. Helas had only flung her away this time, but what if he got angry with her next time and hurt her? She wouldn’t put it past him.
If she didn’t watch out for herself, both physically and mentally, she wouldn’t survive. What would happen to her sanity if she got too attached to Luka, became too invested in his well-being, just to have Helas decide he didn’t need Luka anymore?
Sal’s words from earlier replayed in her mind: “You should stop caring about things like that.”
Nothing was certain here. Not time, not Luka, and not her future. She needed to start doing what she was rarely able to do. She had to try and put herself first, even if it meant being cold and uncaring.
Her head bowed. “Luka doesn’t deserve that.” Steeling herself and clenching her fists, she attempted to lock down her emotions. “It doesn’t matter what he deserves. None of us deserve this. I need to look out for myself, like Mom said.” She began pacing and biting her nails. “He probably isn’t even a good guy. He protected me, but I’m just an object to him. He doesn’t care about what I want.”
She knew her words were lies the moment she uttered them. An unwelcome whisper snaked through her mind. He
