"Are you out of your mind, woman!" Arsalan shook the damsel callously. Stephanie winced, her body aching with every move. "Do you think you're any more special than the rest? Disrespecting me when I show you mercy! The only reason you're not being ripped apart by my men is because I brought you here!"
"You're the reason I have to fight for my life in the first place. Now you want me to thank you?" Stephanie's look was grim, her voice flat. "You expect me to be grateful to my kidnapper?"
That infuriated Arsalan further. "Ha! You don't appreciate my mercy? Then I suppose you'll be grateful when you see my ugly side." He shoved her out and ordered his men to separate her from the others.
The days that followed were cruel. No other hostages were murdered, but Stephanie bore the brunt of Ars
