Chapter 12
You're Finally Getting Interesting
The silence was thick, oppressive, as Artemis selected a slender rod from the wall. Jonas barely registered it; his focus was on the pounding in his skull, the ache in his ribs, the chill of the leather cuffs binding him to the grotesque chair.
Artemis didn’t speak. He didn’t even hum his favorite tune as always. There was no gleeful theatrics this time. He was concentrating fully.
Jonas dared a breath and whispered, “Why are you like this?”
That stopped Artemis mid-motion. His back was turned, shoulders rigid.
Then, slowly, he looked over his shoulder.
There was something primal in his eyes.
“Do you think monsters are born, Jonas?” he asked softly. “Or do you think we’re made?”
Jonas didn’t answer.
“I used to scream too, you know,”
