The ropes cut into my wrists, but the pain felt distant, like it belonged to someone else.
My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears, loud and uneven. I stared at the masked man in front of me. Only his dark eyes were visible through the thin slits.
The single bulb above us swayed, casting a long, crooked shadow across the floor. The shadow moved like a giant, twisting creature, stretching its arms toward me.
I swallowed hard. The bitter taste in my mouth lingered, sharp and unpleasant, a reminder of whatever they had forced into my veins.
My spoiled side flared up. It pushed back against the fear that tried to swallow me whole.
“Why should I listen to a man who’s too cowardly to show his face?” I demanded, lifting my chin despite the tremble in my voice.
“I can’t agree
