Page 73 of When Day Breaks

"Lucynda." Rivian looks down on me, concern gripping his tone

"Rivian," I mock back. Giving him the same boring look he's giving me.

Troian rolls her eyes and turns, crossing her arms. "We can't just keep her down here," she states in a frustrated tone.

"Or maybe we can," Travois offers. Rivian dips his head in obvious disappointment for his siblings' behaviors. Funny how they're my siblings too.

"Good cop, bad cop," I accuse. "Not gonna work." I smile deviously as I pull my chained arms to rest between my back and the wall.

Rivian stands from his position and rubs his jaw with his hand, thinking of something that might intrigue me, surely.

"Well, actually…" he starts. "Icankeep her down here. Let her body shrivel up as the blood dries in her veins. And then maybe-"

I grow tired of their antics and kick my feet to sound the chains, disrupting his attempt of a terrific plan to scare me.

"What do you want?" I mumble as I tilt my head.

"We want tosave you, little sister." Travois' sarcastic remark does make me giggle. Never one to hold back his incessantly arrogant quips.

"Great, therealTravois is back." Troian gives him a maddening glare while leaning back against a wall.

Rivian decides to turn back to the good cop he tried to play before threatening me with desiccation, holding his hand out to me as if I'm going to accept it.

"Can you stand?" he asks, his green eyes swimming with hope.

I laugh. "Can I fucking stand? Are you talking about my feet?" I bring my hands back out in front of me and place them in my lap as I answer him with ridicule exuding from my tone. "I don't know, these chains make it a little too tight for comfort. But if you're talking about all of you…" I glare at each of the three in front of me. "Then no. Ican'tstand you."

"I know you're in there," Rivian breathes. Desperation in his voice.

"You sound stupid," I spit back, not caring about his endeavors to reel me back in. This is his fault to begin with, he'll have to deal with it.

"Better to sound stupid than to be stupid," Troian jumps into the conversation with afed-upexpression twisting her features before she pushes Rivian out of the way and grabs me by my shirt. "Get the fuck up!" she demands as she pulls me into her face.

I smile at her, loving the rage I evoke in these pathetic fools.

"Get your insufferable hands off me," I whisper through gritted teeth. enunciating each syllable slowly.

She feigns a smile and lets go of my shirt, making it a point to dust me off while she tilts her head. "Don't bite the hand that feeds ya, sis."

Troian backs away and moves to stand beside Travois who is still watching on with a lack of care as to why he's here.

"You think I need help from any of you?" I question with rage, fisting my hands and slamming down the chains. "The only reason why I would even think about letting you save me is so that I can be free of these loathsome chains and I could tear your brains out."

"Lucynda, you have got to fight through this." Rivian steps up and points a stern finger at me, demanding my focus.

"She's too far-gone brother," Travois answers behind him, watching me intently.

"It's as if you all assume I need some kind of exorcism," I imply. "Isn't this who you wanted me to be?" I look at Rivian who seems lost in what to do. Good, because I don't care about his attempts to save me from the very thing, he made me out to be.

"Blah, blah, blah, bitch," Troy gestures her hand to mimic a talking puppet. "Do you have any other reason for being a complete cunt? Get a new excuse already." Her snarky attitude is refreshing against the sentiments my husband is eager to unleash. But her words are like fuel to my fire. They all are.

"How about a deal." Rivian asks, stepping up and placing his hands in his pockets.

I lean back against the wall with a look of interest feigned on my face. "I don't want your stupid deal."

"I think you'll want to shut up and listen to my brother," Troian spits once more and this time I feel a hatred boil in my veins at her unceasing comebacks.

I decide to entertain his request for a deal and turn to face him, shrugging at him to continue.

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