Page 76 of Dissension

There’s no response, but she is dragged away. She does her best to keep up, lest she fall to the ground and get dragged on her face the entire way to her next torment. The woman being tormented currently is wailing so loudly that Kara fears she’ll never be able to unhear the sound.

What are they doing to her? What sort of wretched video are they making of that poor soul? And what sick bastard is going to buy it?

There’s a rusted, creaking noise as a door is opened just in front of Kara. She feels the space open in front of her, rather than seeing it. She’s pushed forward, thrown up against a wall so hard that her bones creak with the impact.

Kara tries to protect herself, but it’s hard to do with her hands still tied behind her back, numb and cold. She lost circulation some time ago.

There’s another odd noise that sounds like a faucet-

Ice cold water blasts her without warning and Kara shrieks at the contact. It’s better than being beaten, but the shock of it rattles her system.

Within moments, she’s soaked like a drowned rat, suffering the dehumanizing hosing they are subjecting her to. Shefeelslike an animal. At least she can feel the filth being washed away, just so they can make her filthy again. Perhaps it’s preferable that the video ‘performers’ look clean before torment?

She crouches down and ducks her head, trying to seem small. She doesn’t want to be here, she doesn’t want to die in this place-

You won’t die, she thinks with a hint of insanity.They will never let you see their faces. This place. Or anything. And they’ll set you free as a ruined, haunted thing.

Her teeth chattering with terror, Kara’s captors drag her across the slick tiles like a piece of unwanted baggage. They are walking again, boots echoing on the floor as Kara is marched away, soaking wet. Perhaps they will try waterboarding her today?

Maybe electric torture?

Maybe-

Another door opens and fresh air hits her face, the smell of it like the bells of heaven ringing, taking her away from the scent of suffering and doom. The air prickles her bare skin until someone finally puts a material over her shoulders. It’s thin, but it allows for some warmth, standing there in her bra and jeans.

A door shuts behind her, locking away the broken screams.

Kara feels her heart racing. This is new.

Maybe this is it? Maybe they’ll shoot her in an alley and leave her body to be found-

A hand settles on the small of her back and guides her forward, a different sort of hand. Not the ones that she has become accustomed to, the cruel hands in those big utilitygloves. The sound of a car door opening reaches her, just as she is helped inside.

Ah, not a shady rapist van this time? She cannot seem to stop her body from trembling. Another blanket is placed over her, tucked under her soaked jeans. How oddly kind. It doesn’t make sense. Are they done with her?

A seatbelt is politely put into place across her chest. The door closes. Muffled sounds of voices reach her ears, angry, hissed words.

The engine starts and the car begins to move.

Kara’s heart races, wondering what hell awaits her now. Someone is sitting next to her in what must be the backseat. She can hear them softly breathing, a sound she latches onto. It’s a normal sound and it isn’t pain.

A whimper dies in her throat as she struggles to say, “Are you going to kill me now?”

No one answers.

Chapter 28

The drive lasts for what feels like an age. A horrible, everlasting stretch of time with her heart in her throat, sobs stuck there, wondering if she’s going to end up with a bullet hole in the back of her skull and her body left in some ditch like last night’s garbage.

She tries to feel the movements of the vehicle. Every turn. Every shift. There are a lot of turns and a lot of silence, but Kara knows she isn’t alone. Her skin is prickled, hot and cold with terror. Her wrists ache, the belt wrapped around them pulled tight to keep her in hand.

Kara can feel when they pull onto a highway, hearing the familiar drone of racing across the pavement. The comforting rush of white noise, even though it only brings more unease; where are they taking her? Why so far?

There’s no telling time from behind the goggles that prevent her from seeing.

When the car finally comes to a stop, Kara feels a tremble come to her limbs. There’s no controlling it; she’s sure her death is coming. A pathetic sound slips from her lips when she’s pulled out of her seat, pulled out into fresh night air, cool on her face.

It’s not city air, not congested with the scent of sewers, smoke, and trash. Kara has no clue whatsoever about where she is, but she finds small comfort knowing she won’t be dying in that horrid building where it reeked of death and sterilization.

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