Page 17 of Us Dark Few

Her skin grew hot, and she shot him a cruel glare. “Is that why you’ve killed some of your guards, because they tried to help us?” It was the only reasonable explanation she could come up with.

That got his attention. He stepped away from the wall and stalked toward her. He was like a menacing storm, chilling the air seconds before destruction. She stepped back, but he invaded her space like he owned it. He put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her against the wall. Takeshi placed his palm against the stone, centimeters from her head, utterly consuming her vision.

“Remember this.” He leaned close. “Any punishment I give is punishment deserved. If you die by my hands, it’s because you’veearned it…and I’m not above making it hurt,” Takeshi’s voice lowered, caressing her like a blade. Savage temptation etched itself in his black spheres, pulling her in.

“Are you scared now, Kanes?” He cocked his head.

“Yes,” she admitted.

He nodded. “Good. Fear is essential to understanding consequences. And there are no shortages of those down here. If I didn’t know better, I would say you’re hoping to die. Is that it, Kanes?” He bent to whisper in her ear like he was sharing a secret. “Do you want to die?”

She stopped breathing. It was like no one else was present in that cavern as he challenged her most base instincts.

The thought of ending everything herself had crossed Khalani’s mind—even before Braderhelm—but something had always stopped her. When she was surrounded by people, the torment was easier. But when she was by herself, the truth screamed into her open mouth and echoed off the hollow caverns.

I am lost.

I am forgotten.

I am alone.

It was like another creature inhabited her body that looked and sounded like her. But it wasn’t her. She was drowning in seas that didn’t exist and living a life that was no longer hers. She was getting through the day minute by minute, and there were some minutes when she wanted time to cease completely.

The truth is, it’s not the hurt you see that’s dangerous. It’s the hurt you hide that’s the real menace.

“I don’t know.” The ugly admission broke free.

Takeshi’s gaze sharpened. “Killing yourself would be taking the easy way out. If you’re that weak, do it, and don’t waste more oxygen. If not, fight for the life you have and stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

“You have no idea what I’m feeling.” Her eyes sliced back to his.

“Your feelings are meaningless down here. They will feast on yourtears and eat you alive when the bars close at night. You have a lot to learn before Braderhelm breaks you.”

“And how long did it take for Braderhelm to break you?” The seething question escaped her furious tongue before she could bottle the words.

Takeshi’s eyes darkened and his expression shifted ominously. She realized her mistake too late.

“You must like pain.”

So fast she barely tracked the movement, he whipped out the taser from his back pocket and pushed the metal into her side. The ensuing electric shock hurt like hell, and she yelped as her skin throbbed and trembled.

Through her shaking body, she thought she saw a hint of unrest in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with a detached glare.

“Pit time is over, 317.”

A sharp pang rumbled through her chest. Her name stripped away hurt more than the electrical shock. His eyes pierced hers with disdain, and without another word, he walked away.

She held her side with one hand and wiped a stray tear with the other. Her chest felt like it was splitting, raw emotion threatening to cut her into a million pieces. She wanted to fall to her knees and cry and also wanted to punch the nearest human, even if they hadn’t wronged her.

She hated her life. She hated Takeshi Steele. She hated this place. She hated God. All the enemies were at the gates, and there was nowhere to hide or seek shelter.

Khalani had spent most of her life concealing and covering up the tortured layers of her mind, and all it took was one day for the Captain of Braderhelm to crack her down the center and expose her damaged core. The harsh truth didn’t need to be roared in the crisp air; it spilled out of her brittle bones and wandering eyes every second.

Stripped of her barriers, she was nothing but a pitifully weak and lonely mess who didn’t belong anywhere.

Not even in prison.

7

---