Page 50 of Heart’s Prisoner

"Ah, Hart, come to join the fun? Me and the big guy here were just having a little chat. Just giving him a little run down of what's to come."

"Get out," Lana said, stepping away from the door.

"Now that's not very polite." Galger stood up and stretched then took up his gun. "But I'll give ya a pass since you're clearly having a bad day. Or two or three." Galger laughed. He turned and walked toward her, taking his time. "But, hey, don't go getting yourself worked up, eh?" He raised his hand to her but Lana skirted around it before he could touch her. "Alright, sweetheart, alright. No need for the attitude. I'm gone." He smiled. "Just be careful. Spiney here isn't very happy." He sauntered out of the room.

As the sliding door closed behind him, the silence took over. Lana stood in place for a moment just watching Xerus in his cell, trying to find the words. The glass was still stained of the chimp's blood, now black in color against the red light.

Lana made her way to the glass. "Xerus," she said in a near whisper.

Xerus didn't turn to look at her nor did he respond.

"Xerus, please talk to me."

When he still didn't speak, Lana placed her hands on the window, her face almost touching the glass. "Fine...fine. If you won't speak then I will." Her voice grew louder. "I just wanted to say that you are an idiot."

Xerus bowed his head.

"You had a chance. You had a chance to be rid of this cage and you chose death. And all for what?" Lana's voice cracked. "All for what? Your mission won't be completed. They will take you from here and torture you and you...you don't care." Lana pounded her fist lightly on the glass. "Damnit, Xerus, just tell me why. Why did you do it." She could feel her vision begin to blur. "I thought we had something. I thought you and I were...I thought I could honestly say I was your...your friend."

A low sound emanated from Xerus and it took Lana a moment to realize what it was.

He was laughing.

"You really thought that...?" He said in a venomous tone. "How stupid of you. How sad really. You humans are just as weak in mind as you are in body."

Lana stiffened, pulling her hands from the glass. "I don't understand."

When Xerus twisted around to look at her, Lana let out a sharp gasp. She backed away and felt her heart sink.

Xerus' eyes were bright with fury and hatred, his lips pulled back in a snarl, showing off his razor teeth, giving him an ominous sort of smile.

"Look at you. So small. Pathetic. Playing with you was amusing at first I admit, but I'm sick of the whole human interaction now. I'm sick of you."

Lana shook her head and felt silent tears wet her face. "I don't believe you mean that. I don't believe you."

Xerus slammed his fist so hard against the glass Lana let out a little shriek in surprise. Little sparks of electricity rippled across the window. Lana froze in place, her arms crossing over her chest. Xerus' breath fogged the glass.

"Believe it," he hissed. "And if you knew what was good for you, you would leave this place entirely. Leave and never come back. Because when I get out of here I will slaughter every single human I see and I will hunt you down personally. You are nothing to me. Just weak, annoying prey."

Prey.

That word was an unexpected trigger and an image, dark and twisted, flashed in her brain.

You will be perfect. My prey.

And with no warning at all, Lana became absolutely terrified.

Tears streamed down her face and her breath came in gasps; her heart pounded like she had been running for miles.

She couldn't seem to form words though she tried; her head shook back and forth in a continuous movement as if she couldn't stop.

"No...no," she finally blurted. "You won't get out. You won't do that."

"I will. Mark me, human. Do you honestly think I can't?" He laughed again. "You honestly think your species could have ever captured me on my own? Just as I said, you think too highly of yourselves. The sphere is thinning and the darkness has arrived. And you're too late to stop it."

Lana covered her mouth and subconsciously lengthened the distance between them, ready to bolt.

"I needed to be here. I had to bide my time. But that time is done." Xerus rose his head, his eyes flashing, searing through her. "And so are you."

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