Page 9 of Beyond the Cottage

When Lab Coat crouched in the same spot J had been, Gretta recoiled. “Donottouch me.”

“I said I won’t hurt you.”

“You expect me to believe that after what you’ve already done?”

Lab Coat flinched before his face coldly shuttered. He studied her as closely as he had the pink powder. “Since it appears you’remy guest for the night, we’ll discuss what happens next in the morning. Now you need rest.”

“I’ve had plenty, thanks. Tell me where I am, and tell me how you’re getting me back.”

He stood. “Rest, don’t rest. We’ll still discuss this tomorrow. Are you going to walk with me, or would you prefer to be wheeled on the cot?”

Gretta scoffed before neutralizing her expression.

Was he dumb enough to unstrap her and let her walk? If so, she’d gladly play along. She wasn’t armed, and he looked to have a good foot of height on her, but the element of surprise could work in her favor. She only needed a brief head start to fly away.

“I’ll walk.” She forced her body to relax. “I’m calm.”

He put his hands on the strap across her shoulders and paused. “Can I trust you to behave? If you fight me, you won’t win.”

Gretta’s eyes slitted, but she nodded. Another few seconds passed, and he brusquely unstrapped the buckle on her chest before moving to the one across her calves.

Considering she’d been drugged, it seemed wise to test her legs before running. She swung them over the edge, stretching them, and tentatively stood. He loomed over her, taller than she’d realized.

Sweeping his arm, he indicated the arched doorway J had disappeared through. Gretta shuffled along, balancing her weight from foot to foot, trying to look as pathetic as possible. Halfway to the door, she whirled and shoved him.

He barely stumbled—the fucker was big—but she gained her head start. She leapt, extending one leg. Instead of taking flight, she landed awkwardly on her feet.

She tried again and landed again, and Lab Coat grabbed the back of her tunic. Her bare heel stomped his heavy boot. Her elbow met his stomach, but she may as well have rammed itinto a cinder block. Angry tears came, and she struggled all the harder for them. He yanked her against him until her feet came off the floor.

“Stop!” he bellowed.

Gretta kicked uselessly, flailing in his arms.

“Stop,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Then let go of me!”

“Calm yourself.”

“Fuck you!” she screamed, struggling harder. “You’re dead! Once you’re asleep, I’ll gouge out your eyes and make you eat them!”

He sighed.

Gretta shrieked and shoved her hand between his legs. The angle was bad, but she squeezed his balls, twisting until he cried out. When he released her, she ran.

She barely made it to the door before he grabbed her again. He pinned her to his side and hauled her out under one arm. As she pummeled his thigh, he dragged her through a dim, cavernous corridor lined with empty cells. The kind withbarson them.

Sickly green light came from bowls of liquid set in mounted rings. Glowing moisture oozed down the black stone walls. She screamed again, clawing his arm. Lab Coat grunted and swung her to his other side, and in the middle of the hall, he jerked open a cell door.

Gretta’s body seized with a level of terror she’d forgotten she was capable of.

She twisted to face him, clutching him. “No! Nononono, please! I can’t—I can’t be in confined spaces!”

He hesitated with his hand on the door. Gretta clung to his shoulders, her pride buried by fear. She thought she saw his expression crack in the eerie green light…

He tossed her in the cell and locked it without looking at her.

“Please!” She scrabbled for his sleeve. “Please!”

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