Page 24 of The Darkest Half

“Both,” Niklas admits, and I never expected him to have any anxiety issues.

“I refuse to die like this,” I say.

“I don’t think either of us has much of a choice.”

I roll over, lay on my back, and look up at the ceiling, at that ever-elusive hidden camera that I’m starting to believe isn’t there. A tear slips down my cheek sideways. And then another. It causes my nose to itch, but I’m too…everything to raise my hand and wipe it away.

“Victor…” I whisper, and, of course, there is no answer.

10

Niklas

I feel something shutting down inside of me; I don’t know if it’s an organ or just my will to live, but whatever it is, it’s got about another day. I’ve pissed three times in the corner of this room, and I don’t know what since I haven’t had anything to drink in five—four—days. Izzy hasn’t taken a piss once, a sure sign that her body will start shutting down soon.

I admit this whole thing is strange, even for The Order. I’m having a hard time figuring out their motives and their plan. Is that really what they aim to do? Just leave us in here to die of dehydration? It seems out of character for them. I think I would’ve preferred torture—at least then it wouldn’t be so fucKING QUIET!

The silence is really fucking with my head. If I didn’t have Izzy here with me—.

“They don’t want us to die,” I tell Izabel upon realizing.

“Huh?” Her voice is weak; she’s lying on her back in the middle of the floor.

“It’s why they put us in here together instead of separating us in different rooms,” I explain. “It’s also why we weren’t restrained. No zip-ties, no rope, nothing.”

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this,” she says, and I hear her readjusting her position on the hard floor, “but company and unhindered movement isn’t going to keep us alive.”

“No, but we’d die sooner without them.”

“We will die without water,” she points out.

“They’re not going to let us die. They’ll bring us water before it goes too far.”

“I think it already has. I’m too weak to move. And this headache is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It feels like my brain is getting too big for my skull.”

I manage to scoff. “Don’t worry, Izzy, that’ll never happen.”

“Shut up, asshole.”

“Seriously though,” I go on, “they’re not going to let us die. At least, not in here like this.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to put us in different rooms,” she says, “and give us water and food and a bucket to piss in, so at least we wouldn’t be on the verge of death? This crazy method is too risky. What if one of us does die? Look at how weak we are.”

“Weak is how they want us,” I tell her. “Think about it. The old-fashioned way, separating us into different rooms and having to open the door to toss food inside. Or, binding our hands and feet and sending someone in here to spoon-feed and hydrate us—that’s the risky way for them.”

“You’re right,” she says. “With enough time, I can get myself out of zip-ties or cuffs or rope.”

“They know we’re dangerous and smart—the less contact they have with either of us, the better,” I say. “And when the time comes to unlock that door and remove us from this room, we’ll be too weak to fight our way to freedom no matter who they send in to retrieve us.”

“Then they do plan to open the fucking door,” she says. “When they bring us water—which will have to be today, surely they know that—that’ll be our chance to get out of here.”

“That’s the only part I haven’t figured out yet,” I say. “We’re weak and not doing so great because of dehydration, but I still feel like I could take down anyone they send here with water. Rage and desperation can easily eclipse weakness in the right conditions.”

“Armed guards in the hall,” she reminds me, but I’m still not entirely convinced. “Neither of us has a gun or a knife—no weapons of any kind. A hallway full of guns will thwart an escape.”

“Maybe so,” I say, “but it’s still too risky. I’m sure they know about your mission with Nora to kill Randolf Pinceri. The two of you took out an entire building of armed men. The Order isn’t stupid. This is the safest way for them.”

After a moment of thoughtful silence:

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