A cloaked figure appeared in front of Lucia. They crouched down looking up at her. The face tilted up. A grotesque mask peered back at Lucia. The face painted on the mask was contoured with a great wailing mouth. The eyes behind glinted a barely visible red.
Lucia's mouth was no longer gagged but her throat felt too hoarse to speak. The neck ring was still tightly compressing her skin.
The mask tilted to the side as the figure looked closer at Lucia. They passed behind Lucia. She could hear the sound of gushing water. The figure reappeared in front of her. They held up the glass.
"Are you thirsty?" The masked figure asked. They brought the glass close to Lucia's lips. Before she could take a sip, they set the glass to the floor.
