Lina's heart pounded with fear and exhaustion as she lay bound on the cold, damp floor. The dim light cast long shadows across the room, and the silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water from a distant pipe. Her wrists and ankles were chafed raw from the rough ropes that bound her, and the gag in her mouth stifled any cries for help.
The door creaked open, and Lina's body tensed. A tall man entered, his eyes gleaming with a cruel light. He moved with a predatory grace, and the smell of his cologne mixed with the stench of the damp room, making Lina's stomach churn.
"You're such a sweet girl," he purred, his voice dripping with malice. "I can't wait to play with you."
Panic surged through Lina, and she struggled against her restraints, her muffled cries barely audible. The man reached down, his hand encircling her neck with a vise-like grip. He lifted her effortlessly, her feet dangling above the ground as she struggled to breathe. Desperation filled her eyes as she tried to kick him, but he was too strong, his grip too tight.
Just then, the door opened again, and a woman stepped in. She was tall and elegant, with cold, piercing eyes and an air of authority. Her voice was calm but commanding as she spoke to the man.
"Martin, let go of her neck. She'll die if you don't."
Martin hesitated, his grip loosening slightly. He glanced at the woman, his expression a mix of frustration and obedience. The cold look she gave him was enough to make him release Lina, who crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.
The woman walked over to Lina, her heels clicking on the concrete floor. She looked down at her with a disdainful expression, her lips curling into a sneer.
"Look at you," she said with a bitter smirk. "You must think it's all fun and games, getting caught up in things you don't understand. This is what happens when you start stepping into places you don't belong, You're playing a dangerous game without even realizing it."
Lina's eyes stung, but she blinked back the tears, confusion and pain gripping her chest. She had no idea what she had done wrong, yet every word felt like a blow. Struggling to hold herself together, she fought to keep her emotions in check, unsure why she was suddenly the target of such hostility.
"Do you really think anyone is coming to save you?" the woman continued, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing to them. Just a pawn in their game. Daniel? Your friends? They're probably not even looking for you anymore. They've likely moved on, forgotten you."
Lina shook her head, wanting to deny the woman's words, but the gag prevented her from speaking. She could only glare up at her, defiance mingling with the fear in her eyes.
"Oh, don't look at me like that," the woman said, her tone mocking. "You're in this situation because you're weak. If you had any strength, any real value, you wouldn't be here, lying on the floor like a beaten dog."
She crouched down, her face inches from Lina's. The coldness in her eyes was chilling, and Lina could feel the hatred radiating from her.
"Do you know why you're here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because you're an inconvenience. A distraction. And we're going to make sure you never get in our way again."
Lina's heart sank. The woman's words were like daggers, each one cutting deeper than the last. She felt a wave of hopelessness wash over her.
The woman stood up, brushing imaginary dust from her immaculate clothes. She turned to leave but paused at the door.
"Martin," she said, her voice carrying an edge of finality. "Make sure she doesn't cause any more trouble. And keep her alive. For now."
Martin nodded, his eyes flicking to Lina with a look of barely concealed lust. The woman left the room, and Lina was alone with her tormentor once more. The door closed with a resounding thud, and the room was plunged back into its eerie silence.
Martin approached Lina, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous anticipation that sent chills down her spine. His steps were slow, deliberate, as though he was savoring every moment of her terror. He crouched down before her, the leather of his shoes creaking against the cold, hard floor. His hand hovered over her face for a second, fingers twitching, before he leaned in closer.
Lina recoiled instinctively, her body pressing against the wall behind her, but there was nowhere to go. The small room felt like it was closing in, trapping her, suffocating her. Her heart thundered in her chest, the rapid beats echoing in her ears as her pulse quickened with fear.
"Looks like it's just you and me again, sweetheart," Martin whispered, his voice like silk but laced with a sinister edge. His breath fanned her cheek as he spoke, sending another wave of panic through her. "Don't worry," he added, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from her face, "I'll take good care of you."
The menace in his words was unmistakable. Lina's stomach twisted in knots, her thoughts a chaotic jumble of fear and desperation. She flinched, her body trembling as she tried to pull herself further away from his touch, but she was trapped, physically and mentally.
Martin's fingers grazed her cheek, lingering for just a second too long before he finally stood up. He looked down at her with a smug smirk, a look of sick satisfaction on his face as though he had already won. His eyes lingered on her, drinking in her vulnerability, and the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
"Get some rest," he said, his tone mocking, as though she was about to lie down for a casual nap and not endure another round of torment. "You're going to need it."
With that, he turned on his heel, the sound of his boots echoing against the concrete floor as he walked toward the door. Lina's heart was still racing, her breath coming in short gasps as she watched him leave. The loud *click* of the lock sliding into place was a cruel reminder of just how trapped she was.
As the door slammed shut, the room seemed to grow colder, more oppressive. Lina lay where she was, her muscles aching from the tension that held her rigid in place. She could still feel the ghost of Martin's touch on her skin, and it made her shudder. Her mind, still spinning from the woman's cruel words earlier, now tried to process the nightmare she was living.
Every breath hurt, and the silence was deafening. Lina closed her eyes, willing herself to think of anything but this, to think of the people she loved—the faces that gave her strength.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to steady her breathing, to keep her mind from spiraling. She had to stay strong, no matter how impossible that seemed. Somewhere, somehow, she would find a way out of this hell. She had to. There was no other option.
With resolve building deep inside her, Lina made a silent vow to herself. She would survive this. No matter what it took, no matter how long she had to wait for her chance—she would fight, and she would find a way to escape.