“You were so desperate for your fix,” Eleanore continues, “that you willingly gave away Victoria’s information to the first bidder. But, by the time I had gotten there, like the true junkie you are, you had reneged on your side of the bargain. I wonder exactly what it was you told Victoria to get her to leave with you that night in such a panic.”
My entire body numbs as I recall the night in Dallas when Alanna came back to the hotel in a cold sweat. She told me that she had been recognized by her husband’s friend and we had to leave right away. How could Eleanore possibly know about that… if it isn’t true?
Eleanore grows tired of Alanna’s sobbing and claps to get her attention. “So junkie whore, tell her it’s true. She needs to hear it from you to understand what kind of friend you really are.”
I glance up at Alanna, tears brimming my own eyes.
“Yes, but… Victoria…” Alanna sputters.
“Tsk, tsk.” Eleanore wags her finger. “I told you, Alanna, very simple rules. What kind of friend are you exactly? Now I have to break one of her fingers.”
Alanna starts to blubber uncontrollably, but it’s no use. I turn my head away as Allan clamps the cold metal against my pinky. I’m sure nothing could hurt worse than the betrayal I feel right now, but I’m wrong. Faintly, deep in the haze of my own agonizing screams, I hear Gabriel swearing as he watches my finger being snapped in two.
After a few moments, the pain begins to numb courtesy of the adrenaline racing through my veins. I dare to hope that I can stay numb if this is going to be the kind of game Eleanore wants to play. Numb might be the only way I will survive.
“Now, Gabriel,” she says spritely, “I do believe it’s your turn. You seem much more intelligent than your female counterpart there, but we shall see.”
I don’t want to hear whatever it is she’s about to unleash on me. Not Gabriel. I try to block everything out as I tell myself he would never do anything to hurt me.
“So it’s quite funny,” Eleanore begins, “the other day while I was waiting outside of your apartment, at six in the morning no less, that I ran into Anya Petrovski as she was leaving your place.”
Gabriel’s jaw grows rigid, his eyes pleading silently with mine.
“Well, anyway, I had a nice little chat with Miss. Petrovski. She was quite forthcoming, actually. She seemed to have no qualms about disclosing the fact that she had stayed at your apartment the night before.”
My chest constricts as I wriggle beneath Allan’s forceful grip on my arm. I want to run. Far away from this place, from all of it. I can’t even bring myself to look at Gabriel as a fresh wave of tears runs down my cheeks.
“So?” Eleanore asks. “Yes or no, Gabriel.”
“Yes,” he says flatly.
On some level I secretly wish he had explained, even if it meant more broken fingers. But it doesn’t matter now. What explanation could there possibly be for Anya staying at his apartment? Especially given he knows exactly how I feel about her.
“So, Victoria, there you have it.” Eleanore sighs. “Your best friend and your boyfriend. Both have betrayed you. Now you must choose who will live, and who will die.”
I glare up at the twisted face hovering above me, wondering how she ever came to be this way. “I won’t do it,” I say resolutely. “You’ll never turn me into you, Eleanore.”
She just laughs at my response as though she knows better. “Always so stubborn. Shall I continue to break your fingers then?”
“Go your fucking hardest,” I encourage. What’s a few broken fingers if it buys me some more time?
“Fine,” she smirks. “Then onto plan B.”
She walks over to Alanna and unties her from the chair, all while humming a cheery tune. She grabs her by the hair and shoves her into Gabriel’s lap with a satisfactory smile. Alanna whimpers and tries to pull away, but Eleanore just pushes her right back into place.
“Kiss him,” she demands. “Or I will break every one of Victoria’s fingers.”
Alanna glances back at me, her face stricken with panic. I close my eyes and burrow my face in my hoodie, knowing I can’t bear to watch this.
“Wait!” Eleanore stomps back across the room and presses her heel into my neck, effectively bringing my gaze back to Gabriel and Alanna.
“If you don’t watch them, I will make her keep going.”
My stomach lurches as my eyes rake over Gabriel. He’s stiff and his eyes are cast down to the floor. Completely out of control, and out of his element. Alanna pecks him on the cheek quickly before pulling away.
“Oh, you can do better than that,” Eleanore says. “Kiss his neck, slowly. Keep kissing him until I tell you to stop.”
“Don’t,” I plead.
Alanna looks both relieved and sick as Allan moves the wrench towards me again. I close my eyes and tense up as I prepare for the pain. A quick snap and acid burns my stomach, urging me to empty the meager contents onto the floor. I breathe through it and try to stay calm as Gabriel curses and rocks in his chair.
Eleanore lets out a disappointed sigh and pushes Alanna onto the floor.