kne

sciousness slowly returned. A thick, suffocating

they were tied tightly behind her

silence, laced with a weary disap

make this so difficult? I

as A

oice echoing in the small, dark space. "But act

a silent scream trapped in her throat

here outside her line of sight, "we will p

m. He was watching, liste

whirred to life. Two metal clamps shot out, grabbing her a

," Austen's voice announc

under the harsh light. It spun faster and faster, a

towards her

r mouth, anything to keep from screaming. The pain was excruciating, a uni

a hospital room. Not a public hospital, but

ed of antisep

ation, she heard voices outsid

aid. "But there's only one dose available this month.

heart w

r injury, though minor, was caused by Alana's aggression. This wil

a lesson. He still believed Joyce. His words of trust in

und escaped her lips, a

or fle

e, his face a perfect pi

he breathed, reaching f

linch away f

his brow furrowed. "Are

upset. But you can't keep hurting Joyce. She's innoce

er absurdity of his words su

ice a raw rasp. "You're worried about Jo

his face. He looked down

," he said quietl

to ice. He pulled a small, sharp knife from

a deep, clean cut. Blood welled up, d

ort of pain. "I'm hurting too, Alana. Your pai

s went too far, when he saw the light in her eyes start to dim, he would hurt himself. A way to sh

d cried, tended to his wound

as: a performance. A way to control her, t

her voice flat and em

s, but he nodded. "Of course, my

rses' protests. He sat there for two days, watching her, sometimes ta

wounds with a gentleness that was utterly

ged Alana's IV drip. "Mr. Ballard loves you s

to laugh. If

heard a soft weeping s

anding just outside the

er voice thick with fake tears. "I know

She pushed herself up sli

ack in the doo

loving husband, pul

ds Alana' s room, making s

ned down and

ek. It was a deep, passionate kiss, on

st piece of her h

her good hand, she slowly, deliberately, pulled it of

l of his "eternal love," and threw i

ith a soft,

n. He saw the empty space on her finger

w the