"Elizabeth you need to get up." He felt as the first beads of sweat rolled down his neck. The collar of his shirt clung to his skin.
When she gasped Jay pulled at the ties again, but they wouldn't budge.
"They're going to kill you," he breathed. Maybe they already had. His body stilled as he looked her over. Her face was pressed against the cement. She was shivering. Her face was paling. And her fingers were no longer pressing into the wound left by the knife they'd taken to her side.
"I— I can't—" Her chest was heaving.
He leaned as forward as the restraints allowed. "Your kids need you." Just as Chloe needed him.
He grimaced as he tensed his limbs again before pushing out and up. The zip ties were rubbing his skin raw where the plastic bit into his ankles and wrists. He just needed her to get up. To help him get these undone. Then they would have a better chance.
"Come on Elizabeth. Stand up for me," he said. He still saw just a bit of fight left in her eyes. He hoped it was enough. "You can do it," he told her. "Come on." And she huffed as she began to push up to her hands and knees.
If only they'd been given a few more minutes alone. If only the knife hadn't been dug into her skin as deep as it had. If only they'd had more time.
The latch on the door rattled before it swung open a moment later.
He craned his neck so he could see.
"I admire the effort," the man said. His English was broken up with his heavy accent. And he was new.
His boots clomped against the stone as he slowly crossed the room. With his hands on his hips, he looked down at his boss and smiled before he brought the side of his foot up against her side. He chuckled as she fell back to the ground with a hiss and a groan.
"Leave her alone," Jay said. "You've hurt her enough."
Heads turned towards the corner where he was sat. The new guy looked him up and down, with a careful eye, before turning back to Elizabeth. He kneeled at her side.
"You are as pretty as they say." When he swept back a piece of her hair his jaw clenched. He palmed her cheek, and after she jerked away, he grabbed her chin roughly.
"Don't touch her," he gritted through his teeth. He was surprised they had yet to take a metal pipe to the side of his head.
The comment is ignored. No one in the room missed a beat.
"If you weren't so valuable, I would keep you around." He glanced back to the two other men who stood near the doorway. He smirked. "For my own enjoyment."
There were laughs, but he felt more nauseous.
He stared down at her until he sat back on his knees. He watched as he pulled a small card from his pocket. And he began mumbling in Russian. Halfway through he raised a hand over her head, palm open, almost like he was blessing her, but this wasn't a blessing. This was a death sentence.
He pocketed the card before leaning forward and pressing his lips to her forehead. "Get her up," he grumbled as he stood.
His eyes were frantic as the two men pushed off the back wall and walked towards her.
"No," he mumbled. He pulled at the ties. "What are you going to do with her?" He asked desperately.
He didn't expect an answer, but one came. Though it didn't bring any comfort. "What needs to be done," the man said as he opened the door. He tilted his head, shrugged his lips, and— "And then some."
He shook his head as he looked back to his boss. She sagged against the shorter of the two men. Their hands were wrapped around her waist. They weren't gentle and they didn't care.
"Elizabeth," he called.
Her feet barely touched the floor as they passed.