It all happened so fast.

The monster lunged, but the sharp point of the auger missed her as Irina slammed her back against the door in a poor attempt to evade it. The force in which it took to strike her temporarily knocked the blundering creature unsteady, giving her a chance to unlock the door and make an escape. However, the monster swung its arm, catching her in the side with its potent backswing.

The sharp rotating drill tore through her overcoat like tissue paper, slicing into her skin with a maddening screech. Irina cried out in pain – the worst she had ever felt – and lurched away from it, losing her balance and falling onto her stomach with a stifled oomph. Quickly and driven by curiosity, she rolled onto her back despite the burning pain in her side, just at it emerged from the room, staggering with every lethargic step.

Had it been human once? Perhaps, Irina thought. It looked more like a machine to her; headgear over its cranium and a red glowing reactor on its brawny chest. Perhaps … but not anymore. The only semblance to a human it had remaining was its figure and most of this was covered in thermoplastic hoses and wound tubing.

What was this thing?

As it trudged closer, Irina scooted back on her elbows, incapable of taking her frightened eyes off it. The blood-covered auger fused to its arm span slower as pieces of her torn coat jammed the drill, looking no less intimidating to her. It shifted its head around, teeth chattering as it searched for her. Irina wondered if the monster wasn't able to see with the headgear on – she was near it and yet it hadn't attacked her. Easing back, she held her breath and gripped the chain of her shackles in her shaking hands, so as not to alert it.

There was a staircase on the opposite side of the furnace; maybe she could make it over to them. Irina scooted her tired body across the grimy concrete floor, keen eyes glued to the monster. Closer and closer she moved, not realizing until it was too late that she backed into the leg of a workbench. It scared her so much, Irina let out a gasp.

The monster heard.

It turned in her direction; its mouth peeling back into a lipless snarl and lunged. Irina got back onto her feet, attempting to flee, well aware that she couldn't evade its attack a second time, being too slow to react. Her breath caught in her throat.

But a sudden thunderous bang pierced her ears.

She reached the stairs and turned, seeing the monster twitching in a gruesome heap on the floor with Heisenberg looming over it. The helical face of his sledgehammer was covered in blood and slivers of bone.

Why did he kill it?

"Damn idiot," the man sneered, knocking brain matter from his boot.

Heisenberg glanced at her, panting and holding her injured side in pain. She was backing up the stairs, eyes wide in fear. "It made a liar out of me. Shame I had to destroy it; moron was hard to make."

She wanted to remind him of the fact that he lied to her about the time limit, but opted not to.

"I don't know how it got off its leash."

Were these the pets he spoke of?

Irina gave him a heated look. He was a lunatic.

"Come on now. Don't be a prude." Heisenberg hummed and brought up his hand. "Tell you what … I'll give you a present; something to help you."

He reached into his pants pocket and took out a key, tossing it near her at the base of the stairs.

Irina gave him a suspicious look.

"Go on and take it," he ordered.

She eased onto her knees and picked it up.

"Why are––

"Shut your hole and listen to what I have to say."

She winced in fear at his outburst.

Heisenberg pointed his finger. "Look at the key."

Irina did.

It was small, made of metal, and had a horse and horseshoe etched into the bow.

"See that crest; it represents my house and goes to a specific door on B1," he explained.

Irina was confused. Was this another one of his games?

"Understand?"

She didn't.

"Can this open the entrance doors?"

He grinned. "Afraid not."

There's no guarantee, she thought as she stared at the key.

"Then I can't take it," Irina declared, tossing his key onto the ground.

She was aware that her decision was foolish, but she couldn't trust him. The hope he gave her hurt. She wanted to believe that he was giving her a chance, but somehow, she knew better. Tears stung her heated eyes.

"How can you be so heartless?"

Heisenberg snorted. Opening his hand, the key lifted; the atmosphere seemed to thin and crack as scraps of metal hovered in the air.

How was he doing this? Irina stared in fear; the shackles bit into her skin, pulling so hard she feared her wrists would break.

"Are you sure?"

She was.

"I am," she said with a nod.

Heisenberg grinned. "As you wish."

Pointing his finger, the scrap lunged and slammed into the wall around her with a deafening crack. Irina screamed in horror and covered her face. Her clothes were cut to ribbons; metal splinters bit her skin. It stung so bad; an indescribable pain. She imagined it was like being torn apart in a hurricane.

Once the barrage ceased, she was surprised to be alive. Irina sunk to her knees, tears pouring down her face.

She heard Heisenberg laugh, sounding much closer than before.

"You're not done yet, are you? Where did all that spunk go?"

She dug her nails into her skin. Done? What kind of fucked up game was this? Uncovering her face, Irina glared at him. He was standing at the furnace, grinning at her.

"Stop messing with me. Fucking kill me if you're going to," she barked.

Again, Heisenberg laughed. "Patience, darling. You may prove to be of some use to me."

Lifting his finger, the air thinned and the shackles tugged at her blood-stained arms. Irina groaned in pain and stood, being forced to go to Heisenberg. Every step was excruciating. Her head was heavy; her eyes sore and blurred.

Was she bleeding out?

Falling onto her knees, her arms remained suspended utilizing the cuffs. Her head hung in exhaustion.

"I can't … let me die."

Heisenberg tsked and yanked Irina to her feet.

"Am I gonna have to carry you?"

She didn't answer.

He tossed her over his arm with ease; her cut up slender body was slack, bleeding through both his shirts.

"Have you gone and died on me?"

Again, Irina didn't answer.

Before darkness consumed her, she had a thought.

Why did the Duke put her on this path?

If she ever saw him again, she would ask.