Rissa winced as the vervain ropes tightened around her wrists, but didn't say anything or cry out. She didn't care, not while Guy was dead, but it still hurt. She glared at Ryan, who was just sitting there and looking at her.
-Why did you join that stupid gang anyways?- she asked, wondering how much time she has left.
-Derek turned me. And now he's dead. And it's your fault. Yours and your little friend's.
-Yeah, I get it, everything is my fault. Everyone thinks so, you know? You, Guy, my sister, that redhead… Me, too. This is my fault.
-Well, I guess we agree on that, then.
-I guess we do. Anyway, since I'm to be tortured a little longer, I'll just go to my happy place.
-You have a happy place?
-Yeah, why?
-You don't seem like someone who has a happy place.
-I do. Blue sky. A lot of blood. Vivian's corpse…
-Who's Vivian?
-You're really lucky not to know.
Rissa stopped talking, pretending to go to the happy place. In reality, he was right about her not being the kind of person who has a happy place. She wasn't happy, nothing about her was. She just wanted to die sooner, so all of this is over with.
-Damn,- she heard Ryan say and looked up. He was shocked, staring at his phone.
-What?
-Your little friend. He survived. Killed all but one of the guys who were there.
-Guy is alive?
-Yes, kid, that's what I said. I just got a text. Change of plans. We're killing you as fast as we can. I'll go get some stakes. Stay put. Not like you have a choice.
He walked out of the room, leaving her tied to a chair. Wait, no. No. She didn't wanna die anymore. If Guy was alive, then… No, no, no. This was bad. She suddenly cared, and she cared very much. She wasn't gonna die like this, she didn't wanna die. This was horrible!
-Riss,- she heard a whisper. She ignored whatever that was, probably Ryan, but then it came again. -Riss!
-What?!- she asked angrily. -Just let me die in peace!- Rissa looked up. She didn't expect this. -Vik?
-Yeah!- he ran over to her.
-It's so great to see you! Your timing rocks!- she said, deciding to get all the sarcasm out of her system while she was alive.
-Yeah, nice to see you, too,- he smirked.
-Why are you smiling?!- she asked. She didn't care if she was too loud, or if she was too mean, she was in pain, and she wanted to be anywhere but here.
-Can you explain?- he asked, ignoring her question. It was actually nice to see her, made him feel that nice… whatever that was, but he still needed to know why the hell she was tied to a chair with vervain ropes.
-The nice man in the hallway kidnapped me, Donovan, unless that wasn't clear!- she snapped. Vik wasn't upset. He was used to Rissa snapping, and she clearly wasn't in a good state right now.
He came over to her quietly, rolling up the sleeve of his red jacket.
-What are you doing?- she asked, veins appearing on her face.
-Feed.
-What?
-Feed, Riss!- she stared at him in confusion. Her head hurt, and it was hard to process what he wanted from her.
-Vik, I'm way too hungry. I'll hurt you.
-I'll drink your blood after. If we're getting out of this alive, you have to feed!
She thought about it. He was right. Ryan had no idea she had help. She'd have the upper hand. Not to mention how much she needed blood right now.
Rissa sunk her teeth into her best friend's wrist, trying to ignore his muffled grunts of pain. The blood was amazing. She felt all of her strength return. Her headache disappear. The pain of the ropes lessen. After a few seconds, she managed to convince herself to stop. She let go of Vik's arm and licked her lips, hiding the fact that she'd fed.
-Hide,- she told him, smirking. He nodded and ran deeper into the apartment.
Ryan came back soon after, holding a wooden stake. He came over to her and sighed.
-You know,- he told her. -I just want you to know that this is nothing personal. You know? Boss's orders.
Rissa nodded, a smile appearing on her face.
-I do know,- she nodded. -Except, unlike you, I don't cower from things I have to do by pretending I don't want to do them. I work for myself.
With that she ripped the vervain ropes and got up, punching through his chest.
-So, you know,- she murmured as she tore his heart out. -Boss's orders.