Warning: Even when the first few chapters will be relatively light, the subsequent chapters could trigger some people. Themes like torture, human experimentation and even SA of a minor, discretion is adviced.

Chapter four: Sleepless nights

First night in captivity*

The cell was silent except for the faint hum of the collars around their necks and the distant, mechanical whirring of the facility. Violet sat against the cold, unyielding wall, her arms wrapped around her knees, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. The thin shirt and pant they'd been given did nothing to ward off the biting chill of the concrete floor.

Dash lay on his side a few feet away, his back to her. He was curled up as tightly as possible, trying—and failing—to stop shivering. The silence between them was heavy, both unwilling to acknowledge the terrifying reality of their situation.

Violet broke the silence first. "Dash?"

"What?" His voice was muffled, and she could hear the tremor in it.

"We should... we should sleep closer," she suggested hesitantly, hating how vulnerable the words made her feel. "It's freezing in here. We'll stay warmer if we share body heat."

"Gross," Dash shot back immediately, sitting up slightly to glare at her. "Why would I want to cuddle with my sister? That's—ugh."

Violet rolled her eyes, exasperated despite the fear and exhaustion pressing down on her. "I'm not asking for a hug, idiot. I'm trying to keep us from freezing to death. But fine. Sleep on your own, then."

"I will," Dash said stubbornly, lying back down and pulling his arms tighter around himself.

Violet sighed, leaning her head back against the wall and closing her eyes. The cold seeped into her bones, and she knew she wasn't going to get any sleep that night.

A Week Later*

The cell felt darker now, the dim light overhead doing little to cut through the weight of despair. Dash lay curled in the corner. His body ached from the experiments, and his mind was plagued with nightmares whenever he closed his eyes. But even those nightmares weren't as bad as the real thing.

He glanced over at Violet, who was sitting propped up against the wall. Her head was tilted to the side, her face pale and drawn. She'd been unconscious when the guards had dragged her back in earlier, her breaths shallow and labored.

Dash had screamed at them, begging them to leave her alone, but it had only earned him another kick in the stomach. He had never seen her like this before —her limp body, the bruises on her wrists, the bloodstains on her clothes. But it was her slow and faint heartbeat that didn't let him sleep, because he was afraid that the moment he closed his eyes it would stop completely.

It wasn't after a couple of hours that she stirred, her eyelids fluttering as she let out a weak groan. Relief flooded through Dash as he sat up, scooting closer to her.

"Vi?" he whispered, his voice shaking. "You okay?"

She opened her eyes just enough to look at him, her lips twitching in a faint smile. "I'm alive," she murmured.

Dash swallowed hard, trying to push back the lump in his throat. He hated how scared he felt. He hated that he couldn't do anything to protect her.

"Vi, you need to rest," he said quietly.

"I'm trying," she whispered back. "But I can't stop shaking."

Dash hesitated, his pride warring with the deep-seated need for comfort that he couldn't ignore anymore. He didn't care if it was "gross" anymore. He needed to know she was there, alive, and breathing.

Without a word, he moved closer and lay down beside her. Violet blinked in surprise, but she didn't say anything as he awkwardly draped an arm over her and rested his head against her shoulder.

"This doesn't mean I like you," Dash muttered, his voice barely audible.

Violet let out a weak laugh, her hand coming up to rest lightly on his arm. "Noted."

The warmth of her body against his was a small comfort, but it was enough. Dash closed his eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. It was the only thing anchoring him, the only proof he had that she was still alive.

"I'm glad you're okay," he whispered after a long pause, his voice cracking.

"Me too," Violet murmured, her own voice heavy with exhaustion. "Get some sleep, Dash. We both need it."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Dash allowed himself to relax

, lulled to sleep by the sound of his sister's heart.