Jay's POV
The gravel bit into my knees.
My arm throbbed so badly it felt like it had its own heartbeat.
We were surrounded.
Guns aimed at us from every angle.
And Sienna…
Sienna was sitting on a chair.
Actually sitting.
Like this was some kind of meeting she arranged.
"You guys think you are so smart," she said, crossing her legs calmly.
Eli suddenly stood up beside Luke.
"Look, um, Sienna," Eli said casually, brushing dust off his sleeve, "I'm not part of this."
Luke stood too. "Yes. My brother and I have nothing to do with this."
For a second, I almost laughed.
Even now?
Sienna tilted her head slowly.
"You two think you're clever?" she said. "One brother acts like a normal worker. The other acts like a normal doctor."
Luke blinked. "Wow. You got it right."
Wrong timing. So wrong.
Sienna's face hardened.
"Both of you shut up."
Her men forced them back down to their knees.
I shifted slightly, biting back the pain shooting through my arm.
"Sienna," I said firmly, "you're making a grave mistake."
She turned her eyes to me slowly.
"Jay," she said coolly, "you have a broken arm. You should keep quiet."
"How can I keep quiet if you're making a mistake?" I shot back.
Her eyes darkened.
"You talk too much."
She lifted her hand slightly.
Two of her men moved instantly.
They grabbed me roughly under my shoulders and lifted me.
Pain exploded through my arm.
"Let her go!" Keifer shouted.
Before he could even move—
The back of a gun slammed into his forehead.
The sound made my stomach drop.
He fell forward onto the ground.
"Keifer!" I screamed. "What's your problem?! Why did you hit him?!"
"Stop the drama," Sienna said coldly. "Bring her here."
They dragged me right in front of her and forced me down again.
I refused to bow my head.
Even if my arm felt like it was splitting open.
She leaned forward slightly.
"You know," she said softly, "let's play a game."
My heart sank.
"It's called Who's Stronger."
My mouth went dry.
"These are the rules," she continued casually. "I will close my eyes. When I open them, whoever my hand points at will receive an electric shock."
No.
No.
"No, Sienna," I said immediately. "You wouldn't do that."
She smiled faintly. "Oh come on. Let's have evening games."
"You're insane," Keifer said through clenched teeth.
"Enough talk," she snapped. "Let's start."
Her men actually cheered.
Cheered.
One of them stepped behind the boys holding a metal device with wires.
My stomach twisted.
"Oh Jay," Sienna added sweetly, "you just stay by me. Since you're hurt."
"I'm begging you," I said quietly. "Don't do this."
She ignored me.
"Round one."
She closed her eyes.
Slowly.
Her finger began moving in the air.
Left.
Right.
Across them.
Like she was choosing randomly from a shelf.
Please.
Please not Keifer.
Please not Yuri.
Please not anyone.
Her finger stopped.
She opened her eyes.
And pointed.
"At him."
Felix.
The man behind them stepped forward.
Felix shook his head slightly. "Wait—"
"Ten seconds," Sienna said calmly. "Ready?"
The device was pressed against Felix's back.
I felt my breath stop.
Click.
His scream tore through the air.
It was raw.
Painful.
Uncontrolled.
His entire body jerked violently against the ropes.
His muscles locked.
His head snapped back.
The electric sound buzzed through the night air.
One second.
Two.
I couldn't look away.
Five seconds.
His voice started breaking.
Eight seconds.
I felt tears burning my eyes but I refused to let them fall.
Ten.
Click.
Silence.
Felix collapsed forward, gasping, shaking, barely conscious.
The smell of burnt fabric drifted faintly.
Sienna clapped softly.
"One point," she said lightly. "He lasted the full ten seconds."
I stared at her.
How could someone look so calm?
How could someone sit there like this was entertainment?
My arm throbbed.
My chest felt tight.
And I knew—
This was only round one.
End of Chapter.