Hayley's POV

“Ugh… where am I?”

My lips were cracked, barely letting the words out. And my head—God, it felt like someone had tried cracking it open with a hammer. For a while, all I saw was pure black, nothing else. Then things started to take shape—slowly, like my eyes didn’t want to wake up.

It looked like a room. Big, or at least it felt that way. Empty too and creepy, wait...no, not empty, but definitely creepy. There was a bulb in the middle of the ceiling, the room's only source of light, though it wasn't doing much illuminating. It flickered, on and off, like it was running out of energy, stretching shadows across the floor until they looked like they would wrap me in their embrace.

The air was heavy. Cold, clammy, making me feel like I had to force each breath. I braced myself to sit up with difficulty, a groan slipping through my clenched teeth as I felt pain reverberate through my body, taking in my arms that seemed to be held hostage in thick, tightly bound ropes. And though I tried not to show it, I felt my hands vibrate with the effort. That's when my brain finally caught up with my eyes, and I noticed it--a table. In the middle of the room, under the quivering light. And a figure, a man by suggestion of his build, sitting across from it

Still. Silent. Watching. Like a hunter stalking its prey. Dissecting every movement for signs of weakness to pinpoint the precise moment to strike.

He would not see one, I thought as my breath snagged in my throat.

I glared at what I believed to be his face. I couldn't see its features, but I could see the outline of a shape.

I took note of him as well; he was slumped a little in his chair, an arm draped across the table. Not like someone tired, but like someone who had finally gotten his desired outcome.

I tried my hardest to still my heart; it thumped so hard, I swore he could hear it. As I dragged in a tight breath through my nose, I looked down, and time just... paused.

There was a puddle by the forelegs of the table. Dark, thick, shiny, and red--nothing else it could be.

Blood.

My body began to move before my brain could process.

By instinct, I scrambled backwards searching for a way to add distance between the pool of blood and me; instead, my back was met by something hard and cold, a wall. My body went rigid, pain slicing through me again. I tried to reach for my pounding head, but I suddenly remembered my hands were still restricted. A scream settled at the base of my throat, but instead, a strangled sound came out, a sound I did not recognise, choking and sharp. And suddenly the shame of that outweighed the pain, but even that barely registered compared to the shadow of a man in front of me.

Immediately, my attention was drawn back to the middle of the room.

I felt before I saw the screech of the metal table and chair across the floor as they were moved ever so slightly by their occupant.

"Good," he said, his voice soft but steady, though the coldness in it sent proverbial shivers down my spine.

" You're finally awake". His voice pierced through the silence.

Then... he stood, and I caught my breath, steadied my gaze, and put on a mask of indifference, though that was far from what I felt.

I watched as he lifted his chin just a bit and rolled his shoulders slowly, like this was an inconvenience.

I couldn't move, didn't flinch. Every part of me screamed to run or fight, to do something, but that was stupid, so in the end, I stayed frozen even when my heart felt like it might break through my ribs.

Who was he?

And what did he want from me?

I glanced at the dark stain on the floor, then lazily dragged my gaze back up to him, as if he was an inconvenience as well.

"What do you want from me?" My voice sounded parched, but I got it out.

He didn't respond right away. He just stared at me like he knew what I was going to ask, then sat back down.

I blinked. That’s when I really saw his face.

All of it. Clear as day.

He was… beautiful. That realization hit me hard, before I could even stop myself.

He had high, sharp cheekbones, dark, messy hair that flopped over his forehead like he hadn't bothered fixing it, and his eyes, though I had noticed their hue before, the light reflecting in them made all the more alluring; like a siren drawing a sailor to his glorious demise. And at that moment, I understood the dilemma that sailors go through, as I, too, found myself lost in those pools of ash.

Focus

I told my mind,

Survive first

So I grounded myself, remembered my surroundings, all whilst looking at the enigma before me.

"I just need Something from you," he finally said, and his lips curved a little. Not really a smile—something quieter.

All the amusement--if it was ever real-- from his face had vanished, leaving something unreadable behind.

steeling my expression, though I kept my tone slightly amused.

When I glanced at him again, the softness I’d seen—if it was ever real—had vanished. Now he looked unreadable. Careful. Controlled. Dangerous.

"Something?"

I chuckled, though it held no true pleasure.

" Wow, that really narrows it down, doesn't it?"

I made sure the sarcasm shone through, and as a reward, he glared at me, his jaw tightening.

Good, I'm getting to him.

"I'm not helping you," I said. This time, my voice was a lot more reinforced and steady.

He just kept on watching, then,

"I didn't ask," he replied. Something in the way he said it made my skin crawl. Like he spoke for the world, and the world always lined up behind him. I hated that. I bet people like him always get what they want, and honestly, that annoyed me way more than it should.

Like he had the final say. No, he didn't.

" You didn't have to. Seeing as I have no visible injury on me, and you seem in no rush to force what you want–whatever that may be–out of me, I would wager that what you need so desperately, ties to me being alive, correct? Look,” I said, chin up, “I don’t know what you want from me—and honestly, I couldn’t care less. But if you want my help, maybe try not being a jerk about it.”

My breath caught. Oh god, where did that boldness come from? I can't let him see my regret. I need to make him think that I don't back down without a fight.

He raised an eyebrow, eyes sharp and dangerous. “Oh?”

It wasn't just a question—it felt like a dare.

My heart hammered in my chest, but I tried to sit straighter, ignoring the ache. Whatever, too late to back down now.

“What I meant,” I went on, wishing I sounded as tough as I tried to look, “is I know I’m not really in a position to make demands. But if you want something from someone, kidnapping them and acting rudely isn’t really the way to go.” Looking him dead in the eyes.

We stared at each other in silence. That slight amusement on his face? Gone. Somehow, the air in the room turned colder.

And then I noticed—I was still sitting on the floor. Great.

Before I could get up, the door swung open.

“Alright, enough chit chat,” a new voice cut in. “Cass, you are needed in the–.”

I looked at where the voice came from. Another guy strode in. He was tall, put together, and striking—but not like Cass. Where Cass was all tension and control, this guy looked casual. He had that kind of danger that sneaks up on you with a grin.

He caught me staring and changed direction, walking right over.

I didn’t know if I should feel better or just more on edge. But when he stretched out his hand and pulled me up, I made up my mind fast—I liked him better.

“Well, hello,” he said with a lazy charm, lifting my hand to his lips, still bound together, barely brushing a kiss over my knuckles. “What’s your name, beautiful?”

“Hayley,” I said, trying to keep my guard up.

He seemed like the sort of person people trust too quickly and regret it later.

“Hayley,” he repeated, as if tasting the word. His smile grew. “Pretty name.”

He tossed a glance at Cass. “Right, Cass?”

“Could you stop flirting with the hostage?” Cass snapped.

The man just laughed. He didn’t care at all. “Relax. I’m just making our guest comfortable.”

Cass wasn’t having it. He yanked the man back toward the door. “Out.”

As he was being herded out, the man winked at me. “Don’t worry—I’ll be back. Try not to miss me too much, Hayley.”

The door shut behind him. And the room was quiet again.

I let out a slow breath, still feeling my heart hammering in my chest. Cass glanced at me one last time before slipping out of the room, too.