Page 5 of Code of Captivity

“Give her some water,” I said to Viktor.

Viktor held her by her chin as he trickled some water into her mouth. She began to gasp and quickly drank the water. Itran down her chin, but it didn't matter because she was already soaked. Her dark hair had the same reddish tinge as her brown eyes.

I dragged a chair from the corner, scraping it along the concrete floor until I was close enough to intimidate her but far enough not to vomit from the smell. Viktor moved the bottle away, and it took her a moment to close her mouth. Her cognitive and motor skills would be fully functional in a few hours.

I waited patiently until her eyes flickered open, but she frowned and narrowed her eyes at the lighting before scrunching her face up. The tube lights were old and not particularly bright, but after remaining in darkness for three days, they must seem as bright as the sun.

“Name,” I said.

“Ania Zaitseva,” she said as her eyes began to open.

“Why did you hack into my data?”

“It was for a job. I had no idea that you were the target,” she said before looking away uncomfortably at the floor.

“Who gave you the job?”

“Someone called the Fox,” she said, glancing up. “I-I don't know their identity.”

I glanced at Viktor, who was standing behind her. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back until she struggled against the rope around her wrists.

“Argh. Please. I swear to you, I don't know who it was. They told me exactly where to look and what to download. It is someoneyouknow, not me.”

“The great White Rabbit couldn't find an identity. I find that hard to believe,” I said, watching her struggle and gasp in pain.

“They never logged on again. I tried my best to track the person down,” she said before closing her eyes again but began to pant through the pain.

I raised my hand, and Viktor released her hair.

“What did you do with my stolen files?” I asked, watching her. This time, she hesitated before wincing as she spoke.

“I kept a copy for insurance. Nothing else,” she whispered with her chin resting on her chest.

“I expect this back,” I said tightly, trying to control my anger.

“It’s stitched inside my bag.”

I glanced at Viktor, who nodded and assured me that her bag was secure.

“Why didn't you beg for mercy in the cell?” I asked softly, leaning over to examine her with my elbows resting on my legs.

She raised her head slowly, blinking a few times before she stared back at me.

“How could I beg for mercy when I know you have none?” she said just as softly.

I sat back in my chair until the old wood creaked, studying her. There wasn't a single tear in her eyes. She wasn't begging me for her life.

She was either a brave or stupidkrolik.

Time will tell which of the two she was.

Chapter 4

Ania

I stared into his cold blue eyes. They almost made me shiver because I had never seen such lifeless eyes. The man looked immaculate. There wasn't a hair out of place, not on his head or his professionally trimmed beard. He wore a dark navy suit with a deep burgundy tie, reminding me of stale blood. The crisp white shirt beneath the tie reminded me of how filthy I was in my current state. I was grateful for the fresh breeze coming from the open windows.

Adrik Ilyin was living proof of how monsters could reside within a pristine exterior. I made the mistake of looking into his eyes again. They were utterly devoid of light. This man had red flags written all over him.

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