Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

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Chapter 193

Xena's POV

I tried pushing the chair across the floor, but the back legs caught in a drain. If I tried again, I'd probably fall over. I attempted to reach anyone through the mind link, but no response came. I called or Una, but she was gone too.

Whatever drug they'd given me definitely contained wolfsbane. My heart seized with agony, like thousands of tiny knives stabbing inside me. Damn, whoever invented or discovered that poison deserved a special place in hell. My limbs no longer felt like my own; every tiny movement was like trying to move a mountain. Eventually, exhaustion won, and I blacked out again.

The sound of the metal door jerked me from sleep. The hardest thing I've ever done was lifting my head at that moment. The pure burning pain that came from lifting my head from a completely reclined position was excruciating. My neck muscles screamed in protest, the agony traveling down my spine like someone had lit my nerves on fire. I wanted to scream, but my throat was too dry to even force out a groan.

I managed to crack my eyes open as a little girl walked in, followed by a warrior- looking guy with a gun.

"I-I brought you food, and I'll let you use the bathroom. If you run, he'll shoot you and me," she said, trembling as she approached.

She looked about twelve, but her body-at least what I could see of it was covered

in bruises. She wore what looked like a burlap sack for clothing.

There was fear in her eyes, but also numbness, that hollow look only people who've seen too much suffering have.

When she unlocked the chains holding me, I didn't respond. As soon as my arms and ankles were free, I crashed to the floor.

"Oh, shit..." I groaned.

this way,"

first attempt to stand, I fell to my knees. My arms couldn't support me, and I faceplanted into the

taste the dusty earth mixed with blood in my mouth. Humiliation and helplessness spread through me like poison. I'd been weakened to the point where

until the girl came back to

door, but at this point,

hadn't been cleaned in years, with cobwebs spanning across it and rat

The relief felt so good, but my legs

the guard shouted

contracted in fear, almost

interrupted. Anger and fear twisted inside me, but I was

so I continued. However, when I was pulling up

done," I snapped at

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Chapter 193

bitch!" He slapped me hard, my

looked up and saw his fist flying toward my face, there was no resisting unconsciousness

to her?" I heard someone say as my senses

but I could only focus on the pain in my head. The voices

to exist behind thick glass, sounds muffled, light

thoughts were

on my shoulder, shaking

Wiley's

chair. How they'd managed that, I didn't know, but the girl had