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," she

attempt to stand, I fell to my knees. My

the dusty earth mixed with blood in my mouth. Humiliation and helplessness spread through me

I managed to get my feet under me, but it wasn't until the girl came back to help me up that I could hobble

no door, but at this point,

cleaned in years, with cobwebs spanning across it

I finally relieved myself. The relief felt so good, but my

the guard shouted

bladder contracted in fear, almost stopping, but biological necessity

twisted inside me, but I

when I was pulling up

done," I

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Chapter 193

He slapped me hard, my head

out. But when I looked up

her?" I heard someone say

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

world seemed to exist behind thick glass, sounds muffled,

eyes. My thoughts were like a shattered

hand on my

Wiley's voice brought me

but what I saw surprised me. I was back in the chair. How they'd managed that, I didn't know, but the girl had a fresh bruise on her jaw