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.

bathroom's this way," she said, walking

first attempt to stand, I fell to my knees. My

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

get my feet under me, but it wasn't until the girl came back to help me up

but at this point, I didn't

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

could, I finally relieved myself. The relief felt so good,

up!" the guard shouted when I was

almost stopping, but biological necessity

me, but I was

However, when I was pulling up my

I snapped at

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Chapter 193

bitch!" He slapped me hard, my head

it was difficult not to pass out. But when I looked up and saw his fist flying toward my face, there

happened to her?" I heard someone say as my senses

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

thick glass, sounds muffled, light each piece

eyes. My thoughts were

hand on

Wiley's voice

that, I didn't know, but the girl had a fresh bruise on her jaw and was trembling in front of me. The guard who'd hit me stood