ι'м ησт qυιтє нυмαη, вυт ι'м ησт qυιтє α мα¢нιηє {Rue}

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron pursed his lips. He hadn't said anything, and he didn't intend to. He needed to come up with a plan to get them out of there... preferably without letting on his shifting abilities.

"We'll see about that," the driver said. They turned a corner and pulled up to an old factory. The men got out and pulled Aron and Valerie out of the van. The driver came around to their side and they got their first good look at his face. Handsome, middle-aged, with a thin layer of stubble on his chin. His blue eyes had a cruel gleam to them, and there was no mistaking that this man was ruthless. "Remember this place, Aron?" he said. "This is where you murdered my sister in your little escape stunt."

Aron gritted his teeth. "I didn't murder her."

[assassinrue]

Valerie glanced at Aron but didn't give her surprise away. So. Lots of murderers and creepy people. Cool.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He stared at Aron for a few seconds before turning away. "Bring them inside," he said.

The men began dragging them toward the factory. Once inside, they forced them into two chairs that had been set up in the center of the open space. "This is very... well, I was going to name a stupid crime show but I'm afraid I don't watch much TV." He glanced over at Valerie. "Does Criminal Minds or NCIS have ridiculous interrogations meant to be frightening?"

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged. Isaiah didn't watch TV and she was never home without him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Shut up," the leader snapped.

"Why are you doing this, Kenneth?" Aron asked. "I mean, why now? It's been three years since I left your pa--organization."

"It took three years to prepare and then to find you," Kenneth said. "New York is a big city, after all."

[assassinrue]

Valerie looked dead at Aron this time. He had definitely been about to say pack. What the hell?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"So kill me," Aron said. "Why the interrogation?"

"Because word on the street is you've been around, and I don't mean bed hopping. You know things, and I want you to tell me them."

"Could you be more specific?" Aron asked. "I can't tell you everything I know."

[assassinrue]

"And I know nothing." Valerie said cheekily. The men all looked at her. She shrugged and gave them an innocent look, as if they were all just friends chatting, and she wasn't about to be tortured.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron rolled her eyes. Keep your mouth shut, he thought. He might be able to get them out of this yet, but he needed to think. Then again, her talking stalled them, gave him time. "She's right. She's a bit ignorant," he said. Getting an argument started between them... could be a bad idea or a great one.

[assassinrue]

Valerie instantly felt like murdering him but she realized what he was thinking. She bit her bottom lip and shrugged, immediately dumbing herself down. "He's right. Total idiot." She tipped her head in stupid ways.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Kenneth narrowed his eyes and strode over so he was standing right in front of her. He smiled and ran a finger across her cheek. "He does like the dumb ones," he said. He turned to one of his lackies and held out his hand. "Knife."

[assassinrue]

And so it would begin. Valerie inhaled deeply, prepared to scream as loud as she could, prepared not to scream at all. A whimper, yes a whimper was appropriate.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron closed his eyes, his teeth gritted so hard his jaw hurt. Think, you worthless dolt, think! Kenneth was right. He might be selfish, but he couldn't stand other people in pain. He knew what real pain felt like.

One of the men handed Kenneth a knife--a long one, closer to a dagger really. He bent down in front of Valerie. "I'm truly sorry about this. You weren't involved in any of this until he decided to befriend you." Then he ran the blade along her bicep, slicing deep into her flesh.

[assassinrue]

A scream. It was definitely a blood curdling scream that escaped her lips. She hadn't meant to make so much sound but she couldn't seem to stop herself

[assassinrue]

And suddenly, she thought of Isaiah. Her dear lovely Isaiah and she knew by now he would be calling for her. What would he think when she didn't come?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"No, stop!" Aron shouted. When he didn't, he let out a wordless bellow that filled the room. "Stop it, damn it! I'll tell you everything."

[assassinrue]

Suddenly the source of the pain left her but her arm seared. She panted heavily, trying to breathe the pain away

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Kenneth turned away from her and narrowed his eyes at Aron. "Ready to talk, then?" he asked.

"Let her go, and then I'll talk," Aron said coldly.

Kenneth laughed. "Not a chance, man. You tell me what I want to know, and then she can scurry her pretty little a** out of here."

[assassinrue]

She could turn. She could rip his arm off. Without even realizing it a feral growl whispered from her throat. She hoped no one heard it....

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron let out a shaky breath. "Fine. Ask your questions. But do it quickly so I can get her to a hospital."