22. Josie
22
JOSIE
I clench my jaw, refusing to let Grokus see the terror coursing through my veins. His massive form looms over me, tusks gleaming in the dim light of his lair. The stench of sweat and malice hangs heavy in the air, making my stomach churn. I force myself to meet his cruel gaze.
"Sarod's little pet," he sneers, running a calloused finger along my cheek. I jerk away, chains rattling, the cold metal biting into my wrists. "Not so brave now, are you?"
I summon every ounce of defiance I can muster. "Go fuck yourself," I spit, my voice raw but steady.
His backhand comes swift and hard, snapping my head to the side. Pain explodes across my face, stars dancing in my vision. I taste blood, metallic and warm. But I swallow the cry that threatens to escape, biting the inside of my cheek until I'm sure I won't make a sound. I won't give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream. Instead, I slowly turn back to face him, my eyes burning with hatred and determination.
As Grokus paces back and forth, his heavy footsteps echoing in the dank chamber, I strain to catch his muttered words. Revenge, teaching Sarod a lesson - it's all a jumbled mess of threats and curses. I've become used to his incoherent rambling at this point.
My heart races as my eyes dart around the room, desperately seeking an escape. There—a small window near the ceiling catches my attention. It's barely big enough for me to squeeze through, but it's something. A glimmer of possibility. If I could just reach it...
But the chains. Gods, the chains. Cold metal bites into my wrists and ankles, the icy touch a constant reminder of my captivity. They anchor me to the wall with brutal efficiency, leaving me helpless and exposed. I test them quietly, wincing as they dig deeper into my flesh. Even if I could somehow break free, Grokus's watchful gaze never strays far. His beady eyes flick back to me every few seconds, filled with a mixture of cruel satisfaction and barely contained rage.
Sarod will come, I tell myself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline. He has to. The memory of his fierce protectiveness at the arena gives me a flicker of hope, warming me from the inside out. I remember the fire in his eyes, the way he stood between me and danger without hesitation. I cling to that image, using it to fuel my determination. I won't give up. I can't. I have to stay strong, stay alert, and be ready for any opportunity. Somehow, someway, I'll find a way out of this. I have to believe that, or I'll go crazy.
I start formulating a plan in my head, my mind racing through possibilities. If I can somehow distract Grokus, maybe loosen these chains... There has to be a weak link, something I can exploit. I scan the room, trying not to be too obvious about it, searching for anything that might give me an edge.
"Don't get any ideas," Grokus growls, his beady eyes narrowing as he notices my wandering gaze. He yanks on the chain with his meaty green hand, jerking me forward so hard I nearly lose my balance. "You're not going anywhere until Sarod comes crawling. And trust me, he will."
I glare up at him, mustering every ounce of defiance I can. "He'll destroy you," I spit out, my voice filled with venom. "You have no idea what you've done, Grokus. When Sarod gets here, you'll wish you'd never laid eyes on me."
Grokus laughs, a cruel sound that sends shivers down my spine. It's a guttural, menacing noise that echoes off the walls, making me feel even smaller. "We'll see about that, little human. We'll see." His yellow eyes gleam with malicious delight, clearly relishing my predicament.
I swallow hard, but force myself to meet his gaze. "He's already beat your ass once. What makes you think he won't do it again?" The words come out stronger than I feel, fueled by a desperate bravado.
Grokus pauses, his expression darkening as he sends me a glare that could melt stone. His massive fists ball up, knuckles cracking ominously. "What the fuck did you say to me, you little bitch?" he snarls, taking a threatening step closer.
I huff out a breath, my heart racing. I don't have anything to lose anymore, so I might as well go all in. "Sarod can wipe the floor with you," I spit out. "And he'll do it again once he realizes that you have me?—"
Before I can finish, his fist collides with my abdomen, knocking all of the wind out of me. I double over, gasping and choking as pain explodes through my midsection. Tears spring to my eyes, but I blink them back furiously. I'm not too surprised that he's subjecting me to this - he's a brute, through and through. As I struggle to catch my breath, I silently pray that Sarod will come soon, before Grokus decides to do worse.
I grit my teeth, fighting back tears as pain radiates through my body. Grokus's fists are like hammers, each blow threatening to shatter my resolve. But I won't break. I can't. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth and my tongue sweeps over the cut that has sliced along my bottom lip. Still, I force myself to meet his gaze, refusing to show weakness.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunt, tasting blood on my lips. My words come out slurred, but I push on. "No wonder Sarod kicked your ass. You hit like a little bitch."
Grokus's eyes flash with rage, a vein pulsing in his temple. He grabs my throat, meaty fingers digging into my flesh as he slams me against the wall. The impact knocks what little air I have left from my lungs. "You dare mock me, human filth?" he snarls, his foul breath hot on my face.
I wheeze out a laugh, even as black spots dance in my vision. My chained hands claw uselessly at his grip, but I refuse to beg. "You're pathetic," I choke out. "Kidnapping me 'cause you're jealous of everything Sarod has accomplished. You can't compete with him, can you? Not on the zyrphix pitch, not anywhere else."
His grip tightens, his meaty fingers digging deeper into my flesh. I can feel my pulse throbbing against his palm, each beat a desperate attempt to keep me alive.
I gasp for air, my lungs burning, but I refuse to back down. "What's wrong, Grokus?" I manage to wheeze out, a defiant smirk playing on my lips. "Scared of a little human? Can't handle the truth?"
With a roar that shakes the very walls, he picks me up by the neck. I slam into the wall behind me with a sickening thud. Pain explodes through my ribs and back, radiating outward in waves of agony. For a moment, the world spins, but I grit my teeth and force myself to my feet, swaying slightly.
"You think you're tough?" I spit a mouthful of blood at his feet, watching it splatter across his boots. The metallic taste lingers on my tongue, a reminder of my own mortality. "You're nothing but a coward. A big, green coward who can't stand in Sarod's shadow."
Grokus charges at me like a raging bull, his face contorted with fury. He swings wildly, his massive fists cutting through the air. I dodge the first punch, feeling the whoosh of air as it barely misses my face. But the second catches me square in the stomach. I double over, wheezing, as all the air rushes out of my lungs. My vision blurs, but I refuse to fall. Not yet. Not to him.
"Not so brave now, are you?" he sneers, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. The pain shoots through my scalp, but I grit my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me whimper.
I meet his gaze, defiant. My vision's blurry, but I can still see the rage in his eyes. "Still braver than you'll ever be," I spit out, tasting blood on my lips.
The beating continues, a relentless storm of fists and fury. I lose track of time, my world narrowing to flashes of pain and Grokus's twisted face. Each blow feels like it's tearing me apart, but I won't break. I can't. His knuckles connect with my ribs, and I hear something crack. The pain is blinding, but I swallow my scream.
Finally, he steps back, breathing hard. His chest heaves, and sweat drips down his green skin. I slump against the wall, every inch of me screaming in agony. But I refuse to cry out. My body feels like it's on fire, but I force myself to stay conscious, to keep my eyes locked on him. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me collapse.
"Where's your precious Sarod now?" Grokus taunts, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his meaty hand. His breath comes in ragged pants, testament to the effort he's exerted in beating me.
The question hits harder than any punch, twisting in my gut like a knife. Hours have passed, each minute stretching into an eternity of pain and fear. Why hasn't Sarod come? The doubt I've been fighting all this time creeps in, poisonous and cold, seeping into my bones.
What if he doesn't care? The thought makes my chest tighten. What if I'm just another human to him, not worth the trouble or risk? I try to push the idea away, but it clings to me, persistent as a shadow.
I close my eyes, feeling hope slip away like sand through my fingers. The darkness behind my eyelids offers no comfort, only amplifying the ache in my heart. Maybe I was wrong about Sarod, about everything. Maybe this is what I get for daring to hope, for thinking I could find something real in this brutal world. Maybe I'm truly alone, just as I've always been.