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Z/JACK'S POV
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Her words carried some truth. Killing only her would not be enough to take care of this rebellious organization. I needed to take it down right from its roots.
Roots...
Where were the roots?

All I had been told was that Annie played a major role in the game. They never mentioned the man she had been asking about. Who, coincidentally, shared the same name as I had.
Coincidence?
Or was she trying to throw me off?
She seemed to know me.
Or perhaps did she know the 'me' before the 'accident'?

What kind of person was I to have her hate me so deeply?
I tried to recall any incident with her in it as I stared down at her crossed expression. But nothing came up. The only impression I had of her was the strange image of a younger version of her with black curly hair. Had I met her when she was younger? Or had they presented me with her younger picture while I was being trained?
The answer only made my head hurt the more I tried to recall.

She wriggled again, pushing me to hold her wrists down with a little more pressure.
"Fuck!" Her groan made me frown, so I lessened the force without making it obvious.
But, why?

"What do you intend to do to Sara?"

"Hf!" She huffed, coincidentally blowing aside a loose strand of hair on her face. "You just said she's not your-"

"Answer me!" I demanded gripping her chin.

She glared up at me, daring me to do my worst. Such an unruly attitude. It made me want to give her a good disciplinary spanking till she wailed for mercy. At least it had worked on Sara.

"You... Let go!" She spat a command fiercely. Clearly irritated that I was touching her.
And just like that, she let a weakness slip and presented it to me on a golden platter.

I chuckled glancing to the side.
'Since I can't kill you right now, I'll just have to use more deceptive ways to trap you. My mission has temporarily changed. From now on, you're mine to...snare.'

"You know what? I find you quite-" I paused my whisper, lowering my face down as close as it could get to hers, "-adorable when you're mad."

Dense panic suddenly filled her brown eyes, accompanied by her body growing rigid. Her suprasternal notch dipped even further, betraying the fear that must have been blowing inside her.
Good.
That was the reaction I wanted.

She intended to whip her head to the side to avoid me, but my hand on her chin allowed no movement.
"G-get away from m-m-me."

I laughed, blowing warm air on her face. "Not so tough anymore hm?" I teased in a whisper, just before I brushed my lips on hers.
Her entire body instantly felt like a board from the tension caused by the light kiss.
Her eyes popped out and ended up seemingly double their original size.

Encouraged by the negative response from her, I pressed my lips hard against hers but she quickly bit hers shut, blocking me.
The hand on her chin exerted some force on her jaw to pry it open, but she only kept fighting back and shaking her head violently.
Her helplessness.
Her rebellious nature.
They somehow made me feel thrilled.

I wanted to conquer her to satisfy the voice in my head whispering, 'She's yours'.

"I'm in no rush," I whispered releasing her face. "We have all the time in the world to...know each other." With those words, I let go of her wrists to pull myself off of her slender body.
I caught the shock scorching in her eyes after she hopped on her feet as well. But she couldn't maintain her gaze due to reasons unknown to me.
All I could tell was that she was flustered and suddenly wary of me.

Her right hand was clinging to the top of her V-cut neck, making it too obvious what she was thinking.

I could only laugh.
"I do not plan to take advantage of a lonely girl like yourself. When the time comes, you will present yourself to me willingly."
My words seemed to have an effect on her from the way she turned to bolt out of the room.
Immense satisfaction flooded my chest from the little victory.
I wasn't one of the good guys.
Heck! I never felt as if good guys existed.
Only evil dressing itself in different shades to appear presentable. But at least I felt there was a line I couldn't cross despite my unholy existence.

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ANNIE'S POV
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Night again.
The distant hooting of owls floated through the air, reigning supreme over any other creature of the dark.
They kept me company when the world was hibernating. Sang to me when my mind was in distress. And I, I listened keenly, hoping to escape the prison my thoughts and memories that had been haunting me.

The vivid image of Zack kissing me was all I could see whenever I shut my eyes. But it didn't feel the same as when he had kissed me months ago. No.
The kiss had been tender, a fraction similar to when Jack had kissed me a million times.
And when he pinned me beneath him, I couldn't help but feel a familiar longing.
Maybe it was because of my physical condition, or maybe it was my mental health deteriorating from the torment of not having Jack around.

This new torture snatched the little mind rest the insomnia usually left behind out of mercy, leaving me fully awake. But even the closing of my eyes was not doing me any good.

I pulled the duvet to my mouth and bit it as hard as I could picturing Zack's arm in its place.
When the fabric began to irritate my teeth, I kicked it fully off of me and sighed out loud just before sliding out of the grand empty bed.

The coldness of the floor miraculously transmitted life up my sensors till it reached my brain.
'Torture him', was the only brilliant thought that clicked as a solution to my uneasiness.
If I could inflict pain on Zack, I would be the one on the satisfied end. This would help me regain my esteem after he had half-destroyed it earlier in the day.

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