The sound of Jaige's boots scraping against the uneven stone floor filled the small house, a painful rhythm punctuated by her labored breathing. She staggered as Lorea pulled her forward by the rope bound tightly around her wrists, each tug jerking her injured shoulder. The pain was searing, shooting down her arm and into her chest with every movement.

"Move faster," Lorea barked, yanking the rope again with a sharp, impatient motion that threw Jaige into the adjacent wall.

Jaige bit down on her lip to keep from crying out, the copper tang of blood flooding her mouth as her knees buckled beneath her. "You know," she rasped through clenched teeth, "if you wanted me to bleed out before we even got there, you're doing a great job."

Lorea stopped abruptly, spinning on her heel to face Jaige. Her eyes were wild, her lips twisted into a sneer. "Keep talking, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Jaige met her glare with a defiant smirk, though the effort cost her. Her vision swam, and the edges of her world blurred, but she refused to give Lorea the satisfaction of seeing her break.

"Is this the part where you threaten to kill me?" Jaige asked, her voice dripping with mockery. "Because I have to say, it's not very original."

Lorea's hand flew out before Jaige could react, the back of it connecting with her cheek in a sharp crack that echoed through the empty house. Jaige stumbled, the force of the blow sending her crashing into the wall.

"Shut up," Lorea hissed, her breath coming in shallow bursts. She grabbed the rope again, jerking Jaige upright with a strength that belied her slender frame. "You don't get to make jokes. Not here. Not with me."

Jaige groaned as she was dragged forward again, her shoulder screaming in protest. The world tilted with every step, and the damp, musty smell of the house pressed in on her, mingling with the acrid tang of sweat and blood.

Lorea pulled her to the edge of the basement stairs, the narrow wooden staircase disappearing into darkness below. The air that wafted up from the basement was colder, heavier, and reeked of mildew.

Jaige's stomach turned as she eyed the stairs. They looked ancient, the wood warped and splintering in places. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered. "You want me to go down there?"

Lorea didn't answer. She shoved Jaige forward, the sudden force sending her stumbling onto the first step then tumbling down a few more. Her knees buckled, and she caught herself awkwardly with her bound hands, biting back a scream as pain flared through her injured shoulder.

"Move," Lorea snapped from behind, her voice colder now, devoid of the earlier hysteria.

Jaige gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand, her legs trembling as she began to descend. Each step was agony, the uneven planks groaning beneath her weight. Her hands clutched at the railing, her fingers slick with sweat as she struggled to keep her balance.

Lorea followed close behind, the sound of her steps echoing against the narrow walls. She jabbed Jaige in the back with the blunt end of the wrench she had grabbed from the kitchen, urging her downward.

"Hurry up," Lorea barked.

"I'm going as fast as I can," Jaige shot back, her voice strained. "If you wanted me to jog, maybe you—"

Lorea's laughter was sharp and bitter. "Oh, you'll jog when I tell you to. Don't think I can't motivate you."

Jaige didn't respond. Her focus was on staying upright, her vision narrowing as the darkness of the basement swallowed her. When she reached the bottom step, she hesitated, her eyes scanning the shadowy space.

The basement was small and damp, the stone walls lined with patches of moss. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, its weak light casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. In the far corner, an old washer and dryer sat forgotten, their surfaces rusted and grimy.

Lorea shoved past her, crossing the room in quick strides to flick the light switch. The bulb sputtered to life, casting a pale, sickly glow over the space.

"This will do," Lorea muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the room. She spotted an old wooden chair near the wall and dragged it to the center of the room, its legs scraping loudly against the stone floor.

"Sit," she ordered, pointing to the chair.

Jaige didn't move, her legs rooted to the spot.

"I said, sit!" Lorea shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. She grabbed the rope around Jaige's wrists and yanked her forward, forcing her into the chair.

Jaige hissed in pain as her shoulder twisted unnaturally, her body sagging against the chair as her strength gave out. Lorea moved quickly, wrapping the rope tightly around the chair's armrests and securing Jaige's wrists. The bindings cut into her skin, and she winced as the rough fibers scraped against her raw flesh.

Lorea stepped back, surveying her work with a strange mix of satisfaction and unease. She crossed her arms and stared down at Jaige, her expression hard.

"This is where you stay," Lorea said, her voice low and menacing. "No one's coming for you. Not here. Not in Sokovia."

Jaige's heart sank at the confirmation of her suspicions, but she refused to let it show. "Sokovia, huh?" she said, forcing a smirk. "Nice place. A little damp, though."

Lorea's lip curled in frustration. She grabbed the wrench from where it leaned against the wall and slammed it down onto the washer, the loud clang making Jaige flinch.

"Keep talking," Lorea said, her voice shaking with anger. "I dare you."

Jaige didn't answer, her defiance fading as the adrenaline drained from her body. Her head lolled against the back of the chair, her breaths shallow and uneven.

Lorea watched her for a moment longer before turning and heading for the stairs. "I'll be back," she said over her shoulder, her voice colder than ever.

The door slammed shut behind her, and Jaige was left alone in the damp silence of the basement. She closed her eyes, her mind racing even as exhaustion threatened to pull her under.

She didn't know how much time she had, but one thing was certain—she needed to hold on. Whether by finding a way out or simply staying alive, she had to keep going.

Because James was coming.

She just had to survive until he did.