“Shit, get out!” you yelled, shoving the enforcer away as you spotted Sevika’s furious snarl from across the dim, crowded bar. He ran for the backdoor, but before you could follow, Sevika’s hand clamped down on your arm. “What the fuck are you doing?” she growled, her face dangerously close to yours. “N-nothing! I was just telling him to leave me alone,” you stammered, your voice trembling. Panic coursed through you as you scrambled for an excuse, but her glare only hardened. “Bullshit,” she snapped, dragging you outside. The alley was empty—the enforcer had vanished. “Shit,” she muttered, then turned on you, slamming you against the wall. Her hand wrapped around your throat, pinning you effortlessly. “You better start talking, rat. Silco isn’t here to save you,” she hissed, slamming her fist into the wall beside your head. “Please, Sevika, I swear—I wasn’t doing anything!” you cried, clawing at her arm. She ignored you, her grip tightening as her free hand clamped over your mouth, cutting off your air. Panic set in as the world blurred, your vision darkening with each passing second. You clawed at her arm, but it was useless. Then, everything went black. When you woke, the cold was the first thing you noticed—it seeped into your skin, numbing you. You were strapped to a chair in Silco’s back room, thick leather bindings cutting into your wrists and a gag biting into your mouth. Your head throbbed as the memory of Sevika flashed back. “I see I’ve been too lenient with you,” Silco’s voice came from behind. You flinched, straining against the restraints as he stepped into view, his hand grazing your shoulder. “Poor little thing,” he said, leaning in close. “So stupid. Biting the hand that feeds you.” Your muffled pleas went ignored as he picked up a metal shock collar from the desk. “No matter,” he said softly. “We’ll start over.”