Ethan woke up to a scream that shook him to his core. Even before his eyes flew open, he knew it belonged to Hanna. He shot up off the mattress, looking around the dark room frantically for her. He spotted her immediately.16Please respect copyright.PENANAXqnLZtCjJf
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One of the dealers, a man he hadn't met before, had brought her over to the other side of the room. She was lying on the floor, still nude, and he was standing above her. She looked weak and vulnerable but otherwise unhurt as far as he could see.16Please respect copyright.PENANAUisN5VGavy
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Ethan noticed they'd put a collar on her and his anger flared. He went to go to her but he was forced to stop halfway as his leg was held back, his ankle was still chained to the wall. No matter what he did, no matter how much he pulled, he couldn't make it anywhere near them. The skin around his ankle had broken, despite Hanna's makeshift treatment.16Please respect copyright.PENANAxBMYholfk2
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Ethan glared daggers at her torturer from his vantage point. He ignored the trickle of blood flowing down his leg.16Please respect copyright.PENANA9zfwOFPqe6
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"Do I have your attention?" The man spoke in a deep voice.16Please respect copyright.PENANAIaskVa83zY
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Ethan simply continued glaring at the man. Unsatisfied, the man hit some button on the remote and Hanna cried out in pain.16Please respect copyright.PENANAQyDt6b970G
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"Stop! Yes!" Ethan yelled, reacting immediately. Not like I can do anything else from over here, he thought grimly. He watched Hanna grit her teeth as she looked at the floor.16Please respect copyright.PENANAoQRilBOwZu
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"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to tell me what I want to know or she's going to get it lot worse," their captor explained with pleasure. "That little demo was nothing." He smirked at the two prisoners.16Please respect copyright.PENANAMxKa3h9wBE
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Ethan nodded cooperatively, trying to avoid Hanna getting another shock.16Please respect copyright.PENANANk0Qr6eNyq
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The older man's smirk widened. "Maybe we should reconsider training after all."16Please respect copyright.PENANARLbEZv11zu
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Ethan met Hanna's eyes, noticing them narrow at the comment. They were clear, determined. She's going to do something, he thought. Then the look was gone, replaced with fear that he suspected wasn't entirely true.16Please respect copyright.PENANAAEzmoPbUkG
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"First question, where are the other Charax hiding o ut?" The interrogator asked him sternly.16Please respect copyright.PENANAbxqLD2Wp2B
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Ethan honestly had no idea where any other Charax were hiding on Earth, he'd said as much earlier. He doubted their new torturer was going to accept that answer. Ethan knew what was going to happen next but he was left with no other option. "I don't know," he gritted out in response.16Please respect copyright.PENANAs6jzNNliwO
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"Wrong answer." Their captor dialled up the collar until Hanna cried out in pain.16Please respect copyright.PENANA1M4FpoPCBe
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Ethan flinched at the sound. "Stop it!" Ethan yelled as he pulled on his shackled leg, ignoring the pain. The man didn't stop. He closed his eyes, trying to block the sound out as he was forced to listen to her screams a while longer.16Please respect copyright.PENANAQpo88GLTj6
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Ethan wished it was anyone but her there. Her voice was triggering something primal in him. He wanted to rip this man's throat out so badly. The feeling was so strong that he was having trouble thinking straight, let alone coming up with a plan to get out of here.16Please respect copyright.PENANAYuglq2vrmp
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His head was spinning so much that he ended up collapsing to his knees. "Please stop," Ethan begged quietly.16Please respect copyright.PENANArijlX3HgjG
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The man finally turned it off, a satisfied smile plastered on his face. "I told them this would work. Now answer the question."16Please respect copyright.PENANAVTpTUTwpwl
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Ethan watched Hanna go still and silent once the collar stopped shocking her. Her long hair was covering her face so he couldn't see her expression. He hoped she was alright. He hoped she would be alright.16Please respect copyright.PENANAxcT1EdNRnJ
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Hanna knew she needed to be patient. She knew the moment would come. She knew playing up the pain would make him drop his guard, now that his attention was on Ethan and not her, she had a chance.16Please respect copyright.PENANAqn0YsYdcZL
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She shot up like a viper and hit the dealer in the face with all her strength. He dropped the remote as his hands flew to his face. She ignored the device and grabbed at the knife strapped to his thigh, pulling it free. His hands were covering his face but she was aiming for his throat.16Please respect copyright.PENANA1bIi8ZR3vm
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Ethan watched across the room in shock the scene that was over in less than a minute. The man who'd been their captor a moment ago lay dead there on the floor, his throat cleanly slit with his own knife. His brain was failing to process how his coworker had killed someone nearly twice her size so easily.16Please respect copyright.PENANAIcaU9kjx7h
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Hanna, seeming unconcerned with the splatter of blood on her skin, went straight to searching the body. She quickly found the key ring and headed over towards Ethan. She let a tiny smile grace her lips, the only celebration she'd get for that small victory.16Please respect copyright.PENANA1ek9a5QmLj
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As soon as she got close, Ethan grabbed at her, pulling her in. He looked over her naked body unabashedly, checking for new injuries. "Are you okay?"16Please respect copyright.PENANA3Jl04Uo7Bf
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Hanna took a small step back. "I'm fine." She assured him with a small smile. She started examining the stolen keyring.16Please respect copyright.PENANAPHtN07ewYq
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Not entirely believing her, he checked her over himself. He moved her hair away from the collar to examine it. She had some burns on her neck. He let out a hiss of anger when he saw this.16Please respect copyright.PENANApXAQnoYtZw
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"Let it go," Hanna told him sternly. "No point in being angry at a dead man." She passed him the keys. It took him a while but he found the one for this collar. She heard a click then it fell to the floor.16Please respect copyright.PENANAkSo3dRS3GM
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Now with the collar removed, Ethan was staring at the burns, which were starting to blister. He felt sick to his stomach. He needed to look away but couldn't at the same time.16Please respect copyright.PENANASlcIvtnuVx
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Noticing how still he was, Hanna gently pried the keys out of his hand. She went to work on the shackle. She went through the keys until she found the one that fit in the lock. A second later, his leg was free.16Please respect copyright.PENANAupjmMrPr2h
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"Dammit," Hanna muttered, looking at his bloody ankle.16Please respect copyright.PENANAexSnEktGaJ
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Ethan started tying the bloody strips of cloth into a makeshift bandage. "It's shallow, I'll be able to walk on it."16Please respect copyright.PENANAaUiaJBqYb5
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"It's running I'm more concerned about," Hanna said worriedly. "Otherwise, how are you feeling?"16Please respect copyright.PENANAV6aXUOMmim
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"Better, not dizzy," Ethan answered, rubbing his forehead.16Please respect copyright.PENANAMQGDklvXmF
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"Lightheaded?" Hanna studied him, observing how his symptoms had gone down, how he appeared to be stronger now.16Please respect copyright.PENANAerIM32kMnr
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Ethan finished up the bandage. It was a mess but hopefully it wouldn't have to last long anyways. "A bit. It's manageable."16Please respect copyright.PENANAy0fF5j783w
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Hanna smiled broadly. Step one complete, she thought. "Let's get out of here then."