54 Interrogation with Bias

I force my eyelids open with effort and see the dim half-light of an unfamiliar room. It’s hard to tell what time of day it is, since heavy blackout curtains hang over the massive windows.

My head is splitting, my eyes are watering, and my mouth feels like a full-blown desert. My body feels like it weighs a ton and is glued to the bed.

I try to move, but feel some painful discomfort in my arm. Looking closer, I see a catheter fixed into the bend of my elbow and an IV stand next to the bed. Nothing’s being pumped into me now, unlike when I was sleeping.

Strange, but at first glance the room doesn’t look like a hospital ward at all. A giant double bed with dark sheets, a huge TV on the wall, some painting, one black door and another semi-transparent one leading to a walk-in closet, a bedside table with a glass of life-saving water on it… my gaze locks onto it immediately.

I decide to quench my thirst first and, with weak hands, start reaching for the glass. I hear someone let out a heavy sigh in the room and instantly turn my head that way.

In the corner by the curtains stood a soft armchair, and in it sat Nazar, pissed off like a thousand devils.

He was staring at me, tense and unblinking. Only the tight clench of his jaw gave away what he was really feeling.

Slowly, my memory started coming back, tossing in some very unpleasant images. Yesterday, I was completely off the rails! Nazar dragged me into his den, which scared the hell out of me. But I woke up here, alive and apparently unharmed, in his bed, most likely wearing his gray T-shirt and definitely without any underwear.

I felt a bit embarrassed and decided to hide behind the glass of cool water, slowly sipping the life-giving liquid. But the water ran out way too fast, and I had to face the pissed-off demon sitting opposite me.

And honestly, it’s his own damn fault! He shouldn’t have kidnapped me! And by the way, all of this is because of him, that lying bastard!

"How long was I out?", I try to feel out the situation.

"Almost a day," the brunette clipped coldly, still watching me without a break. "The sun’s almost set now. But I’ll be asking the questions here!"

"I need to go home," I ignore his jab. I’m not about to explain shit to him or dance to his twisted tune.

"Like hell you are going anywhere until I get all my answers!", the asshole states firmly, earning a savage glare from me.

"Thanks a lot for helping me yesterday, sure. But don’t you think you’re overdoing it?!" I snap back, getting angry.

"No, I don’t."

"This is kidnapping!" I protest.

"This is a necessary measure!" Nazar barks, slamming the armrest. "You could’ve died yesterday if I hadn’t been there! You passed out and could’ve cracked your skull somewhere! Or choked on your own vomit! A hundred other “or” could’ve happened in that state!"

"I threw up?" I don’t remember that.

"Not this time, but that’s common when you take that kind of shit! But that’s not the point. How long have you been taking this crap?"

"Not as long as you might think," I glare at him. "That was only the third time," I hear Nazar exhale in relief. Is he really that worried? Why?

"You get hooked on that shit fast, but in your case I showed up just in time. Why were you taking it?"

Because you “showed up just in time”! If not for you and your fake perfection, I wouldn’t have started at all!

Like a complete idiot, I was suffering, eaten alive by guilt and a bunch of other shitty feelings… for nothing! I just wanted to forget, to not feel the crap in my soul, so I went for something that stupid.

Because of him! That mocking idiot! But no fucking way I’m giving him the satisfaction of hearing that!

"Wanted some variety," I snort angrily and see his gaze darken, his hand clenching the armrest.

"I’ll give you variety," he grits through his teeth without blinking. Oh yeah? What exactly are you gonna “give”? I don’t say it out loud. "Who gave you that shit?"

"Found it on the floor," I go defensive, crossing my arms, and hear Nazar exhale sharply. I swear I saw his teeth bare.

So handsome and dangerous…

Hey, Anya! Stay in touch with reality!