Rise From Ashes
The ants swarmed through the netting and bit through the cloth, a thousand tiny needles of fire sinking into his palms and wrists, climbing, biting, climbing.
"Aaaah! Oh God! Oh God, please! Please, God, make it stop!"
"God won't help you," Victoria said softly, resting her chin on her knee. Her voice held no cruelty, only a distant, tired honesty. "He certainly didn't help me." She watched a bead of sweat run down his temple. "But don't worry. I'll make sure you get at least half of what I got."