Chapter 71: Bargaining For Freedom

Chapter 71: Bargaining For Freedom Athena screamed in pain as red hot nails were left to cool on her naked thighs that were yet to recover from the onslaught Heronica had unleashed on them before. She tried shaking off the nails, but Heron chose to hold the nails in their painful position with a wooden stick. "How do you feel?" He asked, smiling like a psychopath having extreme fun. Athena said nothing. She rather glared at him hotly, as she took in deep breaths to quell the pain ransacking her entire being. She felt lightheaded too. But Heron hated to be ignored. He pressed the nails deeper, laughing evilly when Athena hissed, when her eyes burned with unshed tears. "I feel okay." She finally managed to say through gritted teeth, still staring at him in anger. Heron chuckled nervously then. He has never seen a woman like this. For hours they have tried breaking her spirit, yet she had stayed with her fury, with those beautiful eyes flashing with anger. He stood up from his kneeling position and turned toward the exit door. There was no need to waste time here. The boss had been right when he mentioned that the only thing that could break the woman was the rape that would be starting soon. Heron brought out an energy drink from his pocket and took a gulp. He had to be ready to do the deed, so that he wouldn’t be laughed at by the others. "Hello Heron..." Heron furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He knew who he was calling him, the tired pained voice was a giveaway, but still he didn’t believe it. She was in pain, and yet she had stored his name in her mind? Of course he didn’t care for his safety because she was surely dying today—no one could find them, their location was remote. It was her strength that bothered him. How did she even have the willpower to speak? He decided to humor her. He turned around and crossed his lanky arms across his chest. "Did you call me?" Athena managed a nod, hoping her strength would last till her rescuers arrived. She could literally feel her reserve becoming empty. "What do you want? Water??" Heron hid his evil smile as he reached for the container of ’water’. Finally, she had succumbed. He thought, picking the container. Inside the container was a liquid that would make her so horny that she would beg for sex. Because, the gang weren’t rapists after all! But his hopes were dashed when Athena shook her head. "No, I don’t want water. I want your attention.." Heron scowled at plans failed again, and walked to Athena. He slapped her cheek out of frustration. "You must drink it, whether you like it or not!" Athena chuckled snidely. "It’s not water then..." Heron shut his eyes in anger, grasping for control. This woman was really asking for it. Inhaling deeply to let go of his fury, because the boss had the final say, he squatted in front of her. "What do you want?" Athena inhaled sharply, causing pain to intensely rocket her sides. Her eyes felt heavy, and she knew it was because of the blood she had lost already. She might slip into unconsciousness anytime soon. "How much will you take to free me? Call any amount." There was pindrop silence in the room for a few seconds before Heron laughed boisterously, clutching his stomach. He paused at intervals to survey Athena, before laughing again. He couldn’t believe it. A captive making a bargain? "Oh my god! I swear you are the most interesting captive we’ve had. You think you can buy my loyalty with money?" Athena shook her head with great effort. "I don’t want to buy your loyalty. I don’t need it. I want to buy my freedom. How much does it cost?" Heron didn’t laugh this time around. He only stared at the woman, whom he thought he would love to know, but circumstances had made the wish impossible. If only the woman hadn’t offended the boss’s lady Morgana. He finally chuckled, amused. "Do you think you can afford me?" "Name a price." "A hundred million dollars." Athena nodded. "I’ll need my phone to make a transfer..." Heron’s mouth fell open in shock. Is she being serious? He stood up and shifted away, evaluating Athena from head to toe. Even though she was naked, embarrassed in the worst way possible, she was still making demands, as if he hadn’t poured nails on her thighs mere minutes ago. "You are an enigma..." He spoke, as his eyes searched for her phone. Of course, he wouldn’t free her. But who says he wouldn’t torture her to obtain as much money as he wanted? The phone wasn’t in the room. "Let me get your phone from the other room..." He muttered as he walked toward the exit door. He forgot to shut the door however, as he left. And so Athena could hear clearly what was being said in the next room. "Do you know where her phone is?" "Why are you asking, Heron..." "Just humor me, Heronica..." "I don’t know. I think boss is with it." A pause, where Athena strained to listen, to glean more information. Then she heard the voice of another in the room. "Is she still awake with that defiant look in her eyes?" A pause, before she heard Heron’s voice again. "Yes, she still is. She still answers ’okay’, when I ask her how she is feeling." Heronica laughed. "She wouldn’t be saying that a few minutes from now anyway. Are you ready?" Heron chuckled with the other male. "I’m born ready. She’s just unlucky to have offended the boss’s lady." Heronica hissed. "I think the person most unlucky is that man frolicking with the boss’s lady. What’s his name again?" "Ewan Giacometti." The unfamiliar voice answered. Athena’s drooping eyes shut open, as another kind of anger burned within her. Fiona? Fiona was behind this? She tried clenching her fists, but pain wouldn’t let her. Was the witch behind the waiter’s death too? Athena was just about connecting the dots, when a shot rang out. A pinch of silence descended in the room, before another round of shots echoed around the hideout. Athena smiled. Finally, the rescue team was here.