Water seeps through the towel at an unimaginable rate, gushing against my skin. I hold my breath as a steady stream follows the initial downpour. I keep holding my breath.

Please stop. Please be over soon!

Cold water continues to drum on my face, hitting my mouth and nose. How is he doing this for so long? The water is never-ending.

My lungs burn.

He needs to stop. I need him to stop.

Caleb, no!

My hands cramp.

I’m going to die.

My lungs deflate. I can’t take a breath, but I need oxygen. I have nothing left.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm,” Caleb hums as the water comes to an abrupt stop.

I turn my head the best I can in the restraint against my forehead, and it’s just enough to move my mouth from directly touching the towel. I take a deep breath.

My eyes sting with unshed tears. I know that Caleb wouldn’t be able to tell if I was crying with the water already on my face, but I’ll know.

You will not break me.

Beside me, I can hear Lucie cry quietly. I focus on her. I’m not alone. I have someone else going through this with me.

Water slams into my face again. I clamp my mouth shut and stop breathing.

It keeps coming and coming and coming.

I dig my heels into the bed and scream so loud in my head that I’m sure Caleb will be able to hear it.

He doesn’t stop. Water whacks my face, drilling into my mouth. I clamp my lips closed harder and swallow a sob.

My legs shake, hitting the mattress as my lungs scream in pain.

I want this to end. Stop! He’s going to kill me. This is my punishment for challenging him. Oh God, this is it.

My legs go heavy. The water continues to pour onto my face.

I’m never going to see my parents again.

Every muscle in my body relaxes; my hands drop their grip and my feet fall to the side.

Caleb moves back. Air fills my lungs in a big rush that makes me light-headed. If I weren’t already lying down, I would have hit the floor by now.

My body is done already. But Caleb isn’t. Chuckling, he begins humming, and water hits my face again.

• • •

Time passes so slowly. I feel the agony of every second. My chest aches heavily, fingers numb from holding on so hard.

Caleb hums again as he removes the restraints around my head, wrists, and ankles. The freezing towel is still on my face. He hasn’t told me not to move, but it’s kind of a given. And anyway, I’m not sure I can right now. I’m spent, emotionally and physically. The last thing in the world I want right now is to have any kind of conversation with him.

So I lie still and wait.