Ellis had his back against the wall, his hands in front of him. “Name your price.” When Torrent took a step towards him, he began to beg. “Don’t hurt me. Please. Do you want the girl? She’s yours. Anything just—”

“She is not yours to give.” Torrent growled, not sounding quite human.

“What do you want then? Anything. Name it.” He was crying, snot ran from his nose and spittle flew from his mouth. “Please… just…” He shook his head, holding his hands out like a shield. Like they could somehow keep Torrent back. Ellis glanced to where the freak lay, then moved back to Torrent and then to Candy. “Help me! You owe me. You owe me, Candy.”

She shook her head, trying hard to convey her thoughts. No, I don’t!

He looked back up at Torrent. “What do you want? Surely there’s something. Everyone has a price.”

“I want you dead.” There was no warning. No more talking. No discussions. Torrent smashed his fist through Ellis’ chest. She could hear his bones crack and break. There was a slurping noise and Torrent pulled back, Ellis’ heart was clasped in his hand. It was still beating.

Ellis looked down at the heart. There was a look of shock on his face. He looked back up at Torrent. He tried to speak but his mouth would only open and close, blood trickled from between his lips. The heart in Torrent’s hand gave a shudder and stopped. Then Ellis fell to the floor… dead.

Torrent dropped the heart and turned towards her. His face suddenly looked ashen. For the first time, she noticed that his nose was swollen with black bruises beneath his eyes. His chest, parts of his stomach and arms had peeling skin. Some parts were pink and puckered, others raw and open. He fell to one knee. “Candy,” he groaned her name.

Not for the first time today, she fought against the rope that bound her arms behind her back. She moaned against the tape that covered her mouth.

Torrent fell face first onto the hard floor. The only thing that kept her from losing it completely was the sight of his chest as it rose and fell.

* * *

Early hours of the next morning…

Torrent tried to open his eyes for the umpteenth time and failed. He felt a momentary panic that quickly subsided. What was wrong with him?

Nothing.

Everything was fine.