I attempt to push up from the ground when my hands are unable to move. “Fuck!” I scream, tugging on the chains clasped around my wrists. Pain bites at my ankles when I realize how bad of a position I’m in.

“Motherfucker!” I turn my head to the side, blood trickling down the back of my neck.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say…” a voice purrs in the corner. All of my pain fizzles out. Even with how small the room is, against the painted concrete walls and ground, his dark shadow in the corner sticks out.

“Who the fuck are you?” He steps out from the shadows and a whoosh of air crawls over my skin. Shock seizes my muscles and I tug on the handcuffs again. “Antonio?” Confusion tugs on my heart as he makes his way to the bed, looking down on me from up above. “What is going on?”

“Ah, sweet child.” He runs the tip of his finger over the side of my face, and memories erupt inside of my mind from when I was little. “You’re Papa’s best friend?”

“Mmhmm,” he murmurs. “Do you know who else I am, principessa?” Antonio asks, his lips brushing my ear as his fingers trickle down inside my elbow. The blood drains from my face, and my eyes shoot up to his. “Starts with S.”

“You motherfucker. I should kill you!” I squeeze the chains on my handcuffs, searing anger burning through my veins.

“Why?” Skully brushes my hair to the side as a needle pinches into my arm. “Didn’t your lover tell you? Oh, but he’s been working with me all along.” My eyes drift closed, my mouth turning dry. My bones turn to lead as I struggle to stay awake. The colors and textures of the room begin to swirl together.

“Can you see me, little child?”

“I’m—” I go to open my mouth but words fail to fall out.

He turns, I think, and disappears before coming back. “I know you can hear me and will remember this, so hear this, Ruby La Rosa. Wicked was put in your life for a reason. Everything was planned… do you still trust him?” I feel something cold graze the inside of my thigh and I force them closed, only they’re halted by an object. The room spins as he flips me upward to standing, my arms and legs stretched wide. I wasn’t on the ground… what is this? There’s a dark figure directly opposite me, and I force my eyes wide to try to focus on it, only my heart rate speeds up and my mouth curves in a smile.