scary place

A wooden door with a narrow barred window flashed at the end of the corridor.

“A private room? Give His Grace my thanks for his generosity!”

“It’s not private,” the guard responded.

Kolya went cold. He had a bad feeling about this.

The door opened and he was unceremoniously shoved into the quiet darkness. A key turned in the lock.

“Would you look at who it is…”

That voice sent an ice-cold chill down to Kolya’s very bones. The long, ragged scar across his back itched with phantom pain.

“Ah, Wolf, you’re here too?”

Kolya tried to quell the tremble in his voice.

Wolf sat on a bench by the wall, watching Kolya with his lifeless eyes from beneath lowered lids. Long chains stretched from his wrists. Prison hadn’t changed his powerful musculature or cruel features one bit. The only difference was a small scar below his eye. It was thin and neat. After all, Kolya always kept his knives in perfect condition.

“Yes, Fox, I’m here. Not without your help, of course.”

His calm tone raised every hair on Kolya’s body. He slowly backed toward the door. It would have been better had they locked him in with a real wolf.

“You’re not upset, are you? Everyone makes mistakes, and I, alas, am no exception.”

Kolya spread his hands with a bright grin. His heart screamed in terror, threatening to leap out of his chest and flee wherever its eyes looked first. Or, whatever hearts had instead of eyes.

“Mistaked aren’t forgiven. They’re atoned for.”

Wolf’s fingers brushed his scar.

Kolya nodded rapidly.

“Of course! You understand, Wolf, I’m not exactly in the position for any grand services…”

“That’s alright, Foxy,” Wolf said with a cruel, sharp smile. “I have a couple ideas.”

Kolya shuddered violently. His knees began to tremble.

“Me too! I can sing songs, tell interesting stories and the latest news, I’ll even try juggling! I’m not sure about walking on my hands, but I can try that too,” he rambled in one breath.

“I can feel your fear.”

Kolya’s tongue froze in his mouth. The corner of Wolf’s mouth crawled up.

“This is even better than I thought. Watching you squirm, pretending to be brave. But beneath it all, seeing the terror in your eyes.”

Kolya’s mouth went bone-dry. He swallowed, with some difficulty.

Wolf lazily stood and stretched, chains rattling.

“You know, it’s rather boring in here,” he drawled, leisurely strolling toward Kolya. “Lots of free time. Do you know what I used it for?”

“Knitting?” Kolya asked in a shaking voice, backing away.

His every muscle trembled with tension. He shrank, preparing for an attack.

“I’d forgotten why I like you, Fox,” Wolf smirked. “No. I imagined this moment. Our meeting. And what I would do to you.”

Kolya’s back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat. He could only watch as Wolf unhurriedly came closer… closer…

“That doesn’t sound too… too fun,” Kolya giggled hysterically.

Adrenaline pulsed through his veins, rushing to his head.

“Oh, I have a very rich imagination.”

Wolf stopped in the middle of the room.

“Come here.”

Kolya froze, mind racing.

“Or I can come over there and get you, but then I will be very displeased. You have nowhere to run in here, Fox.”

Slowly, on shaking legs, Kolya forced himself to take a few steps toward Wolf.

“Closer, Fox.”

Kolya took another small step. Just one more tiny one and he’d be standing on Wolf’s feet. His eyes frantically darted across his predatory face, not knowing where to stop.

Wolf slowly raised a hand. Kolya was no longer just trembling, he was shaking so hard his teeth chattered.

Wolf’s fingers hooked a strand of his long red hair.

“Wolf,” Kolya whispered in a suddenly hoarse voice. “Don’t. Please, don’t. I’m sorry, please…”

Wolf bared his teeth. His eyes reflected the wild triumph of an animal finally catching its prey.