While they slept, the opaque windows closed with a soft hiss, blocking all sound. The door to Susan's side of the room opened, three orderlies and a nurse came in. The nurse carried a sort of helmet that covered the eyes and ears. Before Susan could wake fully, two orderlies grabbed her and sat her up, the third came around behind her and took a firm hold of her head to keep her still. She started shouting, trying to look and see if Will could hear her.

   Despite her wriggling, the helmet was forced over her head to cover her eyes. It was strapped on under her chin and locked in place. She kicked to no avail, completely blinded and unable to see a thing. The orderlies pushed her down, said something to her, and quickly left the room.

   Sitting up with her knees bent, she tugged and pulled at the helmet. She shouted, stomped her heels, tugged and pulled, but the helmet wouldn't come off. Putting her hands out, she moved in search of the wall. After a minute or so, she believed she found it and called out to William. She had indeed found the clear wall, but could only hope. She knew she could still hear, because she could hear herself shouting.

   She didn't notice the soft click of the microphones as they turned on. The speakers on William's side of the room turned on. He could hear what was happening on her side of the room, but she couldn't hear what was happening on his side.

   "Will? Not again! Please, he won't survive!" She started to sob, the helmet sounded an edited recording of his beating from the day before. To her, it sounded like he was being beaten all over again.

At the sound of Susan's voice, William's eyes flew open. Well, one of them did. He saw her standing over him on the other side of the wall, wearing some sort of helmet. He tensed to sit up, but agonizing cramps erupted in every muscle he had just tried to use. He remained where he was, trying to breathe through the pain. "Susan," he tried to shout, his dry throat stealing all his volume. "Susan, what's happening?"

   Pounding a fist against the wall, Susan grunted in frustration through her tears, "You can't do this! Please stop!" She sank to her knees by the wall, putting her hands on the sides of the helmet, to either try and block the sounds or take it off. She couldn't hear William on the other side of the wall. She began to breathe rapidly, "What more can I say? I'll do anything! No!" she cried out and sobbed, curling up on herself and shaking.

Still unsure of what was happening, but aware now that Susan couldn't hear him, William raised his hand and pressed it against the clear divide by where Susan knelt. "I'm sorry, I'm here," he murmured. His own pain seemed far away now. The desperation in Susan's voice cut at him like a blade. "I'm right here."

   Two hours or so later, the sounds of fists on flesh, William's groans and gasps finally finished. Susan was laying on her side, arms wrapped around herself. She felt so ill, so exhausted, so dehydrated. Delirious? She shuddered, "Will? Is it over? Please, let it be over." she groaned and tightened her arms around herself, "Why won't they let me see you?" she had asked the question many times before, but had given up on taking the helmet off. How could they beat him again? He was probably dead. She bit her lip, not wanting to believe it. They wouldn't kill him. There was too much suffering they could be put through together.

   At that thought, that their lives would be nothing but pain apart, pain together, pain for each other, she whimpered softly. She felt broken inside, and for the first time she allowed herself to admit that a part of her wanted to die.

It hurt to cry, but William couldn't stop. He had slowly and carefully turned himself to lay on his side, facing Susan. They were tricking her somehow, but that didn't mean her suffering wasn't real, wasn't going to scar her somehow. Pain stabbed at him with every gasp as he sobbed, knowing she couldn't see or hear him. Once they were done with her, he hoped they let her speak to him. He wanted to tell her he was fine. No matter what they did, as long as he and she were both here, alive, he was fine.
He didn't care about the pain. Pain was his whole existence. He did care about Susan. She was... everything. He would've been willing to die for her, if that didn't mean leaving her here alone. "I'm here," he whispered again. "Please, Susan. I'm right here."

   The door to Susan's side of the chamber opened, and she didn't seem to notice. Two orderlies and a nurse came in and walked over to her. She started when they grabbed her, but didn't have the strength to fight back as the nurse used a sort of key to unlock the helmet. Her head was held in place anyway as she jerked halfheartedly. The helmet came off and she cried out, closing her eyes against the painful light after being in darkness so long.

   Shoving her to the ground, the orderlies left with the nurse and the door closed behind them. The sound proof panels on the dividing wall opened, allowing William and Susan to hear each other. Hand over her eyes, Susan pushed herself up to lean on her elbow, "Will? Are you there?" she asked fearfully, slowly taking her hand from her eyes and squinting painfully.

William smiled at her, his bruised face still wet with tears and snot. "I'm here. I'm fine. They didn't do anything to me. It was a trick. I'm okay."

   Susan scooted over to the wall, a disbelieving, angry, and relieved wail tearing from her throat as she lay parallel to him. Her eyes were adjusting as she looked him over, and she started to shake uncontrollably as the realization set in, "A trick..? They didn't beat you again?" she pressed a shaking hand to the divide, tears welling in her eyes, "I heard them beating you."

The crick in William's neck was becoming unbearable; his shoulders were too broad to make laying on his side comfortable without the support of a pillow or something. He slowly began to shift to his back. "They didn't. I'm sorry you had to go through that again... bastards." The last word was spoken with a gasp as his swollen limbs protested the careful movement. He kept his eyes on her, keeping the pain back as much as possible and letting all his love for her shine through.

   Susan let her hand fall and she shook her head in the slightest, the tears running over when she saw the look of love in his eyes. What could she do? She worried that she was going crazy. After listening, believing, that he was being beaten to death she wanted to die. She felt so guilty. For being so selfish for wanting to die, for feeling sorry for herself when William was so clearly in agony.

   She tangled her trembling hands in her hair, her voice barely above a whisper, "I don't think I can do this, Will."

Settled on his back, William twitched one shoulder in a shrug. "They won't give us a choice. And when they do want us to make a choice, it'll be damned if we do, damned if we don't. It always is. They'll wring us and wring us until there's nothing left... but they still won't let us die. But you know what? I don't care." He smiled at the ceiling, a fierce, crazy sort of smile that cracked the cuts in his lips back open. He winced, seemingly unaware that tears had started to fall again. "I don't care anymore. They can do whatever they want. You hear that?! I don't care!" He lifted his head from the floor to shout, but quickly let it fall back again. "They can hurt us all they want. We love each other, there's nothing they can do about that. And that's wonderful."

   Susan watched him, and listened to him. An inexplicable calm settled over her, and she felt the shaking begin to subside. Her lips curled up in a small smile, and the tight knot of dread in her stomach began to uncoil, "We love each other." she echoed, "Nothing can change that. It's wonderful." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. She pressed her body closer to the divide, blinking her eyes against her desire to fall into quiet sleep, "We love each other." she repeated, her eyes staying closed against her will.

"Love you," William whispered as he watched her eyes close. He ached to hold her, to just be able to touch her. Hopefully soon. He closed his own eyes and tried to rest, the world spinning gently around him.

***

"Not going exactly to plan, but the bones of it remain relevant."

"How much longer can the boy go without water?"

"Two or three days, based on past experience. Probably less, since his body has experienced trauma."

"Then we wait. As close to death as possible. See what she does, outside of this odd pact of theirs. Once he succumbs and we revive him, it'll be S. Black's turn."

   How long had it been? It was difficult to think past the constant, painful ache of hunger in her stomach, and the scratchy thirst in her mouth. It was impossible to tell what time it was in this separated chamber. She rested her forehead against the clear wall and gazed down at William. He did not look good. Bruises had turned green, his lips were dry, many parts of him were still so swollen. She could only guess as to how much pain he was still in.

   "I've been thinking about the moon today." she rasped. She had been talking as much as she could, hoping to distract him from the pain, and keep him awake. She was terrified that if he closed his eyes for too long, his chest would stop moving as he breathed, and he would be gone, "Do you remember how it could form a ring of light when thin clouds moved in front of it? I loved the soft light that came from the moon, and could stare at it all night." she smiled and chuckled gently, "You know, I've never actually been able to see the man in the moon? I just, can't seem to make him out."

William blinked slowly at her, his discolored face twitching into a small smile. He liked to listen to her voice, but he didn't want to admit to her that he didn't remember how the moon did that. He barely remembered what it's face looked like. His head felt thick, filled with fluff. His thoughts moved slowly through the fog. After a few moments of silence, he decided to change the subject. "I've been... thinking about... loneliness," he croaked, having to pause for breath every few words. "How... I used to... fight alone. How... it's so... much easier, now... I have you." His smile widened, but his dizziness rose to unbearable levels for a moment and he closed his eyes against it.

He didn't even feel the hunger anymore. The pain had stopped throbbing or coming in waves and now just sat heavily everywhere. Dried blood made his skin itch, but he didn't have the strength to scratch or rub it away. Holding still, the pain was bearable. Moving was agony. So he lay still, moved only his face, tried to focus on Susan. It was getting harder and harder.

   Susan would have cried at the sight, but she had run out of tears a long time ago. Her chin trembled and she shook her head slightly, "You have me at a disadvantage.." she whispered, "I've never lived here without you. So you have to stay alive." she pleaded softly. Leaning up against the glass she tried to swallow past her dry mouth, "I'm afraid I will do something desperate, to keep you alive." she confided, "Something you would hate me for."

William shook his head slightly. "Never... hate you. They won't... let me die. They'll... take me to the edge, but... Even if they... tell you I've... died, it's... probably a lie. So... go ahead and... call their bluff." He laughed, the air whistling from his dry throat. "This," he said, gesturing vaguely at himself, "Is probably... just a ploy..." He trailed off, his mouth opening and closing a few times. His eyes closed and he frowned. Tried to swallow. Then fell worryingly still.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Tue 13 Aug 2019.

   Susan watched in motionless silence, her eyes wide and her mouth pressed into a worried line. A few seconds went by, "Will?" she whispered. When there was no response from him, she got to her knees by the glass, saying louder, "Will?" She looked down on him with mounting anxiety. Probably a lie..     Probably just a ploy..        Call their bluff..

   Shaking her head Susan slammed a hand against the wall, shouting, "Will!" She began to tremble, her breath came in short, painful gasps. Her hungry, exhausted mind couldn't seem to focus on any one thought at a time. She lurched to her feet, her shaking hands pushing her hair back. He's stopped moving. She tried to grasp the thought that told her that he was right, they wouldn't let him die. He's dead.. Agony slashed through her like a blade and she stumbled, almost falling. She couldn't tear her gaze away from him, even though her vision was unfocused and was tinged with darkness.

   A low groan rumbled in her throat. Was this real? Was she being tricked again? No, they killed him. She clutched her empty, nauseous stomach, feeling lightheaded. They wouldn't, they valued him too much. He was too strong to kill. He's not moving. She placed both hands against the clear wall, leaning into it as she felt her consciousness threaten to slip into blissful darkness.

   "If he is really gone.." she whispered, knowing who she was talking to, "Then I have nothing to lose." she breathed. Desperation. Love. Anger. Hope. Sadness. Insanity.. Closing her eyes, she spoke in a soft, intimate murmur, "William. I'll see you soon. Opening her eyes, she gritted her teeth and shoved her fear deep below for what she was about to do. What she had contemplated doing. She pulled her head back, and slammed it against the wall. Stars shot across her vision as she pulled back to hit her head again, "Save him!" she shouted in a slur, slamming her head again and dropping to her knees, almost unconscious and pulling back for another blow.

Her door hissed open and orderlies rushed in to restrain her. None came for William.

Rooms away, two doctors monitored the action. Dr. Horrible bent over the screen that showed William's vitals.

"Is he gone?" his colleague asked.

"No. He's gone into shock. His heart rate is so low I doubt the girl could detect it even if she could touch him. Breathing so shallow it's undetectable. His body is shutting down for it's own protection." He smiled wickedly. "Perfect."

   Susan hurriedly hit her head against the wall again, a second before the orderlies grabbed her and bodily yanked her back. She could barely see past the dark haze crowding her vision, but there was still no movement on William's side of the chamber. Blood trickled down the side of her face, "Save him!" she screamed, kicking and struggling as she was pinned to the floor on her stomach. Rearing her head back, she prepared to start hitting herself against the floor. Nothing to lose. she told herself. Followed immediately by, You've gone crazy. A big hand seized a fistful of her hair and jerked her head back, preventing her from hitting her head again. One of her arms was being held behind her back, with the other, she reached up and scratched viciously at the hand in her hair.

   "Bitch." the orderly growled, nodding to his companion. The other took her free hand and held it at a painful angle behind her. She tried to crane her head to look for William, but the orderly twisted her head away.

   "Save him!" she screamed, wriggling with all her strength. Her attempts were weak, and easily held off by the two brutes. "I'll never stop! You take him away from me, and I will have nothing to lose!" A nurse stepped into her field of vision, a syringe in her hand. Susan squirmed, and was held still as the needle pinched into her neck. The effect was immediate, and Susan went limp as unconsciousness swept her away.

When William opened his eyes, his gut reaction was disappointment. I'm alive. Then he remembered Susan, and the feeling vanished.

He tested his body. Aches and pains remained, but not as devastating as they had been before. He shifted, and felt the thickness of bandages on his body. He sat up laboriously, and looked around. He was back in his cell. Cracked linoleum and walls, the same banged up metal chair in the corner. He looked down at himself. He was in clean scrubs. No blood anywhere. The swelling was way down. He lifted his hands to his face and winced as his fingers explored the bumpy, scabbed mess. He must look a horror.

He tried to keep his mind from wondering where Susan was, if she was okay. He would just have to wait and see what happened next.

   Rising up out of her deep sleep was slow and muffled. She rocked her head to the side, becoming aware of her body. Dull, throbbing pain was emanating from her right temple, where the brunt of her self harm attack had been focused. Her eyelids felt as if they were weighted down and impossible to open. She swallowed thickly and started to reach up to touch her face. Her hand was stopped an inch from the hospital bed she lay on, and she pried her eyes open. She blinked hard a few times, and slowly her vision focused somewhat past the lazy spin of vertigo that made her feel as if she were falling.

   She looked down at herself. Her ankles and wrists were strapped to the bed by thick bands of velcro and buckles. An IV dripped liquid down the line that went into her arm. She was clean at least, and could feel clarity begin to take a stronger hold as the drugs wore off. She wasn't in the divided room, but was in what seemed to be a generic room with a laptop desk and stool by her bedside. Where was Will? In recovery? Dead? A jolt of panic brought on a heavy wave of dizziness and she closed her eyes against it. She knew she would find out soon enough.

   She gave an experimental tug at her bonds, no give, and the door handle to the room turned. Susan looked quickly, and saw Dr. Horrible step into the room. The orderly outside closed the door behind him, and he looked at her with a craned neck and a crooked smile. Hatred and anger tried to rise to the strength she desired, but the drugs were still suppressing her system, "Is Will alive?" she asked quietly, feeling that she should do what she could to seem in control.

   The Doctor walked to her bed and gave her a pat on the knee. Susan flinched and tensed her leg beneath his spidery hand, "Yes." he gave her leg a squeeze and moved around to the stool on the right hand side of her bed. He took a seat, rested his elbows on his knees and looked at her.

   Relief broke a dam of emotion in her chest and Susan did all she could to keep the flood under control. Her chest heaved in a large gasp and she gritted her teeth together to keep from doing it again. Alive! Her heart rate rose and she felt a flush of warmth that made her treacherous lips smile.

   "And what shall it cost you?" Dr. Horrible murmured, pressing his hands together with a sigh, "You asked us to save him. We did. Now what will you do for us?" he raised an expectant eyebrow at her, as if she were a naughty child that got into trouble of her own making.

   Susan took a breath, cornering her celebration that she couldn't resist, and looked at Dr. Horrible with hatred, "I told you before. I don't have anything. William is all there is, and if you take him from me, I will kill myself."

   "W. Blake tried to kill himself many times, long before you arrived here. That's not a threat. It's not even a promise." he leaned forward even more, his lips curling, "What will you give us?"

   "I don't have anything!" Susan said, her voice rising. She clenched her hands into fists, deliberately lowering her voice, "You're taking my sanity bit by bit. All you do is take. Even if I had anything to give you, you wouldn't stop hurting us. I've got nothing."

   Dr. Horrible smirked and raised his hands in a helpless gesture, before rolling to her bedside and placing his hand far too intimately on her thigh, murmuring, "Nothing?"

   Susan's whole body turned to ice and she didn't dare bat an eyelash. They must know she was a virgin. All those tests, somehow. She couldn't look at him, only at his wiry hand on her leg. It was suddenly so cold, her fear escalated to near panic, "Don't touch me!" she spat, unable to take a full breath past the tightness in her chest.

   His grip on her thigh tightened painfully and she grimaced, "Would you take his beating for him?" he asked.

   "Yes." she answered immediately, terrified.

   "That's all you would do?" he scoffed, "Maybe, he would do anything to keep you.. safe." he released her and stood, straightening his jacket as he moved around to the door. He gave it a knock and the orderly opened it for him from the outside. He glanced over his shoulder at her, saying in parting, "He's recovering quickly. You should see each other soon." with that, he left and the door slammed shut.

   Susan sat there for a few moments in utter silence. Once she took in a breath, it escaped as a hopeless sob that collapsed her into tears.

When food was delivered, William ate. He sat quietly on his bed. He rested.

He waited.

   Susan slept in the bed while she could, keeping William on her mind in order to keep the darkness at bay. She felt so vulnerable, so threatened. Wrists and ankles still bound, she had no choice but to rest, grateful to at least be hydrated and not hungry. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since Dr. Horrible had shaken her so badly, but eventually the door opened and more orderlies entered.

   She was systematically released from the bed, and bound in hobbling shackles that locked around her waist. An orderly on each side of her, gripping her upper arms, she was moved out of the room and down through the hospital to the corridor that she recognized. Dread, because she had a good idea of what was going to happen to her settled in her stomach. Anticipation, because she wanted to see William bubbled through her turmoil.

   Before the door, her restraints were removed and she was shoved in. The push was so strong that she stumbled and fell as the door closed behind her with a hiss. Jerking her head up, she looked to the opposite side of the divided room. William wasn't there. She frowned as she got to her feet, looking to the opaque circles on the clear wall to see if they were open.