Page 28 of Caged By the Orc

I swallow hard, but force myself to meet his gaze. "He's already beat your ass once. What makes you think he won't do it again?" The words come out stronger than I feel, fueled by a desperate bravado.

Grokus pauses, his expression darkening as he sends me a glare that could melt stone. His massive fists ball up, knuckles cracking ominously. "What the fuck did you say to me, you little bitch?" he snarls, taking a threatening step closer.

I huff out a breath, my heart racing. I don't have anything to lose anymore, so I might as well go all in. "Sarod can wipe the floor with you," I spit out. "And he'll do it again once he realizes that you have me?—"

Before I can finish, his fist collides with my abdomen, knocking all of the wind out of me. I double over, gasping and choking as pain explodes through my midsection. Tears spring to my eyes, but I blink them back furiously. I'm not too surprised that he's subjecting me to this - he's a brute, through and through. As I struggle to catch my breath, I silently pray that Sarod will come soon, before Grokus decides to do worse.

I grit my teeth, fighting back tears as pain radiates through my body. Grokus's fists are like hammers, each blow threatening to shatter my resolve. But I won't break. I can't. The metallictaste of blood fills my mouth and my tongue sweeps over the cut that has sliced along my bottom lip. Still, I force myself to meet his gaze, refusing to show weakness.

"Is that all you've got?" I taunt, tasting blood on my lips. My words come out slurred, but I push on. "No wonder Sarod kicked your ass. You hit like a little bitch."

Grokus's eyes flash with rage, a vein pulsing in his temple. He grabs my throat, meaty fingers digging into my flesh as he slams me against the wall. The impact knocks what little air I have left from my lungs. "You dare mock me, human filth?" he snarls, his foul breath hot on my face.

I wheeze out a laugh, even as black spots dance in my vision. My chained hands claw uselessly at his grip, but I refuse to beg. "You're pathetic," I choke out. "Kidnapping me 'cause you're jealous of everything Sarod has accomplished. You can't compete with him, can you? Not on the zyrphix pitch, not anywhere else."

His grip tightens, his meaty fingers digging deeper into my flesh. I can feel my pulse throbbing against his palm, each beat a desperate attempt to keep me alive.

I gasp for air, my lungs burning, but I refuse to back down. "What's wrong, Grokus?" I manage to wheeze out, a defiant smirk playing on my lips. "Scared of a little human? Can't handle the truth?"

With a roar that shakes the very walls, he picks me up by the neck. I slam into the wall behind me with a sickening thud. Pain explodes through my ribs and back, radiating outward in waves of agony. For a moment, the world spins, but I grit my teeth and force myself to my feet, swaying slightly.

"You think you're tough?" I spit a mouthful of blood at his feet, watching it splatter across his boots. The metallic taste lingers on my tongue, a reminder of my own mortality. "You'renothing but a coward. A big, green coward who can't stand in Sarod's shadow."

Grokus charges at me like a raging bull, his face contorted with fury. He swings wildly, his massive fists cutting through the air. I dodge the first punch, feeling the whoosh of air as it barely misses my face. But the second catches me square in the stomach. I double over, wheezing, as all the air rushes out of my lungs. My vision blurs, but I refuse to fall. Not yet. Not to him.

"Not so brave now, are you?" he sneers, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. The pain shoots through my scalp, but I grit my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me whimper.

I meet his gaze, defiant. My vision's blurry, but I can still see the rage in his eyes. "Still braver than you'll ever be," I spit out, tasting blood on my lips.

The beating continues, a relentless storm of fists and fury. I lose track of time, my world narrowing to flashes of pain and Grokus's twisted face. Each blow feels like it's tearing me apart, but I won't break. I can't. His knuckles connect with my ribs, and I hear something crack. The pain is blinding, but I swallow my scream.

Finally, he steps back, breathing hard. His chest heaves, and sweat drips down his green skin. I slump against the wall, every inch of me screaming in agony. But I refuse to cry out. My body feels like it's on fire, but I force myself to stay conscious, to keep my eyes locked on him. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me collapse.

"Where's your precious Sarod now?" Grokus taunts, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his meaty hand. His breath comes in ragged pants, testament to the effort he's exerted in beating me.

The question hits harder than any punch, twisting in my gut like a knife. Hours have passed, each minute stretching into aneternity of pain and fear. Why hasn't Sarod come? The doubt I've been fighting all this time creeps in, poisonous and cold, seeping into my bones.

What if he doesn't care? The thought makes my chest tighten. What if I'm just another human to him, not worth the trouble or risk? I try to push the idea away, but it clings to me, persistent as a shadow.

I close my eyes, feeling hope slip away like sand through my fingers. The darkness behind my eyelids offers no comfort, only amplifying the ache in my heart. Maybe I was wrong about Sarod, about everything. Maybe this is what I get for daring to hope, for thinking I could find something real in this brutal world. Maybe I'm truly alone, just as I've always been.

23

SAROD

The information we've gathered burns in my mind like a white-hot brand—we've finally pinpointed the exact location of Grokus's hideout. Every second wasted is another moment Josie suffers at that bastard's hands. My blood boils at the thought, and I clench my fists so hard my knuckles crack.

I clench my jaw, listening to my teammates' hushed conversation. Their words only fuel the rage burning inside me.

"Bastard knew what he was doing," Thokk mumbles, shaking his head. His usually booming voice is low, tinged with anger and concern. "This hideout is secluded. It's as if he was planning to do something like this for a while." The thought makes my stomach churn. Has he been trying to fuck with me for a long time? Has he been waiting for this moment?

"Is he crazy?" Zorg asks, the youthful glint in his eyes shimmering with morbid curiosity. His gaze darts between us, searching for answers. "Or maybe he's done this before to other human women?" The suggestion sends a chill down my spine.

I don't care much about humans, but to think he might be preying on them haphazardly is a bit disconcerting. Even for the likes of me.

"I don't know but he's dangerous," Grul pipes in, his gruff voice laced with worry. He crosses his muscular arms, a deep frown etched on his face. "And he's taken Sarod's girl. That's a recipe for disaster." His words hang heavy in the air, and I feel the weight of their stares on me. They're right, and they know it. Grokus has crossed a line, and there's no telling what I might do when I get my hands on him.

"Listen up," I growl, barely containing the rage simmering beneath the surface. The faces of my teammates are grim, their eyes locked on me, reflecting the same determination I feel. "We've got one shot at this. Grokus is expecting us, but he doesn't know we're coming now. The element of surprise is our best weapon."