Aries groaned softly as she stirred, her head throbbing from the blow that had knocked her out earlier. Cold metal dug into her wrists, handcuffs fastened tightly to a rusted pipe overhead. Her vision was slow to adjust, the flickering industrial light above casting sharp shadows across the damp concrete walls.
"Beatrice?" Aries whispered hoarsely, her voice rough.
"I'm here," came a strained voice just a few feet away.
Beatrice was slumped against a rusted support beam, her hands zip-tied tightly behind her. Her blazer was torn, blood dried at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes remained sharp, fixed on the only door in the room.
They didn't cuff you?" Aries asked weakly.
"I fought back. Guess they didn't want to risk the trouble," Beatrice muttered. A dark bruise was forming along her cheekbone.
Before Aries could say more, heavy boots echoed down the corridor. A shadow passed by the small, fogged-up window near the ceiling. Then the door creaked open.
