Don’t Poke the Luna Chapter 246

Xena’s POV

The jagged metal trembled inches from my chest. But I could feel how frail she'd become—whatever they'd done to her in that dungeon had left her body broken.

"You FUCKING WHORE!" she screamed, spittle flying from her cracked lips.

I managed to twist my body, using my leverage to roll her off me. The movement sent agony through my injured ribs, but adrenaline numbed the worst of it. As she scrambled to regain her position, I grabbed her wrist with my right hand and slammed it against the tile floor.

The makeshift weapon clattered away, spinning across the wet surface.

Martha clawed at my face with her free hand, her nails raking across my cheek. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!"

"YOU MOTHERFUCK," I growled, driving my knee up into her stomach.

She doubled over, gasping, and I used the momentum to flip her onto her back. Before she could recover, I wrapped my right hand around her throat and squeezed just hard enough to cut off her air supply.

Her eyes bulged as she clawed weakly at my grip, her movements becoming more and more sluggish. Within seconds, her body went limp beneath me.

I sat back on the cold tile floor, breathing hard and trembling. My heart hammered against my ribs as the reality of what had just happened crashed over me. Martha had been here, in this room, trying to kill me. But how? Why wasn't she in her cell? How did she know where to find me?

The questions came in a rapid-fire assault, making it hard to breathe. I reached out through the mind link, my mental voice shaky with residual fear.

"Ama," I called.

"What is it?" Her response was immediate.

"Martha just attacked me. I knocked her unconscious."

Silence. Then: "WHAT? Are you hurt? Are you okay? Oh my god, Xena!"

"I'm fine," I assured her, though my voice trembled. "I'm just... the bathroom floor is cold, and I need someone to help me up."

"I'm coming right now!" Ama's panic was evident even through the mind link.

"Thank you."

"This is all my fault," Ama's voice cracked with guilt. "I ran out and forgot to close the door. If something had happened to you, I would never forgive myself."

"Martha's unconscious. Everything's fine now," I said, trying to calm her down even as my own hand shook.

A few minutes later, I heard rushing footsteps in the hallway. Ama burst through the door with Penelope and two female warriors close behind. They rushed into the bathroom, and Ama's eyes immediately filled with tears when she saw me sitting on the floor beside Martha's still form.

"X," Ama said, her voice breaking as she hurried over to help me up.

I leaned heavily on her as she guided me to the sofa in the main room. Once I was seated, I reached out and gently touched her head, offering what comfort I could.

"Tie her up," Penelope commanded the two warriors, gesturing toward Martha's unconscious body.

The warriors immediately got to work, binding Martha's hands and feet with rope they'd brought. Penelope watched them work, her brow furrowed with concern as she turned to me.

"Why would Martha be here? How did she get out?" Penelope's voice was tight with worry.

"I don't know," I replied honestly. "I think we need to send someone to check the prison situation immediately, and notify the border patrol warriors to stay alert."

"I already ordered warriors to investigate," Penelope said grimly.

"Was it just Martha?" Ama asked, her voice still shaky.

I managed a weak smile. "Yes. If there had been more than one, I'd probably be dead right now."

Ama immediately covered my mouth with her hand, her eyes flashing with distress. "Don't say things like that," she scolded, her lower lip trembling.

"Bring her over here," Penelope ordered the warriors.

They dragged Martha's now-conscious form in front of us. Her eyes were wild with rage and something that looked like panic, though she tried to hide it behind vicious curses.

"You fucking bitches!" Martha spat, struggling against her bonds. "I'll kill all of you! Every last one!"

Her threats were empty now, almost comical coming from someone so clearly broken and defeated. But I could see the fear lurking behind her fury.

"Calm down," I said coldly.

"Give her two punches to help her think clearly," Penelope commanded the warrior standing behind Martha.

The warrior delivered two solid blows to Martha's waist. Given her current weakened state, the impacts sent her crashing to the floor with an agonized wail. She writhed on the ground, screaming at the top of her lungs.

The warrior looked at us uncertainly, clearly not sure if this was the desired result.

"Shut up," Penelope said icily.

But Martha ignored the command, continuing to scream and thrash. The noise was grating on my nerves, and I realized this was probably part of her strategy—to create chaos and buy time.

"Help me up," I said to Ama gently.

She supported my weight as I slowly stood and walked over to Martha. Every step sent pain shooting through my body, but I kept my expression neutral. I gestured for the warrior to pull Martha up into a kneeling position so we were face to face.

Martha glared at me with undisguised hatred.

"I've already killed Tatum and Wiley," I said calmly, my voice deadly quiet. "I don't mind adding you to that list. If you can give me the information I want, I won't kill you. If you keep screaming like this, I'll end your life right now."

I extended my claws and drew them lightly across her throat, just deep enough to draw blood. In my peripheral vision, I noticed Ama staring at me in shock, probably surprised by this new side of me she'd never seen before.

Martha's eyes widened with terror. She had no idea what I'd been through, probably still thought of me as that hot-tempered girl from before. But I wasn't that person anymore.

"If you agree to cooperate, nod," I said coldly.

Martha's face remained frozen in fear. After a moment, she seemed to lose all fight, her gaze drifting away from mine as if her soul had left her body. She wouldn't look at me anymore.

I understood that Martha wouldn't confess easily. "Ama, help me up."

"Let's put her in a cell for now and interrogate her properly later," Ama suggested.

Penelope nodded and looked at me questioningly.

"We can't put Martha in a cell," I said firmly. "We don't know who her accomplices are. The prison isn't safe—she might be killed or rescued again."

Penelope and Ama nodded in understanding.

"What's the plan then?" Ama asked.

"Keep Martha locked in this room's bathroom, with two warriors taking turns guarding her," I replied.

"Good idea," Penelope agreed, then commanded the warriors to follow my instructions.

The warriors began dragging Martha toward the bathroom despite her muffled protests and struggles. There was nothing she could do to resist.

"I'll arrange for a doctor to examine her physical condition," Penelope said. "Her current health can't withstand serious torture."

I nodded in agreement. "Let me know if the prison investigation turns up anything."

"Of course," Penelope said, then quickly ran out the door to coordinate everything.