Chapter 609: Three Days and Nights of Torment
Three days. Layla was stuck in that damn police station's interrogation room for three freakin' days.
The worst part? It wasn't the cold room or the cops trying to scare her. Nah, it was the no sleep thing. That bright-ass light was on her 24/7, and the cops kept taking turns grilling her. Every time she was about to doze off, they'd wake her up. They were basically saying, "Sign this, or you ain't sleeping," trying to break her down.
Staying awake was pure torture. Layla couldn't help but think, "People must've died from this no-sleep crap." She almost gave in a few times, but some tiny bit of sanity kept her hanging on. She bit her lips till they bled, just to stay awake.
Every time she was about to crash, they'd shake her awake, making it worse than death.
Around eight, the phone rang.
Layla, barely hanging on, got yanked back to reality.
"Wake up! Answer the damn phone."
"Move it!"
Layla was done, like, on the edge of death.
"Layla, Layla?" Samuel's voice sounded miles away, her world spinning.
"Layla? You good?" Samuel asked.
"Samuel, help..." Layla tried to cry out, but the captain slapped his hand over her mouth.
"Layla, you alright?"
Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered, "I'm, I'm fine. I just need sleep."
"It's only eight."
"I'm so tired, that's all," She quickly hung up.
"Please, let me sleep, I'm begging you." Layla broke down, pleading.
The female cop, seeing her pregnant and with bloodshot eyes, felt a bit sorry, "Maybe we should let her sleep for a bit, even just an hour. If she croaks, what then?"
The captain, hearing this, felt a bit worried and torn. But this was the final stretch; maybe if they held out a bit longer, Layla would crack and sign, saving them all the hassle.
"No sleep," The captain steeled himself and shook Layla hard. "Wake up! You wanna sleep? Sign first."
"You wanna sleep? Sign first."
"Watch her, keep grilling."
"Yes, sir."
Novaria.
"Mr. Holland, the next meeting's about to start," the secretary reminded.
Samuel held his phone, frowning.
These past two days, Layla's been off. Her voice sounded super tired and on the verge of tears. It couldn't just be from making cakes.
Something was up.
Samuel's eyes darkened, "Cancel the meeting and get the plane ready. I'm heading back."
Another half day dragged on.
In the white interrogation room, Layla was almost out cold. Her mind was fading, slipping into a near-death state, filled with hallucinations.
The captain was beat. So many people couldn't break her, a pregnant young girl. She was tough as nails.
The captain lit a cigarette, and his phone rang.
He quickly walked to the window and answered, all kiss-ass, "Miss Eilish."
"Is she dead yet?"
"Not yet, but she's close," the captain said, wiping sweat off his brow, feeling a bit guilty.
"Has she signed?"
"No."
"You bunch of useless idiots, can't even handle one woman?"
"Miss Eilish, it's not that we're useless. You have no idea how strong her will is. We've been at it for three days straight, no sleep, but she just won't crack. Miss Eilish, you've already punished her. Can't we stop now?"
"Stop? Unless she's dead, there's no stopping!" Nora snapped. "Are you feeling sorry for her?"
"Of course not. I'm just worried about how to explain this to Mr. Holland. One word from him could wipe out our entire station."
Nora sneered, "So you'd rather the whole station be wiped out than go to jail yourself?"
"I..."
"The things you've done, even if you don't get the death penalty, you'll be in prison for life."
"I... Yes, I understand, Miss Eilish. I'll keep at it and make her confess as soon as possible."
"Good."
The captain hung up, steeling himself, "Keep going, don't stop, make her talk!"
"Captain, it's not just her; we're all about to collapse. Even taking turns, my throat's shot. Let alone her. In all my years, I've never seen anything so brutal."
'What can we do? If she doesn't confess, we're all dead,' the captain thought. Whether they died or not, he was sure he'd meet a horrible end.
The others, feeling helpless, had to push Layla again.
"Hey, no sleeping, no dozing off!"
"Wake up, come on, don't play dead."
Layla finally broke down, crying, "Please let me sleep, I really can't take it anymore, I'm going to die. I'm begging you."
Her cries were more heart-wrenching than before.
"Want to sleep? Easy. Just sign, and you can sleep, sleep as much as you want, three days if you like. Sleep however you want," the captain said.
"You haven't slept for 72 hours. Hold on for another hour, and you might miscarry. Even if you can take it, your baby can't. Do you want him to die?"
"Sign it, don't worry about anything else, just sign it, so I can explain."
"I promise you, after you sign, I'll let you sleep for a day before arresting you again, okay?" the captain coaxed her. "Think about it, your partner is Samuel. Even if you sign, do you really think you'll go to jail? Impossible. Be smart, get some rest, and when he comes back, no one can touch you, right?"
"If you die now, that's two lives lost. Be smart, there's no need to hold on, okay?"
Layla's vision swam with tears. She was lost in a daze.
The captain knew her willpower was almost broken. He grabbed her hand and put the pen in it, "Sign it, and you can sleep immediately."
Layla's body swayed, her head spinning, fighting to stay conscious.
At this moment, her mind couldn't think of anything else. She just wanted to sleep, to live for her baby and herself. She couldn't let them wear her down to death in this cold prison. No matter what, the most important thing was to stay alive, even if it meant admitting to something she didn't do.
Thinking this, Layla let the captain hold her hand, ready to sign her name.
The captain and the others' eyes gleamed with tension, eager for her to sign. As soon as she signed, they would all be free.
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