"No, short of attempting to of attempting to brute force the door together, a deed which I do not think will accomplish much but add a few extra bruises to what all else we're expected to endure. And for my Security to suddenly appear and free us both is clearly far greater a miracle than a sinner as grievous as myself can wish for," Andrej replies with grim humour -- and flinched again, at what felt like a sliver of retaliation against it. At least the red of blood beneath didn't show much against the black of his uniform.

He turned the knife over in his hands again. Of course, done skillfully enough, with proper treatment afterwards, there might hardly be a scar. But the thought of suggesting that, starting to head down that road... no. Never mind that the voice had specified the deed be done to each other and Andrej was no fan of his own pain.

"Death by a thousand cuts for us, is it then to be?"