Ares twisting her arm back and forcing her body to bend to her knees to stop her bones breaking had been terrifying - was still terrifying - but Asterion throwing her over his shoulder was a different flavour of bad. She struggled out of instinct, struggled against this much stronger man trying to take her somewhere she didn't want to go. When he put her down she stumbled back, trying to get some space for her head as her body continued to breathe short, shallow breaths.
The fluorescent light above them seemed impossible after stolen streetlight of the alley. The low ceiling seemed impossible after the towering walls and strip of night sky far above them. Still breathing felt impossible. Hearing Asterion's voice felt impossible. Being alive felt impossible.
She sat down heavily on a chair, hand curled on her chest, with her good fingers curled around her wrist.
"Yeah, he was," she said, looking down at her hand. She didn't feel saved. She felt cheated. Mostly, though, she just felt shocked.