The options were getting low at this point, amazing for the fact that she hadn't exactly stepped into this situation with the intention of fighting anyone, and in barely two breaths they'd gone from conversation to this. Now it was either try to pull all her stops, including the black powder piston on her hip she could still get to with the hand he wasn't crushing, but that wasn't going to end well for anyone- or go with the original plan, which was talk the lunatic down. As a wave of stars clouded the edges of her vision because of squeezing fingers, Gretel very strongly considered the former as much as the latter.
"I don't even know who your people are-" Gretel started, ignoring the fire forming in her lungs. She suddenly realized the things seemingly pried out of her by brutality would probably be unsatisfactory to him, and probably result in more violence.
Taking a calculated risk, she locked their eyes pointedly. "Look." The hand twisted in his garment released and backed toward the wall he pinned her to, the leather-covered palm shown. The resistance he felt in the one with the dagger slacked- she didn't wretch it away, but let him control it completely.
"You were brought here like I was- like many were. I am not your enemy."