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Just because I doubt I’ll make it out of here alive doesn’t mean I’m going to be stupid about penetrating the compound. This has to count. If I’m going, I’m taking as many of them with me as I can—Rebecca included.
I make it a point to stay low once I’m close enough that I could be spotted. There are a few people moving around, but not many at this time of night. Curfew is pretty early, as I remember. Can’t let people go around doing their ownthing. They might start getting ideas about making their own decisions. A disgusted grin tugs at my lips as I watch a pair of men on patrol. They’re both carrying some serious weapons, and the way they keep scanning the area tells me something might be up. Something they’re nervous about. They can’t know I’m here, so I have no idea what it could be.
Until.
They’re not on patrol. I finally figure it out once a door opens, and a small, hooded figure is led outside. A woman. I shouldn’t be able to recognize her with her head covered, but I would know her anywhere. Even with the back of her hoody glued to her skin by what looks like dried blood.
She cheated on me with River. Left me without saying a word. She betrayed me in every possible way. Let me down when she was supposed to be the one person I could always turn to.
I know all of that, but it’s not enough to keep my chest from going hot all at once. Boiling hot, like my organs turned to lava. Somehow, they found her, and I’m already too late to stop them from hurting her.
The one name that comes to mind is the name of the last person who’d want to hear my voice now, but he’s the only one who can help. I can’t do it all on my own. There’s too many of them, and I’ve seen their arsenal. I know how dangerous they are.
I can slow things down, though, until the cavalry arrives.
My mind’s made up by the time I turn and dart for the front gate, bent at the waist, a pistol in one hand while I fumble for my cell with the other. I hope I don’t regret this. He might hate me, but he loves his sister.
Quinton picks up on the first ring. “You have to be fucking kidding me, you piece of shit.”
I cut him off before he can say anything else. “Scarlet’s in trouble. They took her to the compound. New Haven. I’m going to send you the coordinates. You need to come and get her before it’s too late.”
“And I should believe you why?” He even laughs like the cocksucker he is. “Like I’d go anywhere just because you said so.”
“Where’s your sister? She’s missing, right? They brought her here. I don’t know how. I only have two pistols,” I whisper, looking around for signs of being spotted. “But I can hopefully keep them off her for a little while. After that, it’s up to you. I’m sending the coordinates now.”
After a pause, I add, “Don’t let her down.”
Then I end the call and text him the compound’s coordinates. They’re burned into my brain like the map of the surrounding area.
After that, there’s nothing to do but get in there and make sure Rebecca has somebody other than Scarlet to worry about.
7
SCARLET
My back aches, my skin is burning like a wildfire, but nothing hurts as much as my heart. It hurts for Ren and all the other kids that had to endure this kind of nightmare every day.
I’m in the cell, with nothing but an old, dirty mattress, and the smelly bucket in the corner to do my business in. All I can hope now is that my father will find me soon. Though the chances are fairly slim without the tracker inside of me.
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I wrap my arms around my legs and let the tears run down my face. No one can see me here, can see how weak I am right now, when I should be strong. My father taught me better than this. I should be trying to find a way out of here, but I just don’t have the strength.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I pretend I’m somewhere else. I pretend I’m back in my room at my father’s compound, where I’m surrounded by security and nothing can touch me.
Bang. Bang.
My eyes fly open at the sounds of gunshots ringing out. I get up to my feet quickly and run toward the door. I press my ear against the metal, hoping to hear more gunshots signaling my father has found me.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Three more shots are fired in the distance before it suddenly goes silent for a while.
I keep my ear pressed against the door, not willing to give up hope just yet. I can hear shouting followed by a few more scattered gun shots but then it goes quiet for good. I stay in place for a while longer, but there is nothing but a few shouts here and there. My heart sinks. That’s not a good sign. My father would’ve brought an army and shooting wouldn’t stop until they found me.
Defeated, I walk back into the corner and sink down on my mattress, wondering how many people have been held captive in this cell. How many kids have been tortured, whipped until they bled, and then thrown into a cell like they don’t matter?
I perk up once more when footsteps approach from outside my cell. I’m equally excited and scared, not knowing if this is a rescue or if I’m getting another whipping. Honestly, I don’t know if I can take more.
The lock disengages, and I quickly get back on my feet. The door opens further, and three men appear in the doorway, my heart slams against my ribs as I take in the man in the middle, the man who they throw into the cell with me, before the door shuts again, locking us inside our prison.
