Every bone in my body jarred as I slammed into the glass, yet the window held firm. Pain flared through me, but I gritted my teeth and prepared for another attempt.
“You won’t keep me here.” I growled, glaring at the stubborn barrier between me and freedom. “I will get out of this place. I will find the truth. Then...” The full weight of the situation settled over me. What would I do then? What if the truth was worse than the nightmare I was currently trapped in?
There was no time for doubt or fear. I needed to act. I steadied myself and charged at the window once more, fueled by desperation. This time, I vowed, I would break free.
Damn it all to hell. I stumbled away from the unyielding window, breathing hard. Desperation clawed at my insides like a living thing, but I refused to let it consume me. I needed to stay focused and find a way out of this place back to those I loved.
“Get a grip, Liza.” I paced the room like a caged animal. The scent of polished wood and fresh linens filled my nostrils, but it did little to soothe my frayed nerves. I racked my brain for any detail that might help me determine my captor’s identity or their intentions. All I had were questions; questions that multiplied with each passing moment.
An unwelcome, familiar voice echoed through my mind, causing me to freeze in place. “Calm down.”
That was impossible, given my every nerve was on edge. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“Everything is going to be fine,”he assured me, though his words provided little comfort.“You’re not in any danger here. I promise no harm will come to you. You’re safe.”
“Safe?” I scoffed, incredulity warring with fear. “I’ve been kidnapped, locked in a room, and I’m speaking to a voice in myhead. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not particularly in asafestate of mind right now.”
“Trust me, you’re not losing your mind,”he said with surprising gentleness.“You have many questions, and I promise I’ll do my best to answer them soon. For now, you need to remain calm.”
“Who are you?” I asked again, more insistent this time.
“My identity will become clear soon enough,”he said evasively.“For now, all I can tell you is that you’ll be allowed to leave this room if you can prove you’re not a danger to anyone here.”
“ProveI’mnot a danger?” Of all the… “You’re the ones who kidnapped me. What kind of twisted game is this?”
He stayed silent, leaving me fuming and confused. I paced the small room, my anger and frustration building with each step. The walls closed in, taunting me with their confinement.
My thoughts shifted to my family. Were they safe? Did they know what had happened? I desperately wanted to know, but the voice remained maddeningly silent. The events in my mom’s kitchen flashed through my memory.
“Hey, voice in my head!” I shouted, trying to get his attention. “What about my mom? Is she okay?” There was no response. My frustration and fear grew, mingling into a toxic cocktail that threatened to overwhelm me. “Answer me, damn you!” I was so close to losing it.
Still, the voice didn’t say a word.
The silence was deafening, drowning out everything except my ragged breathing.
“Fine,” I growled as I wiped away tears that had managed to escape. Resolve settled over me like a cloak. I’d do whatever it took to escape and reunite with my family.
The voice in my head remained silent, leaving me to face my fears alone.
“Ty will find me,” I said. “You’ll be sorry when he does.”
I knew with every fiber of my being that Ty would never stop searching for me. My mate was a force to be reckoned with, and he wouldn’t rest until he’d rescued me. I just had to hold on, keep fighting, and find a way to make it easier for him to track me down.
The door to my prison creaked open, and I tensed, readying myself for whatever might come next. A young woman entered; her arms laden with food. She appeared nervous, like she expected danger to leap out at any moment. She looked so young and innocent—nothing like my captors in my imagination. Too bad, so sad. I ignored the pang of sympathy I felt for her. This was my opportunity to escape.
“Thank you,” I said softly, trying to put her at ease.
She nodded, but her hands shook as she set the tray down on a small table near the bed.
“Please, can you tell me where I am?” I asked, keeping my voice gentle.
She shook her head, clearly too afraid to speak.
“Who’s keeping me here?” Desperation put an edge in my tone.
She remained silent; her attention fixed on the floor.
“Fine,” I snapped. “Don’t help me.”
