Page 95 of Split You Open

Ledger

Atear falls to the floor.

The singular bead of water somehow twinkles in the darkness as it descends into the ocean of tears that have come before it.

Tears that are currently drowning me.

I can’t breathe.

She has to stop crying.

The pain in my chest is excruciating. Without air, I’ll drown but her misery is endless—and it’s all because of me.

I open my mouth to apologize but only salty tears fill my lungs…

Jerking awake is a mistake but it’s instinctual as I gasp for air. The motion does nothing to quell the burning in my lungs or bring any relief. In fact, only agony erupts.

“Goddamnit,” I hiss between clenched teeth.

I’m not sure if it’s just severe bruising around my ribs or something worse but what I do know is that breathing is fucking torture. Gulping shallow breaths of air helps but doesn’t feel satisfying. If I don’t sit up and readjust, the pain is going to become so great that I’ll pass out. And there, in my unconscious state, I’ll dream of drowning in Blair’s sorrow again.

I will myself to move, sitting up slowly.

Just as I make it upright and the motion sensor lights flicker on—I hear movement.

I go still as I strain to hear the soft footsteps. There are voices now too. And laughing—that must be Santiago. Before I can even begin to wonder what tonight’s activities will bring, the door rolls to the side.

My heart races as my eye lands on Blair, who walks into the room. Under one arm is a large first aid kit and in the other hand is a large mixing bowl. Santi follows close behind her, a folding chair in his hand. Quickly he unfolds it, sets the chair beside the metal one Blair had sat in just yesterday, and steps back.

“Thanks,” Blair mutters as she places the bowl and first aid on the new seat.

“If you need us—” Santi starts.

“You’ll be right on the other side of that door, I know.”

Santi turns to look at me. He smiles but it’s cold and it’s followed by him flipping me off before heading out of the room. The moment the door slides back into place, my attention snaps back to Blair.

It must be late, given her attire. She’s wearing one of the guys’ shirts and her pajama shorts. I stare at her smooth, muscular legs as she walks over, unlocks the cage, and then nudges her head toward the metal chair.

“Come on. I’m going to clean you up.”

There’s nothing that would stop me from getting up and getting closer to her now. Not the pain in my ribs, or the dizzy spell that causes the room to spin when I get to my feet. Blair doesn’t move as I step out of the cage, but I catch sight of her eyes narrowing on me as I pass her to sit in the metal chair.

The minute I’ve sat down, Blair walks around me, grabbing a wrist as she moves by and jerking it back.

I swear as pain flares up my side. Then I do it again when she grabs my other wrist to pull it back. As she cuffs me from behind, I can’t help but bite out, “Is this really necessary?”

Blair doesn’t reply. Instead, she comes to stand in front of me. I start to tilt my head up to look into her face but my eyes lock onto the bandana she tugs from her pocket.

“Open your mouth,” she orders.

Understanding clicks swiftly. I glare at her. “You’re not going to gag⁠—”

She shoves the bandana into my mouth and wraps it around my head. I try to pull back but where the fuck am I going to go? So, I attempt to stand.

This earns me a slap across my busted face and I see stars instantly.

I stagger forward but Blair shoves me back down. Before I can shake off the pain, Blair’s on her knees, tying each ankle to a leg of the chair.