Page 68 of Dark Soul

Rogue didn’t hesitate. The man was cool under pressure.

Between them, they easily lifted the unconscious woman onto Dark’s back, then Rogue passed the ropes around her legs and shoulders, securing her.

They were almost done when Rogue spoke again.

“Are you sure about this, Dark?” There was a pregnant pause. “What was she doing here?”

“We’re about to find out. Tell the others to get the van ready.”

21

* * *

Alexia

It was the ringing in her ears that woke her up—a clanging loud enough that she opened her eyes to check where it was coming from.

She regretted it immediately and clenched them shut again, took a moment to orient herself. The pain was worse on the left side of her head. She brought up her hand to check—or at least tried to.

Her hand didn’t move.

She tugged harder.

By this time, the pain quickly took second place to her fear.

She opened her eyes again, squinting. She was sitting on a chair in a darkened room, her arms tied behind her, surrounded by shelves and bottles.

A wine cellar.

What am I doing in a wine cellar?

She tried to breathe, but her lungs refused to inflate.

This is wrong.

She couldn’t remember anything,

What happened?

“Here. Have a sip of water,” a deep voice said beside her. The owner of the voice raised a plastic water bottle to her lips.

Alexia pulled her head away.

She didn’t need water.

Her chest still wasn’t moving.

She was going to suffocate.

Something changed in the man’s manner as he recognized her distress. He pulled the water away and kneeled beside her. “Hey. Calm down. Breathe.”

Surprise made her lungs start working again.

She recognized him.

“You’re … Luke’s friend …” she said, confused.

Griffin nodded. From a table next to them, he pulled up a photograph.