AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should have called me sooner,” a deep, male baritone rumbles reproachfully.
“I was scared,” a female replies.
“I’ll always protect you, tesoro,” softer this time.
“Like you protected her?” Scathing.
“Tesorito.” Pleading.
“Save it. Save her instead.” Dismissive.
“What happened?” Confusion.
“Once she passed out they were less interested in playing. They like the screams and the fear and reactions too much. They left and when the cleanup crew went in and found out that her heart had stopped…I called you.”
“And now?”
“They got her heart working again but she hasn’t come round yet.”
This isn’t my memory.
“I’m going to need your security footage,” a new, tougher voice adds.
“Of course. But they wore masks.” Sorry.
“Personal details, identities then,” they snap.
“You know we can’t.” Firm. Apologetic.
“You’ll do it if you want to live.” Unyielding. “Now. Go.”
This isn’t my past nightmare.
I know those voices.
The beep of a door unlocking, opening, fresh air washing over me dances at the edge of my consciousness, teasing me to come back. But the seductive pull of the darkness is hard to resist and I succumb to it with open arms.
Then I’m rudely pulled back by persistent, insistent shaking.
Crack.
A blow to the cheek that feels like child’s play makes me laugh.
“Better than that…” I mumble.
“Wake up! Odi!”
A massive yawn escapes me but it seems to do the job of drawing enough air into my lungs to make my eyes open.
I gasp, staring up into the concerned face of Hector. Frowning, I try to remember if he ever gave me his full name…or if I gave him mine. It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. Not when—
“What…doing…here?” Ugh my mouth feels like it’s full of cotton wool. “Drink.”
Thankfully, Hector seems to understand me and presses a bottle of water into my hands. I take it then freeze.
“It’s safe. I promise,” he insists gently. I attempt to open the bottle but I’m too weak, so Hector does it for me. I take small sips of the water but I’m so thirsty I just want to gulp it down in one. “Easy, careful now.”
“Thanks.” I pass the almost empty bottle back to him and he discards it on the bed beside me.
