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It takes me a few more minutes to realize the one obvious thing that’s missing that might clue me in to what happened.
An hour later, I find her car a few miles down the road from Eternity. Despite the situation, I feel the corner of my lip turn up. Smart girl, using the woods to travel there.
I don’t have keys but looking inside the vehicle gives me no better clues. At least I know she got this far and into the woods. My eyes widen as a new terror crosses my mind. Maybe something happened to her there, in the woods?
Decision made, I march into the trees.
I won’t fail this time.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bring Me to Life
Echo
“Why do you cry, pretty girl?” A voice brings me back to my surroundings, pulling me from the memories that threaten to overwhelm me.
I bring a hand up, feeling the wetness on my face, as I look through the bars into Neil’s face. He’s crouched in front of me. The lights cast shadows on his face, making his eyes appear as black holes.
“Fuck you,” I spit out, proud my voice doesn’t shake but wishing I had a better insult.
He smirks.
“Soon enough,” he says as he stands. It’s then that I realize we aren’t alone. Tanner and another man I don’t know step toward the other girl's cage. Neil stands beside me, watching my cell with intensity. I keep my eyes on Neil, but from the corner of my eye, I can see them open the cage. The girl makes no noise.
“Just thought I’d say hi while we were in the area,” he says to me, ignoring what’s going on behind me. “Wanted to make sure you liked your new accommodation.”
I don't say anything.
It takes everything in me to keep Neil’s gaze. The malice pouring off him surprises me. Does he know who I am? I don’t think so, but that doesn’t seem to halt the rage. I suppose I did stab his friend, but even before this, I should have known.
How did I not see it? Was I so blind in my revenge?
My eyes dart to Tanner. He has his hand wrapped around the tiny girl's arm, leading her out of the cage. I can see her body trembling from here as they begin to lead her away toward the stairs at the far end of the room.
“Wait,” Neil says, and I feel my blood run cold. “Bring her back here.”
I watch with dread as the girl comes back, her eyes wide with terror. He drags his eyes from me and looks at her, nodding downward. Her head drops as she gets on her knees in front of him.
My eyes stay on his and I have to keep the tremble out of my own body as I hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper. It’s a sound I’ve heard a million times before, but never has it felt so ominous.
Neil puts a hand down and I hear her gagging. Tanner and the other man laugh behind him. Neil’s eyes leave mine and go to the ceiling while he pushes the girl's face into him. The choking sounds combined with his grunt of pleasure shoot pain into my own heart.
Neil looks at me and smirks before blowing me a kiss with a wink.
“I’ll be back for you soon.”
I watch the door for what feels like a long time after they leave.
Regret and fear sit heavy inside me, threatening to overwhelm me. My chest feels tight and I have to force myself to breathe.
You’ve gotten out of this once,I remind myself.And this time, you even have something worth going back to.
The tears I’m holding back spill over when the thoughts of Killian surface, colliding with my nightmares and putting me into a frenzy.
Last time, you barely made it out and they’ve had another decade to get organized, get better, the same as you. You won’t make it out this time.
“Shut up!” I screech at the voice in my head, my hands clawing at my hair. Tears stream down my face as I begin to hyperventilate, no longer able to keep the darkness at bay.
