AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Helovesit.
“You deserve to die,” he continues calmly. “But because I care about Audrey, I’m going to give you a chance.”
Her eyes widen at the mention of Audrey’s name.
“I don’t know howyou got the footage of what happened in the lab, but you’re going to retract your statement,” he continues. “It wasn’t Audrey that broke in. You don’t know whoit was, because the video isn’t clear enough. Nod if you understand.”
She obeys and whimpers something intelligible under his hand.
“If you don’t change your statement, I will be your worst nightmare and enjoy every minute of it. Do you understand me?”
She nods again.
“Great.” He releases her, and just like he expected, she screams. He rolls his eyes and sighs.
“You can call the police now. They should be here in about five minutes,” he says, stepping back from her.
She throws her lamp at him, which he easily dodges as it crashes into the wall. “You’re a fucking psychopath!”
“Guilty,” he grins. “But remember what I said. Retract your statement, and everything will be fine. If you don’t, we will have a much different conversation.”
He’s the master of mind games. He could make her live in fear for the rest of her life, tormenting her any way he can.
He leaves her, whistling cheerfully as he walks out her front door.
By the time he’s driving away, he hears sirens in the distance, and he laughs.
CHAPTER 24
AUDREY
“Canada.”
Mindy’s eyes are stained with tears as she continues.
“It’s the best choice for you until the civil unrest settles,” her sister says. “Your lawyer says you have maybe a week before they force you into an Omega city. The government knows where you are now, and all it takes is an executive order to take you away.”
Audrey places her head in her hands and sighs.
“And if that detective comes back…I don’t know what to do, Audrey. This is your best choice.”
Audrey’s ankle monitor beeps, and she wiggles her bare foot at Mindy.
“What about this?” she asks. “I’m supposed to break house arrest and somehow make it to another country?”
“We could find someone that has the right tools,” Mindy says as she frowns. “Maybe we could—”
Audrey sighs. “And they’ll saw this off me? It won’t work, Mindy. I won’t let you get wrapped up in this.”
Audrey’s exhausted. She just wants all of this to be over, and if she thinks about Julian and Pearl for too long, she’ll spiral.
“Whatever happens, happens,” she adds.
“Damn it,no,” Mindy snaps, sitting on the edge of Audrey’s bed. “I won’t let them take you.Momwouldn’t let them take you. Don’t do this, Audrey,pleasedon’t give up.” Mindy grabs her hands and holds them. “You still need to go to graduate school and become a biologist, or scientist, or whatever you want.Please, just hold on with me. Don’t give up hope.” Her sister’s voice cracks, and she squeezes Audrey’s hands tighter.
Audrey can’t bear to hurt her sister anymore, so she simply nods. Later in the day, she forces herself to eat an entire bowl of soup and feels marginally better.
Something has to change, though. She can’t stay in limbo like this forever—Mindy’s right.
