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The cold,unyielding concrete of my cell serves as a constant reminder of the brutal reality we find ourselves in.
Across from me, in the other cell, the soft sobs of the woman who’s endured unimaginable torture, shreds my guts and breaks my heart. Barbi lies motionless, her body an ugly canvas of bruises and wounds inflicted upon her by Artemus’s interrogators.
Wounds inflicted, because of me.
Pain endured, because of me.
Tortured, because of me.
I’m sick to my stomach with the way I’ve failed her.
And now?
Her very breath is a struggle. Each inhale shallow and labored, rattling around in her chest. She’s strong, incredibly strong, but that strength fades with each interrogation. She was never meant to endure this.
“Barbi, can you hear me?” I grit my teeth, worried about the extent of her injuries.
The only reason she’s here is because of me.
“It just hurts.” Strain fills her voice.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” She has every reason to hate me for putting her in this position, yet Barbi lays no blame at my feet.
Which only makes things worse.
It’s one hundred percent my fault she’s here. If not for me, she’d be safe in her townhouse, surrounded by her friends. Instead, she’s trapped in this living nightmare with me.
Her cries inflict far more damage than anything Artemus could throw at me, and he knows it. He uses her pain against me.
“I promise we’ll get out of here.” I wish we were together. If we were, I’d reach out for her, cradle her in my arms, then lean down to kiss her cheek. I wish my words were true, but the fact is, we’re not making it out of here alive.
“I’m so sorry.” She curls into the fetal position and sobs. “I’m not strong like you.”
I never wanted her to be strong. I never wished this on her. Yet, Barbi endures because of me. All I can do is lend what strength I can.
“You’re stronger than you know. Bravo will find us. We just need to hang on a little longer.”
I push myself into a sitting position. My muscles protest every movement. The confines of our prison suffocate us. Its walls contain the pain of countless victims of torture who came before us. The scars etched into the cold stone serve as a chilling reminder of the horrors that unfold within these walls.
As for our cells, there’s no escape. The air hangs heavy with a sense of foreboding. I don’t know how much more we can endure.
My gaze drifts to the door of my cell. Reinforced with heavy iron, there’s literally no escape. All we can do is wait and pray for rescue. But how will Guardian HRS find us with my trackers removed?
I’ve never been in this position before. Always I’m the one who rescues others; needing someone to rescue me grates on my nerves, but what can I do except wait and hope Guardian HRS comes to our rescue?
Which may, or may not, happen.
With my trackers gone, Mitzy’s team can’t find me. We could die in here before Guardian HRS even knows we’re missing. As far as my bosses are concerned, I’m on leave. They won’t even think about looking for me until it’s too late.
The only reason we’re still alive is because Artemus wants Forest Summers. The man is obsessed with our illustrious leader.
All I have to do is serve up the life of Forest Summers, along with the secrets of Guardian HRS, and Artemus will set us free. Only, I’ll never surrender Forest to this madman. Which means freedom comes only with the blissful embrace of death. The only hope I have for Barbi is that her death comes quickly.
I hate myself.
There are no illusions here. Artemus has no intention of letting us out of this place. If we don’t escape, this is where we die.
