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A living room.
It's dark and the air reeks of old musk.
I lean against a wall and fold over on my knees, gasping for breath.
“Where's my little pet gone?” Maksim says from the entrance hall.
I whip up my head too fast and rock off balance.
Shit.
I'm either going to have to fight my way to freedom or beg him to just kill me.
I'll beg him to take mercy on me. He has to see reason. In that dark soul of his, there has to be some kindness in there somewhere—even I have kindness in me.
“She must be in there. The door was closed,” Rumo says, and all thoughts of begging go out the window.
Fuck knows how I manage it, but I dart across the living room, stubbing my toe on something.
“Ouch,” I gasp under my breath.
Another door. I shove it open and stumble through, finding myself in the hall that leads to the ballroom where James and I fought. The floors are so cold that they burn my wounded feet.
Running my hand along the wall for stability, I make my way to the ballroom, knowing French doors lead off there, into the garden. I can get out of the house through the ballroom.
“Blaire,” a voice whispers from behind me and a red mist descends. All my pain fades into the background and the only thing I can think about is escaping Maksim.
I spin around. It knocks off my equilibrium, but I'm well aware who I come face to face with. Carl.
“I won't go back to Maksim,” I say under my breath, and acting on instinct, I swipe for his throat with wicked pursuit. “You hear me?”
He gasps as I pinch his windpipe, digging in my nails so hard that I draw blood.
“I won't go back to Maksim,” I hiss in his face, squeezing my teeth shut for strength.
“Let me go,” he chokes, clutching my wrist with both hands. “I-I'm trying to help you.”
I'm numb to his plea. He's slowly fading, and I'm slowly ripping into his throat. I don't want to do this but I can't go back.
“I'm sorry,” I whimper, watching Carl drift away.
“Blaire!” someone yells from down the hall.
I freeze then, staring at Carl's bloodshot eyes, my own blood roaring in my ears.
Heavy footsteps come toward me, followed by a fuss of voices.
Tears stream down my face, bitter tears. Maksim. He's going to take me.
A hand closes around mine and pries me off Carl, who crashes to the floor in a pile of skin and bones. That black switch goes off in my mind. I can't stop it. I don't want to stop it. It's the only thing keeping me alive.
Screaming at the top of my lungs, I pound at god knows who—I'm not even sure if it's Maksim. I don't give a shit if it is. I won't go back to him.
“Calm down!” Maksim fights to restrain me but I'm going wild, clawing at anything and everything. “Calm down, Blaire! It's me, Charlie!”
Not Maksim. Charlie.
I stop dead.
