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I knew there was no way of me escaping, yet the fantasy felt too good to let go of it just yet. But then I saw people moving in, two large, broad-shouldered men blocking the sunlight from coming into the room as they walked inside. They were shielding something with their bodies, but I couldn’t see well because of the sunlight. They moved inside, and I watched with genuine curiosity as a girl stepped out from the shadows.
The second I realized who it was my stomach twisted into a thousand painful knots. I thought I would scream and fall to my knees, but instead, I just stood there uselessly, staring at the girl before me.
She was my age, and she wore a simple outfit like she always had when I’d known her, a plain blue dress with a small flower print and a pair of old sneakers. Her red hair was wild and beautiful, and I wanted to weep at the sight of her.
Amber.
He’d taken Amber.
I ran towards her, and judging by her easy but confused smile, I knew she didn’t know what she was in for yet. The hall went silent as the other girls welcomed our new arrival. Some covered up, others stopped what they were doing. It seemed as if all of us, with the exception of the cruel man behind me, knew this wasn’t right.
She didn’t belong there.
Before Amber could say a word, I turned towards Ellis and a look of pure hatred took over my face. I wanted to kill him, wipe that fucking smirk off his face the first second I could. I ran to him, my fists pummeling against his chest, not giving a shit whether I’d get punished for it. He needed to get it through his thick skull that this was fucking wrong, that he’d seriously messed up by taking her. She wasn’t like me. She was an innocent girl, unable to handle whatever he would’ve done to her.
“Take her back!” I screamed at him while everyone watched in utter silence, too stunned to speak. “You can’t do this! She doesn’t deserve this, she’s innocent! You need to take her the fuck back!”
“Watch your tongue,” Ellis said mockingly. “If she’s such an innocent little girl she probably shouldn’t hear you cursing.”
“Fuck you!” I snarled.
As if that was important right now.
She looked just like she had back at home in London, and her mere presence made me want to weep. She shouldn’t have been there, but neither should I. And all I wanted to do was hold her, take comfort in her embrace. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I needed to get her out of there and fast.
“Hi,” I whispered, and she hugged me easily, not knowing what she’d walked into.
“Hi!” she exclaimed with excitement. “I’m so happy to see you, Harlow!”
The world froze when she said my name. I waited for the blow to rain on her, for someone to correct her. But everyone else seemed as dismayed about her presence as I was. Everyone except for him.
“We were all so worried when you left,” she said. “Especially Madame… And Carina! But when we got notice of you coming here to study dancing in more depth we knew you did the right thing. God, it’s been months, hasn’t it?”
I nodded miserably. What else could I have said? I was relieved someone had fed her the fake story, but I didn’t know how long they’d let the illusion last. And the thought of being away from it all, from my life, for months at a time, made me depressed. Had it really been that long since I’d been taken? I couldn’t believe it.
“It has been amazing,” I somehow managed to reply, and she beamed at me brightly. “I’ve learned a lot.”
“I couldn’t believe my luck when they came to collect me,” she gushed. “No one could. I am so excited to start studying with you!”
I cringed at the thought.
“I’m sorry they woke you up for my arrival,” Amber grinned, motioning at my outfit. “I hope I haven’t disturbed you too much. You look…”
She gave me a once-over, seemingly surprised and at a loss for words on how to finish her sentence. I didn’t want her to. Instead, I pulled her in for another hug. She smelled of baby powder and violets like she always did. I’d missed that scent, and I’d missed her. I didn’t want her there, but I would do whatever it took to keep her safe and I would fucking kill Ellis later. I wasn’t going to let him get away with this.
“Come on, let’s find your room,” I told her gently, and she nodded with excitement. “Did you bring anything with you?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “My stuff’s with them…”
She motioned toward the guards curiously, but I steered her away, up the stairs. I didn’t want anyone’s attention on her. Somehow, my protective instincts kicked in. I wasn’t going to let her get hurt in any shape or form. Perhaps she was still blissfully unaware of the fact, but I knew neither of us was getting away anytime soon. Not unless my sleeping pill plan worked…
