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Since she’s sitting so close to me, it’s easier to see her through the black veil. Her red lips purse in a straight line, her posture snapping straight. “I-I’m not sure.”
My brows shoot up from the surprise coursing through me. “Has this happened before?”
Rosario shakes her head. “I can’t tell you anything, Mackenzie. When I returned, Orpheus was taking Chase downstairs. When I opened my mouth, Orpheus glared at me and growled, ‘Don’t start questioning me, Rosario’ before he disappeared. A few moments later, Daemon arrived and followed Orpheus, so I came up here with you.” Her gaze moves to the corner of the room. It’s too dark for me to see anything, but the puzzle pieces are clicking into place. The storm knocked out the power, so the cameras up here aren’t working.
“Y-You’re different from the others, Rosario. I don’t just mean because you’re a woman.”
A faint blush is visible through the lacy fabric of her veil. She ducks her head, fingers lifting to twist the rosary again. She remains quiet, not saying anything.
“That’s beautiful.” I nod to the rosary. Her head lifts, eyes meeting mine.
“Thank you.” Her voice is low and raspy, full of emotion. “It’s the only thing I have that belonged to my mother.” She turns away, but not before I see the tear sliding down her cheek. Rosario is a bottled-up well of emotions, and for the first time since I’ve entered this haunted house of horrors, sympathy for her rolls through me.
“Rosario… You seem to be a victim of circumstance.”
The silence stretches between us, and I wonder if I overstepped my boundaries. I remain still, holding my breath, until she slowly turns her head toward me.
“You’re very astute, Mackenzie. There’s little I can say except… I was once like you.”
My mind whirls like a washing machine on a spin cycle. “Like me?”
“Yes.” Her voice is a dry, cracked whisper. “Maybe not as innocent as you, although I was a virgin as well. Our circumstances are similar.” She gestures toward the mattress we sit on. Her gaze is as sharp as a knife, boring into me. “You can never tell anyone what I say tonight. Understand?”
I mimic a zipper across my lips. “I promise I won’t tell anyone. This stays between us.” I jump as another crack of thunder sounds. “Damn storm.”
“This is supposed to be the last one.” Rosario pats my shoulder, then quickly slides her hand away, as though she shouldn’t have touched me.
With a sigh, she begins. “I had a rough childhood. There was a guy I was interested in. He was in foster care, just like me. He convinced me to check out this house in the woods that he claimed belonged to a famous cult leader. I was skeptical but thought I was in love. I would’ve followed him to the ends of the earth.” She looks around the room, her expression haunted. “Maybe I did.” Releasing the rosary, she blows out a breath. “I foolishly followed him here. And that’s when Orpheus captured me.”
I gasp, my hand flying over my lips. “Y-You were held c-captive?”
She gives a quick, stiff nod. “Yes.”
“What about him? The boy you were with.”
Rosario gives me a sad smile. “Most boys are not like Chase. As soon as the boy laid eyes on Orpheus, he pleaded for his life. He begged Orpheus to take me and spare him.”
My mouth flies open again, but no words come out. I’m appalled he was so willing to sacrifice her to spare his life.
A dry, humorless laugh escapes her. “Oh, Orpheus used it to his advantage. I was young and stupid. He said the boy wasn’t worthy of me. That I deserved better. I believed him when he said he wouldn’t treat me like that.” She turns her face away from mine, her shoulders slumping. She plays with the lacy edge of her sleeve, the candlelight casting orange and blue shadows over her pale fingers.
For the first time, I realized how beautiful she really is. And young. She must be in her mid-twenties.What the hell is she doing here with these freaks? She has her whole life ahead of her.
She turns back to me. “You’re different, Mackenzie. You remind me of someone I once knew.”
“Is that a good thing?”
A small smile curves her lips. “Yes. Her name was Emersyn. She sacrificed herself to save my life.” She pauses, staring at me intently. “Like Chase would do for you.”
My heart is pounding so fast I feel dizzy. I don’t want Chase to be sacrificed. We can’t end like that. It’s cruel and unfair.
Rosario grabs my hand and squeezes it. “I survived because I played the game. Play it better. If you see an opportunity, take it.”
We stare at one another for a long time. Her words ignite a new flame of hope, burning a path of determination through my veins.
Our story hasn’t ended. And I’m going to make damn sure when it does, Chase and I won’t be the victims of this tragedy.
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