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As my mind clears, I become aware of the heavy silence all around me.
Suddenly, I realize that the girl in Jake’s bedroom has been quiet the whole time. She didn’t make a sound when the gun was fired. She didn’t even react when Jake was screaming after being shot.
Wondering if she’s okay, I hurry toward the room.
Confusion flits through me as I stare at the stranger. She’s awake and still bound to the headrest of the bed, but to my surprise, she looks calm.
“You killed him, didn’t you?” she says softly as a grin lifts the corners of her lips. “Can you please untie me now, please?”
Moving closer, I stare down at her beaten body.
Seth’s warning rings in my ear. I should figure out who she is before trusting her. “What’s your name?” I ask.
“Erin.”
“Hi, Erin,” I say, forcing a smile. “How old are you?”
“I’ll turn seventeen soon.”
Her reply shocks me. Jake was sexually assaulting a minor without a trace of shame or hesitation.
Disgust wells up inside me. How could I ever love a monster like Jake Hudson?
Moving closer to the bed, I start untying the knots that bind Erin’s wrists.
“Ouch! That hurts,” she cries out as the rough rope chafes against her bruised, bloodied skin.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize. “Maybe using a scissor would be better.”
“Where will you find one?”
“Just a sec.” Moving away from the bed, I look in the second drawer of the bedside table. A satisfied grin lifts the corners of my lips when I find a pair of scissors inside it.
Jake Hudson is painfully predictable. From his choice of using the same password everywhere to leaving things in their places, Jake’s personality has become his greatest weakness.
Grabbing the pair of scissors, I go back to helping Erin.
A sigh escapes her when the ropes fall away. Her eyes squeeze shut as she slumps against a pillow.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Everything hurts,” she groans, staring at me helplessly. “My arms have gone numb and I barely have the strength to move a muscle.”
“We don’t have time to waste,” I tell her in a grim tone. “We need to get away from here as soon as possible.”
“Can I at least get a sip of water?” she asks with a tired look on her young face.
I pause. My gaze travels over her thin face and emaciated body. Bruises and cigarette burns cover her pale arms and legs.
I know the pain she is in. Jake put me through the same torture while we were together.
“Stay here,” I tell her. “I’ll be right back.”
I hurry out of the room and go into the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, I grab a bottle of water. There’s not much food on the shelves, so I look for some snacks in the cabinets over the counter.
Armed with packets of cookies and chips, I go back into the bedroom.
