The smoke—veryrealsmoke—is now billowing into the Funhouse from somewhere I can’t see. I cover my mouth and nose with my shirt and continue running towards that light.
Where the hell is Dante?
I hope he’s outside because that’s where I’m going. I keep running towards that red light, but after a few minutes of running, it seems like it’s not getting any closer. The thick smoke fills my nostrils and lungs, making it harder to breathe by the minute. If I don’t get out of here soon, I might not make it.
My eyes start to burn, and I can’t tell if it’s from the smoke or tears. The Funhouse is still dark, but I can see the smoke getting thicker around me. I don’t hear Dante running behind me, and now I’m wondering if he really did leave me in here to die.
The realization of his betrayal hits me hard. Why go through all of this just to get rid of me? I thought we were happy, that we would spend the rest of our lives together, and now he does this shit?
And I thought he was just so perfect. So amazing.
So…
Everything.
I close my eyes and will the tears not to come, but I’m so overwhelmed with emotion that I can’t do anything but curl into myself and cry. Even as the smoke surrounds me in this dark hall, I settle onto the floor on my knees and break down in tears.
I’m so tired. For two years, I silently prayed every day that I could find the courage to leave Evan. Two years of hoping things would magically get better and we could have a normal life together.
But then I met Dante, and everything changed.
And now he’s left me. I’m all alone, and I don’t think I’ll be able to make it out of here.
CHAPTER 48
DANTE
“Where is she?”I gasp, spitting out blood onto the dirty wooden floor of the Funhouse.
Ronnie fucking Newsome walks in front of where I lie on the floor. I try to push myself up, but I’m so weak.
How the hell he survived that fire weeks ago, I’m not sure. But I got too caught up in Essence that I hadn’t been keeping up with any news reports about it. That’s completely my fault, and now my flower is in danger because of me.
“Where the fuck is she?” I yell, pushing myself onto my elbow. I try to look up at him but a sharp pain pierces my skull.
My memory is fuzzy, but I remember telling Essence to run so I could chase her. A few seconds later, Ronnie attacked me from behind. I’m much larger than him, but I don’t know what kind of superhuman strength he possesses to be able to overpower me so easily.
He caught you off guard, I tell myself.
Like the fucking coward he is.
“Get up,” he taunts me, knowing damn well I can hardly move.
Essence, where are you?
I hope she got out. I need to at least know that she made it out of here alive.
“Please,” I beg. “Just tell me that she’s okay.”
I don’t care how pathetic I sound—for Essence, I’ll give up every ounce of dignity I have if it means knowing that she’s safe. Lunchbox needs her, Ebony and Matthew need her.
Hell,Ineed her, but I might not be able to get out of here.
Ronnie just laughs and kicks my ribs for the fourth time. I’m sure they’re bruised, if not broken.
“Why do you deserve to see your little girlfriend again when my wife and child are gone?” he asks cruelly, crouching in front of me.
For the first time since he attacked me, I can clearly see his face, which is covered in scars on one half. The rest of his body is covered with probably three layers of clothes, presumably to hide the rest of the scars.
