We finally reached the last room. I wrinkled my nose against the rank smell. Tears immediately fell to my cheeks, not because of my own misery, but because I finally saw the reality of how my friends had lived.
I hated them in that moment. I hated them for giving up and not coming with me. I hated them for trusting Nix to be a better alternative than death, even though they had seen what happened to their sisters.
I hated them for abandoning me when I needed them most.
And I hated me for letting them get away without them, for leaving them when they neededmemost.
At the same time I had never loved them more. I ached for them. My heart shattered for them.
I could only guess at the horrors they’d faced in the last year.
Nix pulled a key from a chain around his neck and opened the door. My friends lifted their heads from the mussed bed they sprawled out on. I watched them flinch with fear first. They saw Nix and they cowered. But gradually their attention shifted to me and I held my breath as I waited for their reaction.
I thought they would be angry with me. I thought they might hate me for leaving them… for escaping this. I thought they would at least be bitter I had escaped this fate, even if it had been for a short time.
I did not expect them to grieve the sight of me.
Their faces crumpled at the same time, silent tears streaking down their dirty faces.
“No,” Sloane whispered. “No, please, no, please,no.”
Exie couldn’t speak. Her sobbing was strong enough to choke her. She thrust her hands out in front of her and waved them wildly.
“I brought you a present,” Nix grinned at them. “What a happy reunion this is.” He pushed me inside with them.
“Ivy, no,” Sloane whimpered. “You’re not supposed to be here. You weren’t supposed to get caught.”
I wanted to tell them everything. I wanted to share my plan and give them hope, but I couldn’t just yet.
“Now, now, Pet,” Nix chided Sloane. He lifted her chin with his finger even while she recoiled from his touch. “I don’t want to hear that you’re ungrateful. Haven’t I given you everything you’ve needed? Haven’t I taken care of you in the best ways?”
Sloane trembled violently as she tried to turn away from him. He gripped her chin tighter and forced her to look into his eyes. Once he had her attention, he waited quietly for her to answer.
“Y-y-yes,” she mumbled.
“There, I can see how happy you are here.” He released her roughly and she fell back on her weak arms.
When Nix turned to face me I saw insanity dance in his eyes. He appeared wild in that moment, completely unhinged.
I swallowed, knowing that I had to be careful.
Now that I was here, I was less clear on how to execute my plan. I needed to transport us to my island, but I had no idea how to do that.
Most of all I needed time with my friends to encourage them and figure this out.
Some of the clouded haze cleared from his expression and he spoke softly to me. “I’m going to get cleaned up. When I get back, be ready to work.”
He moved toward me and I tried to step out of his way but he caught me by the shoulders and held me still.
He leaned toward me, running his nose along my temple. “I have waited so long for this,” he whispered. “You’re finally mine.”
I kept my mouth shut and stared at the wall over his head. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. But I couldn’t let him win. I had to hold myself together for just bit longer.
His dark chuckle followed him out of the room and when the bars were finally closed and locked I remembered to breathe.
“What are you doing here?” Sloane whined. She’d pressed herself against the headboard of the bed and pulled her knees to her chest. “He’s going to kill you.”
“No,” I told her immediately. “He wants me alive.”
