“Will you come back?” Lacy asks, stopping me in my tracks.
“I’ll be back, I promise.” I say, giving her my word before striding over to the other door where the guards came through, gun aimed.
My feet barely hit the floor in these ridiculous heels as I’m yanked through the corridors of the mill by a too handsy guard, his fingers wrap tightly around my bicep, practically crushing the bone inside.
I’ve been bought. That’s all I can think about right now. Someone paid one million dollars to claim me as their own. It’s never happened before, Ricky never allowed it but I remember his words.I’ve got the perfect buyer lined up for you.My stomach bottoms out at the thought of where I’ll end up. What will he do to me? Will he kill me in the end? But what about Dean, my message I left behind at the prison? What if he’s too late?
I need to get out of here before I’m taken forever.
The guard throws me back into the bunker and quickly closes the door behind him just as gunshots start to fire somewhere in the distance.
What’s happening?
The sound of deafening gunfire never seems to end and thehorrifying screams of the girls echo throughout the corridors. What are the guards doing to them? Ricky made a ton of money tonight, there’s no way he’s killing his profits now, that would be stupid. What if the police are here? Maybe someone ratted Ricky out and now we’re being saved, or.. no, I can’t get my hopes up like that. I can’t allow my mind to think that Dean is here, that he finally found me because I’ll just crumble.
Coming up to a sitting position, I pull the heels off my already battered feet and throw them into the corner of the room before pulling myself up. My knees wobble from the lack of food and water but I manage to take small steps towards the door, pressing my ear to its surface, attempting to listen for any sort of police presence but it’s silent now, like it always is.
Lifting my hand to the door, I wrap it around the handle, feeling my pulse hammering through my veins. Did the guard even lock the door behind him? The question bounces around in my mind, dancing with the fear that’s already pumping through my system.
I could just pull it? See if it opens. But if it opens, what do I do then? Anyone could be waiting on the other side of that door and I’d probably die on the spot. On the other hand, the corridor could be clear, giving me the prime opportunity to get myself out of here, inform the police of what’s going on and try to get in touch with Dean to tell him where I am. All these thoughts bob around in my head to create a dull ache that slowly begins to bloom behind my eyes.
I’m in no fit state to run from this place, but I refuse to fucking die here.
Stepping away from the door for a second, I walk back over to the corner of the room, past Ellie’s corpse that’s still sitting in the wheelchair and grab the stone that I’ve been sharpening whilst I’ve been in here. I run the point across the pad of myfinger and immediately blood blooms to the surface. It’s in no way shape or form a decent weapon, but it’s enough to do some damage.
Gripping it tightly in my hand, I make my way back over to the door and give the handle a tug, the metal releases from the wall and I’m met with a blast of air from the corridor.
It’s open.
I can leave.
Nerves dance across my skin as I slowly poke my head out into the corridor, gripping onto the sharp stone for dear life, I place one foot out of the bunker, and then the other. Silence surrounds me again and I waste no time in shuffling along the wall towards a door, keeping my steps light and my wits sharp. I have no idea where this door leads but it seems to be the only way in and out of here so I’m taking my chances.
With bated breaths, I lift my free hand and push the door, feeling it give way before me, allowing me into another corridor where a light seems to break through in front of me. With each step, my hand shakes around the stone and it takes all my effort to keep it steady. This place is like a maze, hidden under the dirt of the old mill and I’m starting to think I’ll never find my way out of here.
Following the light at the end of the corridor, it leads me to another door which I gently push open, the hinges creak from the pressure and I wince at the sound, half expecting to be captured, my escape coming to a quick end but instead I’m met with silence. Where is everyone? Where are the rest of the girls?
Gunshots echo somewhere further into the mill and I quickly duck behind the door again when a guard comes running into the room, swiftly followed by another one. From the crack in the door, they both stand in the middle of the room, chests heavinglike they’ve been running from something.
“What the fuck is happening out there?” One of them retorts, his arm swinging towards the door they just entered through.
“Fuck if I know. Half of our crew is dead, and the buyers have been slaughtered.”
Guards are dead? And the buyers?
“Did you get a look at the fuckers who seem to be picking us off one by one?”
The other guard shakes his head, keeping his gun tight in his grip. “Not their faces anyway, two guys in suits and wearing masks.”
My breath catches in my throat and I slap my hand over my mouth, forcing the sound back in.
“Who’s there?” I hear one of the guards shout, his heavy footsteps coming closer to the door I’m hiding behind.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
