“Wait, we’re not out of the woods yet. Give me a few minutes so I can decipher these plates I was just able to grab from the frame.” He begins typing furiously into the keyboard. Beckett comes up next to him, watching in awe with the different codes that cascade across the screen.
Antonio and I sit there in silence as he works. He hasn’t said anything since we joined them. He’s a man of few words but in his line of work, they’re taught not to panic. They take action before asking for permission. Panic is a sign of weakness, I know all too well from the SEALs. I’ve never felt personally attacked until now and it’s as if every lick of training went out the window when she invaded my life. Everything logical, warning signs, profiling seemed to falter when it came to her. My phone chimes with an email notification.
I really need to delete my work email from my phone but the subject line catches my attention and I click on it.
Every sinner has an end.
For every sin committed must be marked. For thou shall repent for the heinous acts committed. The demon imbeds its claws deep within, not allowing it to leave the body it took over. It’s her choice now whether to give into the demon or to fight the treacherous beast.
A picture file is attached to the email and I open it to see what it is. The picture pops up and I see a table with scalpels, knives, and other torture devices spread across the surface. He’s moving up his normal timeline as if something or someone has triggered him. Something deep down is telling me this is going to be the worse form of torture than the rest. But why is he giving us a warning? My hands begin to tremble and my breathing picks up. Someone comes up beside menoticing the change in demeanor and takes the phone. Italian comes from the person in fury, loud and fast.
“We need to get to her now before she’s dead,” I say to no one in particular before I walk out of the room, heading outside to get some air before I shout to the darkened sky.
Death is knocking at the door waiting to collect what is owed to him but I’ll be damned if he takes her away from me. All I know is, Oliver’s not going to live behind bars after this. He will be meeting the devil sooner than he expected.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CELESTE
“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Ican’t even tell you how long we’ve been stuck here. Time doesn’t exist, only the painful chants and exhausting drowning. I keep thinking the next form of punishment will come andhewill move to something more intense but I’ve been drowned several times due to my unfiltered, taunting mouth. Today he decided that I needed a break because he moved on to Monroe. She didn’t stay under as long as I did but she had her fair share of rounds and desperate gasps of air. He’s left Samantha alone as if he forgot she exists. Good.
I watch as he drags the horse trough over to Monroe and fills it with never-ending water. My mind goes completely empty as I watch the water flow through the hose, lost in the abyss. The running of water shouldn’t make me feel as calm as I do, especially when I know what’s to come for the other person chained on the other wall. Surprisingly, she doesn’tbeg for mercy but remains calm and silent as she too watches. She won’t repent nor answer him, which makes him all the more furious.
He wants us to speak, but then gets pissy if we do. Then when the silence fills the room, he gets utterly frustrated. He doesn’t know what he wants to be honest. We aren’t like the others who would beg and plead for their lives. We let the demons take course, or at least I do. Monroe seems to pick up on it or she’s as petty as I am to not bow down to his demands. Each round she received had four dunkings, all about twenty seconds long back to back.
After the second round, he pulled her to the surface, shoving her to the floor. She coughs up water and lays back down staring at the ceiling. I can start to see life seep out of her eyes as if she’s ready to give up. She can’t take any more punishments. She wasn’t made for this and I’ll gladly take it all for them. It’s my fault she’s here and she won’t endure anymore. No matter how much she annoys the shit out of me, I have this urge to protect her, shield her from him.
He paces back and forth speaking to no one in particular. His hands twitch like he’s fighting some sort of possession. A screech leaves his mouth and he starts pounding at the side of his head, which causes Samantha to flinch. “Pain. Suffer. Repent.” He repeats over and over again before he disappears up the stairs, locking us away in our chamber of hell.
I wonder if anyone is looking for us. Our plan went to utter shit considering he caught onto the tracker and was way more prepared than we thought. We would be out of here by now if we’d done things differently. Of course, Monroe getting caught up in the mix has created a shift as I now am responsible for getting another body out alive. Why did she have to be so damn nosey and follow me? I know better to doubt if anyone is coming. I know my cousin will be fightingtooth and nail to get to me, but I wonder if Alaric is fighting along with them or if he’s caught up with the agency looking for Monroe. There’s no doubt they know she’s missing as I assume it’s been days with no word. Has he noticed my absence was due to being captured as well?
The one thing that’s kept me sane here is picturing that I’m in his embrace. The feel of his hands and the way he holds me as if I’m going to disappear at any moment and it’s our last. I try to remember his scent to ground me and keep me stable. Will our last moments be at the club, where I had teased him with a whisper of a kiss? He’s the one thing that’s made me feel alive, he’s the one thing that’s kept me from drowning deeper in the dark. It felt good to be truly wanted and worshiped as if I meant something to him. All I knew growing up was the love of my father but even that was tainted with violence, training, and ruthlessness.
Blinking, I bring myself back to present and look over at Monroe who hasn’t moved from the spot where he left her. She’s still alive as her chest rises up and down. She’s soaking wet, shivering from the cold air that keeps our bones stiff.
“Monroe, are you doing okay over there?” I break the silence, turning my head in her direction, noticing she’s finally pushing herself up at the sound of my voice.
“Considering I was just nearly drowned to death, I’m just peachy.” She pushes toward the wall causing the chains to rattle.
Sobs catch my attention and I turn my head in the direction where Samantha is held. I can’t see her fully because the lighting around her is dark but I see a silhouette rocking back and forth. She went from a happy, lively woman to a scared, broken girl and it breaks my heart to see this version of her. Because of everything she has endured before we got here, I’m afraid she’s going to be lost when she gets home.
Maybe the only thing that will bring her back is the little girl who longs for her mother. The sweet reflection of Samantha in a child form. So full of love, kindness, and warmth. If that doesn’t work, I’m afraid we’ve lost her. I’ll be damned if she goes through any more pain because if she does, she might be lost forever.
“He won’t touch either of you again. I’ll make sure of it. Stay silent, be ready because I’ll get us out of here, I swear it.” I give them a promise that I’m determined to keep.
Time goes by as we sit in silence. I manage to get a little sleep as my body gives in to sheer exhaustion. Sleep has been nonexistent with the chains rubbing me raw, the horrible bed, and waiting for the second he comes back. I know I need some, though, in order to fully function to get us out. He hasn’t come back with our water or food like he normally does which is odd for him. Either something happened out there, or he’s planning the next punishment.
Like clockwork, the locks click and the door creeks open causing me to jolt upright. Lights flicker on and slow, elaborate steps descend down the stairs casting an eerie feeling. My body stiffens as I notice him stop at the bottom of the steps flipping a knife in the air over and over again catching at the base of the handle each time. His head turns to each of us as if he’s trying to figure out which one of us is next.
He turns towards Samantha and her chain rattles as she tries to push away from him. She gasps as he stops in front of her. I can hear her breathing pick up. He bends down, grabbing her chains, causing her to be yanked forward, landing face down onto the concrete floor. Her forehead hits the ground causing a cry to leave her lips. Bending down, he presses a knee to the top of her shoulders to hold her down as he rips the back of her dress. My heart begins to race; she’s his next victim.
I need to act fast before he begins his assault. If he wantsevil to come out and play so he can teach it a lesson, then I’ll give him one.
“The demon inside me tells me you’re going to suffer a gruesome death. The taste of your blood is going to be so sweet upon my lips,” I purr at him, causing his head to snap in my direction.
He rises to his feet, relieving the pressure from Samantha and tilts his head to the side, nostrils flaring. He mutters something under his breath that I can’t fully understand but I’ve caught his attention. I force my body up to a standing position and walk forward towards him but am immediately stopped by the chains that bind me.
