I won’t harm you.
Decker:
What do you want?
Me:
Come outside
“Drive down the block,” I say, strained as I grip the trim of the car to climb out. “Remember, if you get hungry, there are burgers on the backseat. Donotkill anyone.”
She hesitates as she lets go of her straw. “Will you be okay?”
“Yeah, crazy pants. Wait for me, okay? Keep your head down so no one sees your mask.”
She nods as I close the door then watch her slowly pull away. The drive to Mr. Mannix has allowed her to learn how to be careful instead of the recklessness she’s used to within Rowan’s world. The real one isn’t forgiving and she’s not going to be put in a cell for people to abuse her if anyone sees her.
The large gates in front of the house groan as they roll on the electronic track. I turn, watching the man who owes me his freedom walk towards me with his hand tucked into the pocket of his sweats.
“Mr. Mannix,” I smile, the ketamine still numbing the pain. “Are youthathappy to see me?”
It’s definitely a gun but I’m too giddy at being close the finish line where my real life will start so I don’t give a fuck. My empty sleeve is still tucked into my pocket, and the drugs dull me as hesnatches my throat, pushing me through the wrought iron gate enclosing the park he probably walks his dogs through.
“Do you have a dog?” I ask.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“I think you have a dog,” I slur.
Taking the gun from his pocket, he presses it to my temple, unclicks the safety, then repeats, “What the fuck do you want?”
“Help,” I answer honestly. “I set you free. So repay the debt. Help me get my wife back.” I wince as I move my arm. “I need a doctor, one who isn’t connected to Rowan and won’t report what they treat.”
“Who’s your wife?” he asks without lessening the pressure against my temple.
“Delilah.” I smile at her name like a pathetic fuck. “I helped you, you know? When we collected you, the guards tried to remove your pants.Istopped them. I put her in your arms too. I made sure they couldn’t touch you.”
“Helped?” he spits as the birds begin chirping with the pre-dawn sky lightening. “You didn’t fucking help me by taking me to that fucking hell. Do you know what it’s like to burn?”
“My twin died in a fire, so in a way, yeah, I do.”
His finger trembles on the trigger, debating whether to kill me or help me.
“I’ll give you Rowan,” I concede. “I just want my wife.”
He pushes the gun harder against my skull, so hard there’ll be an imprint left in the fragile bone. Then the old fuck pistol whips me.
70
DELILAH
Nova doesn’t talk about the fact she saved my life. Neither do I. We went back to our routine of her glaring at me while we eat, work out, anything. But I’ve taken her advice, so I don’t cry or beg when they take me to the Rooms. I stare through the mirrors, meeting my own eyes and allow my hate to be seen. It’s stopped them from selecting me since I’ve also stopped reacting. No matter what they do, I haven’t screamed.
But I can’t earn the drugs. I’m going crazy in the dorm as I pace on my third day without sleep. My veins are on fire. I keep getting hot then cold, throwing up, yet the lack of sleep is the one that’s making it unbearable. My mind is fracturing in this fucking place, stuck in time, each day endless without any reference while I stare at the empty fucking room, begging my mind to let me sleep.
The door slides open, interrupting my pacing as hope of getting anything to stop this torture makes me run to the end of the bunk. My face falls when I see Jasper softly smiling at me.
“You’re moving dorms,” he says, still smiling.
