Chapter Thirty-Three
RILEY
I don’t knowhow long I’ve been trapped in this room. Hours? Days?
Time doesn’t seem to move normally anymore. It just stretches and folds in on itself until I can’t tell whether I’ve been sitting here for five minutes or five hours.
The air is so cold, my lungs ache when I breathe.
I’m curled up on the thin mattress, my arms wrapped around my knees, rocking back and forth just to stop myself from shivering, but it’s not exactly working well.
My lips are dry and cracked, and the skin around the cut on my arm still feels hot to the touch as it continues to ooze yellowish pus.
I keep imagining the infection spreading through my bloodstream.
My poor baby is depending on my body to keep it safe when in fact it might already be turning toxic.
A hysterical laugh escapes my lips.
I wonder what will kill me first, dehydration or infection?
A few hours ago, all I had to worry about was whether Kieran was going to read my letter, and now I’m wondering what will be determined as my cause of death.
My breaths come fast and shallow as that familiar surge of panic intensifies with the sound of footsteps outside the door.
My pulse spikes, and I press my back against the wall, my heart hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat.
The door handle turns with a metallic click, and the hinges groan as it swings open.
Sean stands in the doorway, framed by the yellowish light spilling in from the hall.
When he sees me cowering in the corner, his lips pull up into a smile.
“I have some good news.Ye’re going to be reunited with Kieran soon.”
My mouth goes dry because I know better than to take Sean’s words at face value. For all I know, he could mean reunited in death.
“What do you mean?”
His grin widens as he stalks toward me with a feral gleam in his eyes.
“It turns out Kieran is even stupider than I thought. He actually believes I’m going to letyego in exchange for his life. It’s almost disappointing how easy this is. I was hoping to have a little more fun withye.”
The room starts to tilt.
“You’re lying…”
“Am I?”
Kieran wouldn’t agree to such a ridiculous exchange, would he?
“All I had to do was dangleyelike bait, and he came running. It’s pathetic how much he’s wrapped aroundyerlittle finger. I guess that pussy ofyersmust be really worth it. Makes me wonder ifyewere ever really a virgin. But I guess that doesn’t matter now. What matters is that I make the most of havingyewhileye’re still alive.”
My chest tightens until I can barely breathe.
“Please, Sean, don’t do this.”
“Oh, Riley.” He crouches down in front of me, close enough that I can smell the bitter coffee and the faint tang of sweat on his skin. “Yestill don’t get it, doye? I’m not doing thistoye. I’m doing thisbecauseofye.Yemade this happen the secondyechose him.”
