There is still some good around me, after all, isn’t there? It is my friends who will help keep Sullen safe, and despite my rage—burning compartmentalized in the back of my mind—it is Cosmo who tried to keepmesafe, too.
There is a scurrying sound at my back and I freeze, heart slamming inside my chest in the sheer darkness. I cannot even see my hand in front of my face down here.
But it must have been a rat.
I continue, refusing to think of the tunnels beneath Hotel Number Seven. How badly I want Sullen by my side, his gloved hand in my own.
How much I want to fuck him again.
His cock is sobig,he fills me like no one ever has. Like no one ever will.
Shut up, Karia.I scold myself inside my own head. Now is not the time for lust.
Not yet.
Survive the night, the early morning, then we can do anything we want.
I smile as I think it.
I keep moving.
Another scurrying sound, this one accompanied by a squeak. I do not slow down and I do not let myself fear.
Because it is above me now.
The library, if my directions are correct, which they may not be at all. But even if I’m right, I’m not entirely certain how to get up there. Sullen mentioned many hidden passageways, but we did not have time to scope them all out. They would not be in floor plans, and they would not have been accessible to Sullen. But there is marginally more warmth here, below what I think is the library, and it could just be in my head, but that is how the room is inside, too.
Am I there?
I look up.
There is nothing but darkness, yet when I jump with my arm extended, my palm touches concrete.
There must be a way.
I take a breath, then close my eyes.
Think, Karia.
But all at once, it feels too much. I do not know how to get up there. I can see nothing. No one will hear me scream down here and if they did, who is to stay it won’t be someone who wants me dead?
Sullen is not with me.
Sullen is not fucking with me.
I want to shoot Cosmo.
I just fucking might.
My shoulders feel heavy. Everything feelstoo much.I think of Sullen holding me in the night, after.
Us, in the shower.
The way I have had of him what no one else has had. What no one else ever will.So long as I don’t fucking die down here.
I snap my eyes open at my resolve, and the sound.
Behind me.
