My strength finally gives out. Everything starts to spin. The adrenaline, the rage—drains out of me all at once.
Leaving nothing behind.
Just terrifying darkness at the edges of my vision.
And one last thought.
She’s safe.
Then I let go.
FORTY-THREE
Charlotte
I know I should move. Run, probably.
But my feet are rooted to the floor. Right where Theo left me as he strode toward Scar.
I’ve never seen him like this before. His frame coiled tight, muscles cording at his neck.
He looks dangerous—bloodthirsty.
I can feel Mistress tugging at my torn hoodie. Wrapping a hand around my elbow. But I don’t want to leave.
I flinch when he slams his head into Scar’s face. There’s a sickening crack that echoes when Theo goes in again. And again.
Through the chaos, he finally looks at me. Relief flickers—brief and fragile—but it vanishes just as quickly. His eyes darken with something heavier.
Another tug at my arm makes my stomach twist. Mistress is saying something—her voice urgent, insistent—but I don’t hear it.
My eyes are locked on Theo’s ravaged face.
Go.
That’s what he mouthed, wasn’t it?
Hesitantly, painfully, I give in to the impossible choice and move.
Each step feels wrong. Heavy. But I don’t turn away from him. Not until the fight disappears behind the door we push through.
Then we’re running.
My breath tears out of me in ragged pulls, my lungs burning as I try to keep up.
“I need you to keep up,” she pants. “I’ll leave you at the west exit if your club is there and go back.”
I nod, but she can’t see me. Her focus zeroed in on navigating this labyrinth of a place.
We climb another flight of stairs and I flinch when screams echo from the floors above.
“Those are coming from the dorms,” she says, almost casually. “Used to be the general ward.”
“There are more people here?” My voice cracks under the weight of it. The disbelief. The horror clawing its way up my throat.
She huffs, picking up her pace. “The cells are where they bring the “new goods”,” she says, making air quotes. “You’re in the cells—means you get at least a week of them breaking you.”
My chest tightens.
