People.
Patients.
Slouched. Staring. Pacing.
An orderly walks past with a clipboard and doesn’t even glance at me.
My blood starts to boil. Adrenaline spikes. The pounding in my head merges with the fury crawling up my spine.
They sent me here.
They caged me like some broken fucking animal.
I clench my fists and feel it rising, rage building, ready to rip through the walls.
I can’t be here.
Iwon’tbe here.
I draw back my fist. Ready to destroy—
Then I hear her voice in my head.
Play the part.
Dr. Moronov. Her hands on my face. The needle.The lie.
Play the fucking part.
I freeze.
Fist trembling in the air. My chest heaves. My teeth grind.
Slowly…
I lower myself to the ground, back against the padded wall.
I bury my face in my hands.
He sent me to a fucking asylum.
My father.
He won this round. But I’m not done.
Not by a long fucking shot.
Chapter 2
Ayla
8 Years old
“Go hide,” Mama whispers.
I crouch in the closet.
She presses a kiss to my forehead and closes the door.
