Page 54 of His Eternal Claim

Thump. Thump. Behind me. Thump. Closer. Thump. Breathing.

I don’t turn around. I don’t want to know what’s behind me.

I don’t…

“AH!” Cold fingers wrap around my ankle. I scream. I’m not falling anymore; instead, something has strapped me down.

My vision smudges, my breathing harshens. Where am I?

But there’s no one to answer me.

White. Everything is white. White walls. White ceiling. White lights so bright they burn. I can’t move. Leather restraints bite into my wrists. My ankles. My chest. My throat.

I try to pull, but my skin tears. Warm blood slides down my arms. I pull harder, and the leather creaks. My bones ache.

“Please…”

My voice comes out cracked.

“Papa—”

A laugh answers me. And I turn to find a woman standing there. Everything about her is red. Her nails, her lips, her dress, and even her shoes.

I know her. She’s Mama’s friend.

Aunt Aris. She brings me candy. She brings me dolls.

“Aunty Aris?”

Relief crashes through me so hard I almost sob.

She’s here. She’ll help me. She always smells like roses and expensive perfume and the little strawberry candies she hides in her purse when Mama isn’t looking.

She always smiles. Always kisses my forehead.

Always tells me I’m her beautiful little moon.

“Aunty…” My lip trembles. “Please… I can’t move.”

She stops beside the bed. And smiles. Her crimson nails trail slowly over my cheek.

And I flinch at the coldness.

“Aww.” Her voice is soft. “You remembered this part.”

“What?”

I shake my head. “I—I don’t understand—”

She laughs.

The lights above me flicker. Once.

Twice. Again. Again. Again. CLICK.

Darkness.

My breath catches. CLICK.