Page 4 of Trapped Truth

“You chose to fight for Gael?” she challenges in a hiss.

“Hell no. Not by choice.”

“Then we understand each other’s predicament.”

Shock has my brows jutting upward. “You were taken too?”

“It’s a long story, we don’t have time,” Willow says dismissively. “I can’t help you any more than I can help myself. I just… I heard rumours about you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen anyone from home.”

“How long have you been here?”

Streaks of gut-wrenching sadness crawl over her hazel irises, brimming with a desperation I know all too well. Clearly, she’s as much a prisoner in this hellscape as I am.

“Longer than you. I have a daughter, Arianna. She was born here.”

“With Sanchez?”

She nods once. My stomach rolls with nausea.

“Oh my God.”

“Mr Sanchez… he’s good friends with your master.”

“They do business together,” I confirm uneasily. “He has a lot of friends.”

“Perhaps that means we’ll see each other again. I’m not allowed to attend the fights, but I’ve heard what you can do. You’re so strong.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Short, chewed up nails dig into my skin, leaving an aching bone bruise. “Don’t give up hope. You could still make it out of here… We both might.”

Returning her tense smile hurts my soul, but I force my mouth to obey regardless. “Maybe.”

“I’ll try to come again if Mr Sanchez will bring me.”

“I’d like that.”

Our two captors having resolved their differences, their voices have dropped to low, hushed tones as their attention returns to us. Time’s up. I peel Willow’s hand from my wrist before we both get in trouble for talking.

“Good luck, Willow. For you and your daughter.”

“Wait.” The word rushes from her. “What’s your name?”

Just as Carlos clamps a strong hand around my bicep to haul me back off to my makeshift prison cell, I choke out a word I haven’t dared to vocalise in a long, long time. No doubt he’ll punish me for uttering it later.

“Ember.”

Willow begins a slow walk backwards, not quite dragged off by her escort but clearly under his jurisdiction.

“It was nice to meet you, Ember.”

CHAPTER 1

EMBER

(ALL ALONG THE) WATCHTOWER - DEVLIN & ED SHEERAN

PRESENT DAY