Page 28 of Mercy & Malice

“All of it,” Judge reiterates.

“Brooke, stop,” Micah yells. “I said fucking stop now.”

My bra is already unlatched. I toss it outside the cage, then do the same with my panties. I’m standing completely naked, attempting to shield myself the best I can. “Now, it’s your turn.”

It won’t get us out of here. But it’s the first step in getting closer to freedom.

The asshole tosses the key. As soon as it lands near my feet, I scoop it up and hurry to Micah. He’s not fighting, his head is hanging down, shoulders slumped forward.

He appears so defeated. I sob, “It’s okay.” I try unlocking him, but even on my tippy-toes, I’m too short. “I can’t reach.”

Micah takes the key from me, his fingers fumbling with it for a few seconds before he’s free, collapsing to his knees. Hastily, he removes his T-shirt as he stands and pulls it over me. I reach for him, but he surges across the small space, his hands gripping the steel bars as he calmly states, “I will get out of here. And when I do, you are all fucking dead.”

The Judge snickers. “We shall see.”

“My family and friends know I’m missing. They will look for me. And him too. They will notice.”

One of the sidekicks laughs as Judge holds up my phone. “They think you’re at your grandmother’s. And the dear old lady isn’t thinking much at all these days.”

“No,” I cry. “Don’t you dare hurt her. I will murder you myself.” But he knows my threat is empty. I’m stuck in a cage while Mawmaw has no clue what danger lurks around her.

“Play Mercy and be a good little girl, then everyone gets to live.”

The lights go out, leaving us in the dimly lit enclosure.

My eyes take a few minutes to adjust, and I notice that Micah hasn’t moved. He’s still got his hands clutching the bars, his back rigid as I step behind him. When he finally turns, he says, “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I had to. What else was I supposed to do? Just let you hang from the chains?” I cry. It was a step in the right direction, but we are still royally fucked. “I thought they were all dead. What the fuck is going on, Micah? Who is it? Why would anyone start up the Keepers again after Luca went on a murdering spree and warned everyone off? Are they going to hurt my Mawmaw?”

He doesn’t speak as endless possibilities soar through my mind. One of the worst—did Luca revert back to his cruel ways? I know it’s not true, but my mind is having a hard time distinguishing between reality and fantasy. Because my reality right now is I’m in a cage, who knows where, with a guy who hates me, and there’s a lunatic who might kill Mawmaw if I don’t play a stupid game. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this again. I won’t survive it. No, this isn’t happening.”

My chest tightens as I drop to my knees, the grit and grime cruelly digging into my skin, letting me know this is in fact happening.

“No, no,” I gasp. “This isn’t real.”

It’s the only thing I can think to tell myself to calm down and catch my breath. But it’s not working. My throat is tightening, my head throbbing. I can’t see anything around me until Micah’s eyes meet mine. He’s in front of me; his hands cup my face.

“Five things you hate about me?”

“I-I, you …” I swallow, focusing on the question. “You’re stubborn, and scare me for fun, and fight too much, and torment your brother, and you left me.”

There’s a half smile on his face as he says, “Tell me four things I need to improve on.”

“Your grades, your listening skills, conversation, and being nicer to Luca.” Some relief comes; the grip loosens, but it’s still there.

“Three things you want to do with me.”

“Escape”—I take an extended breath through my nose—“go to prom, and escape.”

“We’ll get out of here soon,” Micah reassures me, then says, “Now give me two things you love about yourself.”

“My organizational skills and grades.”

“One thing you like about me,” he whispers the question so low, I barely hear him. But I already knew what he was going to ask. And my answer.

“Everything.”

We sit for a few minutes more while my breathing evens out before he pulls me to his body, clutching me against him. “It’s cold and dark and no one is searching for us. What are we going to do?”