Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Shhh. It’s all going to be okay,” I say as I try to calm her down. There’s a moment when our eyes lock and I can see that she might just be the one to break me.
I grab the needle from my pocket and stick it in her arm. When the sleeping drug is injected, it makes her eyes glassy almost instantly. She makes a small noise, but I hold her close and wait for the drugs to take her under.
“Go to sleep, little cricket.” My voice is soft, and it only takes a second before her eyes close.
I scoop her up in my arms and turn to face John.
“It’s time.”
Chapter 7
Blair
Bear’s tail smacks me awake, and I brush it off. “Bear,” I groan, rolling over and searching for him with my hands before pulling his big furry body to me. He purrs loudly, making me smile. It’s nice waking up and knowing someone is going to be there waiting for you. “Let me sleep in a little longer and I’ll feed you.” I pet him, wanting five more minutes. My body feels heavy and I don’t want to get up yet, so I snuggle deeper into the sheets. I inhale, and a deep, rich scent fills my nose. It sparks something in my brain, and I gasp.
“Oh shit.” I sit up and everything from last night comes flooding back and hits me hard.
The stolen art, Fritz and Lilith together, the strange man who held me while I cried.
My hand goes to my arm, pressing to see if there’s any pain. I think he stuck me with a needle, but that just seems crazy.
I glance around the room but don’t see anyone. The only light on in the room is the lamp next to the bed, casting everything in shadow. My breath catches as I take in the bedroom. It definitely isn’t my room, or like any bedroom I’ve ever been in.
Bear climbs into my lap and plops himself down. The bedroom is massive and looks bigger than my apartment. The room is filled with dark antique furniture and paintings that look even older and fancier than the furniture. Where am I? The bed is giant, with a canopy over it, reminding me of something from an old southern mansion. No wonder I slept so well; pillows and blankets surround me on either side, and it feels like I’m on a fluffy cloud.
I search my brain for some sort of memory from last night, hoping something comes to me. Maybe I had a panic attack and got abducted by some rich person. I laugh at the idea, because it seems insane. There has to be a rational explanation for why I’m here. I move Bear off my lap and glance down at myself. My body doesn’t seem to be sore or have any marks, but these aren’t my clothes. If I had some sort of mental breakdown last night, wouldn’t I be in the hospital right now? Instead, I’m in some fancy room wearing really expensive pajamas, and my cat is staring at me like I’m crazy.
I throw my legs over the side of the bed and realize how far off the ground it is. I slide down and stop onto a thick, fluffy rug. I keep my hand on the bed, feeling a little dizzy at the sudden jolt. It’s then I realize the fancy “pajamas” are really a button-up shirt that falls to my knees. I also notice that my feet are covered in thick wool socks that aren’t mine either. I pull the shirt to my nose, and that same rich smell fills my lungs. It’s soothing. I let the shirt go and walk towards the thick dark gray curtains and pull them back. It’s pitch black outside without a star or moonlight in the sky. I jump when a flash of lightning sparks across the sky and lights up miles and miles of land. It’s gone before I can try to make anything out. I drop the curtains and stumble back when thunder booms. I wrap my arms around myself and try not to panic.
I hate storms. They terrify me to no end. I remind myself that I’m not a little girl stuck in a trailer alone while a hurricane beats down on it, shaking everything inside. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to control the fear that always comes with bad weather. I open them when I feel Bear rubbing up against my legs trying to comfort me. I reach down and give him a long pet down his back, letting him know I’m okay.
“Bear, what day is it?” I ask, and he looks up at me and meows.
It has to be the same night. I couldn't have slept through a whole day, could I? And where am I? I’m not near the city. I know that from the glimpse I got out of the window.