Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
He let out a sigh. “It doesn't matter now. You failed to obey me.” The words were barely out before he grabbed her by the throat and swung her around, slamming her into the wall. Her head collided with the white brick with a resounding thud.
Regina cried out in pain, her eyes widening in shock and abject terror.
He repeated the motion, this time using such force the back of her head audibly cracked, leaving a smear of red on the glossy white wall. My stomach twisted and I took a small step forward. She cried out again and begged him to let go, her words jumbled together.
“Stop it!” I yelled at him.
“Let’s just go,” Mara pleaded, tightening her grip on my arm to the point it felt as if she were crushing the bone. “You can’t help her.”
Ignoring us altogether, he continued to slam Regina into the wall until the small stain of crimson became a puddle of red with something nauseatingly chunky in it, a portion of her head now unnaturally flat. I stood still as a stone, unable to move and no words leaving my mouth as I watched him brutalize her. I wanted to vomit again, but there was nothing left in my stomach.
Mara continued to hold me with a vise-like grip and finally yanked me back up the stairs, her urgency a clear command to run. We stumbled onto the second floor, our breath ragged, and sprinted down the empty corridor, seeking another route to escape. As we ran, the sound of taunting laughter echoed through the halls, a chilling reminder that we were not alone. Regina’s sadistic boyfriend wasn’t the only person we needed to worry about.
Mara and I moved in sync, our footsteps a soft patter as we navigated down a different stairwell, one less frequented. We hugged the walls, keenly aware of the poor coverage of the universities surveillance system in this area—a blind spot we desperately needed in case we were being watched. I highly suspected we were.
The first floor loomed ahead, and with it, the promise of an exit.
Our pace quickened, the need for freedom and the open sky above us compelling us to move faster. As we neared the main entry hall, a flickering light caught our attention. The guard office was pulsing with an erratic glow that sent an instinctual warning racing through my veins.
“Don't,” I hissed, catching Mara's sleeve as she turned towards it. Trusting my gut, I propelled us past the doorway without sparing a glance. Relief was short-lived as we reached the double doors that marked our exit, only to find them bound by chains, a clear message that someone wanted us confined within these walls.
Our attempt at stealth had been abandoned the second we reached the doors. I knew the rattling of chains was sure to draw attention, even with the distorted Christmas carols blaring overhead. Without a word, I grabbed Mara's hand, pulling her down a side hallway.
We passed the guard's room, and through the chaos of overturned furniture and scattered papers, I saw it was devoid of life—a complete disaster. How many people were we dealing with?
Evidently enough to somehow intercept emergency calls and take out the guards as well as cut off our access to outside. I didn’t know what the fuck we were going to do, but the openness of the hallways was a vulnerability we couldn't afford. We needed a cover and camouflage.
The food court, with its myriad of tables and chairs, would offer just that.
Pushing through the swinging doors, we were assaulted by a macabre spectacle that rooted us to the spot. In the center of the room hung one of the missing guards.
He'd been strung up and contorted into a gruesome imitation of festive decor, his insides pulled taut and twisted into a grotesque semblance of a garland that someone had taken the liberty of hanging ornaments on. The stench was unforgettable, a combination of metal and something acrid. It permeated the entire room. I clamped my hand over my mouth and nose, fighting another wave of nausea. Mara turned away and began to dry heave.
I took small steps, giving the body a wide arc, gently pulling Mara along with me. A stifled gasp drew our gaze across the room. There, crouched behind one of the buffet bars, was Liam. His green eyes were wide, his skin misted with sweat, making it clear he was not the mastermind behind this nightmare.
As I stared at him, the lights flickered out, leaving us to the mercy of a few dimly lit wreaths that hung mockingly on the walls. Their soft glow was a cruel reminder of what was meant to be a festive season.
Mara sucked in a breath and the three of us silently searched the shadows, seeking out the smallest hint of movement.