Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Don’t talk like you know anything about it.”
“I know a little bit,” she whispers. I hate that. The pity, the way she tries to make it sound like she knows what this is all about just because she got whipped a few times.
“Congratulations. I wish I could say I had a prize for you.” I’m finally able to sit up without everything turning on its side, and I settle in with my back to the wall, resting my head against the cool stone. It doesn’t help much.
“I only want to help you,” Scarlet insists, because she never knows when to leave things alone. “That’s all I want. Can you remember what happened earlier? What’s the last thing you remember about the fight we were having?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“We have to,” she insists. Stubborn brat. She hasn’t changed. “It’s important. I need to know how much you remember.”
“I’m pretty sure we were having a conversation sort of like this one.”
“So you remember arguing about River?”
“Right.” Why is she torturing me? I don’t want to think. Thinking hurts too much. Trying to remember is agony. But she won’t shut up.
“Do you… remember what I told you?”
“You mean about how I’m sick? Because that’s the last thing I remember you saying.” I lift my gaze to find her staring at me with wide eyes over the top of her knees. There’s something in her expression that taps on my shoulder, trying to get my attention. What if there is something I’m forgetting? Because I don’t remember lying down. I don’t remember anything between her telling me I need help and when I woke up.
“That’s not what I meant,” she announces in a sad, shaky voice. “He came back. You became River.”
No fucking way. She’s trying to gaslight me into believing I’m crazy. There I was, thinking she betrayed me in the worst possible way. I should know by now there’s always a lower level for a person to sink to. “This is bullshit.”
“That doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Do you think I have the first clue how to handle this? I’m really scared for you. I want to help you.”
“Congratulations,” I snort. “You helped me by getting yourself abducted.”
“Fine. You think you know everything?” She shakes her head like she’s disappointed in me. Like she’s the one who has something to be disappointed about. Like she was betrayed. “Then tell me. What happened before you laid down and went to sleep? Do you remember? Do you remember lying down? Do you remember what I told you before you did?”
I want to. I have to prove her wrong. She doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about.
But I can’t remember. There’s a blank space in my memory. One second, we were fighting, and then here I was. What did she tell me? It must’ve been something important if she thinks I’m going to remember, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t come up with anything.
And the trying makes my head hurt worse. So much worse.
“Enough questions,” I finally say.
She sighs, sounding as weary as I feel when she speaks next. “You are right. It’s not worth getting into another fight over right now. And we should really be talking about how we’re going to get out of here, anyway. Can you think of a way? You researched this place. Is there a way out before they come for us?”
I’m glad to have something else to turn my attention to, even if I don’t have any answers right away. At least the room isn’t spinning when I stand, then go to the door to listen for anybody on the other side. There are two voices out there, both men, far enough away that I can’t make out what they’re saying. They sound bored, if anything. Like all of this means nothing, like they’re just hanging out until their shift is up. Because in the end, they don’t care. They can’t care. How else could they live with themselves if they did?
“The best thing we can hope for is to overtake one of them when they come in.” Turning to Scarlet, I explain, “We can say you need help or something, and then—”
Even I jump at the gunfire that cuts through the air and kills the peaceful silence outside. Scarlet jumps up with her head swinging back-and-forth as more and more of the rapid-fire shots fill the air. Then there’s the shouting—confused orders flying back-and-forth, voices overlapping in panic.
Finally, a siren begins to wail. The compound has been breached.
“What is it, do you think?” It’s only when I register the heat from her body that I realize she’s standing close to me. I wrap an arm around her shoulders out of habit more than anything else, and I wish it didn’t feel so right. I wish I could trust her again.