Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

JJ

When I came around, I couldn't move. My back was pressed to something hard and cold, my arms were spread out beside me, my legs clasped and chained to the floor. My throat felt like I'd been strangled…oh, wait. I had.

I blinked in the dim light and saw boys ranging in age all lined up in front of me. One was holding a crowbar, another a bat. There was a blond with a knife in each hand, and as I went down the line, every one of them was in possession of some sort of weapon.

"Now, boys. All of you will be able to practice. One at a time. The point of this lesson is cause and effect. What damage does your weapon of choice do? And how does it affect the dummy?" The tall man dressed in black was pacing the floor as he spoke.

These boys knew I was alive, right?

"One attack per boy, is that understood?"

In unison they shouted, "Yes, sir."

"Capricorn, you're first."

A redheaded boy had a pipe. I looked right at him, but it was as if he didn't see me. No way was he going to…pain shot up my leg when he slammed the pipe against my knee, causing me to shout.

"Stop! You all know I'm alive, right? I'm not a dummy. Don't listen to him."

The redhead's eyes widened, and he stepped away.

"Capricorn, return to your place. Sometimes targets beg, lie, and cheat to get out of their judgments. You mustn't listen to their treachery. Scorpio, next."

This kid was closer to Four's age.

"Don't do this," I begged. But either he wasn't listening or was so conditioned he couldn't. He flipped open his balisong knife and slashed across my chest so fast, it took a second to register the pain.

"Fuck!"

"Shep and Gabe are in the house. Hang in there, JJ." Nick's voice was a beacon of motherfucking hope. They'd be here soon.

"Aquarius!" the tall man shouted and the brunet boy holding a bat didn't even hesitate; he swung and nailed me right in the side.

They weren't listening, and with each one that came forward, my shouts got louder. Until the last boy.

"Taurus, go."

He had a crowbar in his hands, and he was regarding me. At this point blood was flowing from my chest, arms, and legs. My shoulder had to be dislocated, and I didn't want to think of internally.

"JJ," Nick's voice was a whisper. "Stay with me."

I wanted to stay with him very much, but Taurus was the last. What happened after the last boy?

Taurus nodded as if he'd made up his mind, and his amber eyes locked with mine the moment his crowbar slammed into the side of my head.

I dangled. I tried opening my eyes but only my right eye cooperated. My head was down, and all I could see were my shackled ankles. I didn't hear anything, and I was afraid if I looked up they'd know I was alive and start again.

"Good job, boys." The voice was muffled as if I were underwater. Which explained why I couldn't hear well.

"Break for lunch and…what's that?"

Whatever he was talking about, I had no idea. There was a pulsating whooshing noise in my ears.

"Leo, Cancer, Taurus, at the door!" That was when I heard a crashing sound.

My head swayed from side to side, and I tried desperately to lift it but I couldn't.

"JJ, it's Nick, please say something." He sounded desperate and I could hear him better than anything. "Shit. JJ, can you hear me?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out except a wheeze.

"JJ!" Nick must have heard it. "Thank God! Shep and Gabe are there, can you hear them? I can see them on your camera."

The camera was on a button on my shirt; I guess it had survived the beating.

"JJ!" Shep roared so loudly, it jolted me.

With everything I had in me I forced my head up and there he was. My sexy Viking. His hair tied in a braid, blood splattered across his face and clothes. He had a gun in one hand and a hunting knife in the other. Gabe was at his back, and I watched as the two of them decimated the room.

I couldn't let my heart hurt for the boys. I knew I would—I'd grieve what they'd been forced to become and how they hadn't escaped it.

Gabe and Shep would have it harder. They would have wanted to save them, but they had no choice. It was kill or be killed right now.

"JJ, baby, look at me." Shep jammed his hunting knife into the head of one of the guards and ran to me. "See me, I'm here!"

Again, I tried to speak but I couldn't.

"Don't cry, baby. I got you."

Was I crying? Just as another guard was racing down the stairs, he spun around, pointed his gun, and shot.

"Gabe, get the keys." I watched as Shep picked up an ax…what kid had an ax? He lifted it and freed my arms first. I couldn't keep myself up and fell like a deck of cards.

Fortunately, Shep caught me.

"Got 'em." Gabe kneeled beside me. "One of these has to be for the shackles."

"No time. The ax!" Shep held me close. I could smell the twinge of copper on him from the blood, but also the woods, nights by the fire, his cookies.

Metal on metal made me jump. "It's okay, JJ. Next leg, Gabe." The sound jarred me.

Shep lifted me, but I couldn't stand.

"Shep, you have to carry him. His kneecaps…" That was all Gabe said, but I knew what had happened here, knew what they'd seen.

"Get to the red door. We need to get the fuck out of here."

As gently as Shep held me, every jolt was like nails through my bones. I tried not to cry or scream but when he had to press against the wall to avoid a bullet, I screamed.

"I'm sorry, baby. We're almost out of here."

"The door!" I saw where Gabe pointed, and we were so close. He pulled out the keys and was trying each one.

"Hurry," Shep yelled.

"I don't know which fucking one."

I closed the one eye I could and leaned into his chest, hoping they'd get us out of this place. I tried to stay awake, but my body felt done. Before I slipped into the darkness, I prayed I'd wake up one more time to tell Shep I loved him.