Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

The day went fasteras I actually did my tasks. I didn't ask any more questions, I just worked. I worked until I got a lunch break, and then worked until dinner. But I counted down seconds until the house grew quiet because I knew that before I went back to my room, I'd sneak to the phone that sat in the kitchen and call for help.

We ate dinner with the staff, and no one really spoke, but everyone wore the same type of outfit. The women wore short, white dresses with stockings, hair pinned up, light makeup, and clean nails. The men were all dressed in white pants and white, tucked-in, button-downs. And we all wore the same platform shoes that made zero noise against the floor.

Everyone besides me looked content, smiling and stealing glances at one another while shoveling hot, delicious food into their mouths. It was true, the food was unlimited—I made sure to have seconds. I'd miss it. I'd be back at the dumpsters behind restaurants before I knew it, but at least I'd be alive… If I didn't starve to death, or freeze to death, or be attacked by another predator lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, I froze as I looked at the staff around me.

That's why these people didn't care what the Ivory family did behind closed doors. They knew that they were here to work, eat, sleep, and be safe. Safety had varying meanings, but that's why people stayed. Stayed in toxic relationships and situations because even if short-lived, safety is comforting, consuming, and more than anything, gave us a sense of false hope.

After we all cleared our dinner plates, everyone began to head to their rooms through the back hallway, which I had finally memorized.

"Ready?" Bradley came up beside me.

"I'm going to have some dessert. You can head back; I know my way now." I offered a forced smile to Bradley as he looked at me curiously.

"I'll just wait." He shrugged and leaned against the staff kitchen island.

"Bradley, please stop babysitting me. I'm fine. My card is working now, and I'm getting a hang of the hallways and everything. I'll be in my room in ten minutes. You can check on me if you absolutely have to." I rolled my eyes and took a thick slice of chocolate cake, my absolute favorite.

"Fine." Bradley hesitated but eventually left. As soon as he did, I took a huge bite of cake and raced to the phone. I didn't have much time. Someone would be in here to clean up the dishes and kitchen soon.

I punched 9-1-1 into the landline. One ring later, an operator answered.

"Hi, I need help, I'm being held in the Ivory Estate as a prisoner and they've got other girls here, too. Help us!" I rambled as fast as I could, then slammed the phone down and speed-walked back to my room. The halls all looked the same, and suddenly, with panic coursing through me, I didn't know where I was going. "Shit, shit, shit." I panicked as I stopped and turned in a circle.

My breathing grew faster, my palms moist as I sank to the floor and clutched my knees to my chest.

"Demi?"

I looked up and saw Bradley, but he wasn't in his uniform.

"Come on." He reached down and helped me off the ground, then led me back to my room.

"You look so different." I looked at his gray joggers, black V-neck, and messy hair as he stood outside my door. "You look… normal."

"Demi, I am normal. We're just in an abnormal environment." He looked sad as the door shut between us.

I put my hands up against the door, wishing we could have talked more. He knew this wasn't normal; he knew this was completely deranged. So, he wasn't some brainwashed fool. But then, why was he here? He seemed well-educated and well-spoken. It didn't seem like Bradley came from the streets like me or many of the other staff here.

I went into the bathroom to shower. This might be my last one for a long, long time.

Suddenly, I felt sadness. Sadness that this is how it was ending for me. How a promising job turned into something from a horror movie. I was grieving the chance to finally turn my life around.

My damn luck. I savored the heat from the shower as I lathered my hair with the luxury shampoo, and I wrapped myself in the plush towel before getting into the buttery-soft lounge wear.

My shorter hair was still foreign to me, but it felt nice and light. Swiping the fog from the mirror, it wasn't just my reflection staring back at me…

It was also Mrs. Ivory's. The warmth of the shower no long wrapped around me, instead, the cold presence of Daphne Ivory did.

"Darling girl, whatever have you done?"

I didn't want to turn around. I didn't want to face her.

"Officer Tate is here… and he'd like a word with you. Apparently, they received quite a panicked call from you. I thought we were keeping you happy." Mrs. Ivory looked genuinely unhappy.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about." Turning slowly, I faced her. Her eyes were slightly tinged with red.

"You know I love my girls… all of them. Every single one of you is a precious bird to me." She grabbed my face between her palms. "I won't let him take you from me. I won't." She tucked my hair behind my ear. "You're special to me, Demi. We've just met you, yet it feels like we've known you all along." She smiled at me. "Now, the authorities would like to speak with you, my special hummingbird." She put her hand in mine, and walked me out of my room.

My nerves were shot as I glanced over my shoulder. "Mrs. Ivory, you don't have to stay here. You can come with me," I whispered up at her. She felt warm and everything she ever said seemed genuine. Her husband was clearly a monster, and she was probably trapped here, just like the rest of the people in this estate.

"You're so silly. Why would I leave our home, Demi? And you're not going to leave, either," she said with excitement as we turned to the formal living area.

A police officer in a pale gray uniform was sitting across from Dr. Ivory, who gave me a look that had my entire body ice over.

"Miss Rao?" The officer stood and reached his hand out. "I'm Officer Tate." He tapped his hat with the other hand.

Nervously, I looked around the room. Conrad was sitting beside his dad, and he leaned down, widening his eyes at me and slowly shaking his head. What did that mean?

"We received a call of distress from you, ma'am."

Dr. Ivory let out a dry laugh as Officer Tate chewed on a wet toothpick obnoxiously. Tapping my thumbs together, I looked at my feet. This was it. I had to speak for myself but also for the caged girls.

"There're at least five girls in the Ossis wing in these white… rooms. And one is in Dr. Ivory's office… you can see her through the glass. They are all being held prisoner." My words shook as I spoke. It was completely silent, and I felt the heavy gazes locked on me.

"Miss Rao, that's an awfully intense accusation, and we don't want to waste taxpayer money, now do we?" the officer sang out in his southern drawl.

"I swear! Please!" I pleaded.

"Okay, well, why don't we take a look around with you?" Officer Tate looped his fingers into his belt loops and nodded at Dr. Ivory, who smiled at him in a way that had my stomach curl.

"We can all head over together." Dr. Ivory glanced between Mrs. Ivory and Conrad. Following behind them, I dragged my feet slightly. This was it. Those girls would be freed. I'd leave with this officer, and maybe stop by Raina's house for a night. I'd start over and find a new place.

Once we got to the Ossis wing, Dr. Ivory swiped the card and waved for Officer Tate and me to go through first.

I didn't want that creep behind me, but with a police officer beside me, I felt safe enough. I glanced at Conrad, who had a look of worry on his face. Maybe this would be a way to set him and Mrs. Ivory free, too.

"This is the first room I cleaned." I pointed to the door and it opened slowly. I looked inside the room and looked at the officer. "See!" There she was, the first girl I saw, chained to her bed, wearing a short white gown with her head shaved, eyes closed, and thick headphones over her ears. "There! She's chained up!" I slapped my hand over my mouth and shook in relief. Part of me thought in some crazy way they'd have removed all the girls… the evidence.

Officer Tate walked into the room and looked all around before turning back again. His forehead creased as he looked directly into my eyes. "Miss Rao, let's go take a seat." He rolled his lips together, brushing the scruff scattered against his jaw.

"Wait? You have to unchain her!" I tried to push past him and run inside the room, but he gripped my shoulders and pushed me out of the room before the door slid shut.

"Let go! You have to help her! And there's more; this whole hallway is full of girls just like her!"

Officer Tate's nails dug into my upper arm as he dragged me to the formal living area. "Miss Rao, do you have a history of mental illness?" The officer peered at me as he pushed me onto the sofa.

"Mental… illness?" I stammered with my brows lowered. I was appalled by the accusation. "You saw her. She was right there." I waved my hands wildly, completely flabbergasted.

"Conrad! Conrad, he won't lie." I stood and raced over to Conrad, who had his head dropped low.

"Demi, those are empty patient recovery rooms my dad uses for his outpatient clinic. It's been a long time since we've even had a patient," he said without a hitch.

"No… there was a girl. Let me back in and I'll shake her. I'll take the headphones off." I began shrieking and panicking all at the same time. This couldn't be happening.

"Dr. Ivory, would you like me to take her somewhere?" Officer Tate began restraining me as I tried to lunge forward.

"No, you know we take care of them," he said with a grin.

"I know you do, sir. You see, Miss Rao, the Ivory family gives jobs and homes to women like you, who would be dead on the street if it weren't for their kindness. Our city is a safer, cleaner, and better place thanks to the Ivory family. It's time you show appreciation to those who are saviors of our otherwise progressive city," Officer Tate hissed in my ear as his nails dug into my arms.

There was no point attempting to fight this enormous man. My mind was spiraling, and I was exhausted with myself. I crumpled over, loosening my body as if I were a ragdoll. Once I did, he let me go and I sank into the sofa. Was I delirious? Was I losing my mind? Was the Ivory family truly rehabilitating these women? No one was crying or running, but one of the girls did mouth ‘Run' to me.

Didn't she?

"Miss Rao, if there is nothing else, then I need to leave now. My wife is at home waiting for me."

"Oh, how is Isabella?" Mrs. Ivory chirped and her eyes lit up.

"She's everything I could have ever wanted. It's as if I dreamt her up myself." Officer Tate winked at Mrs. Ivory and turned to leave.

My mind was spiraling and my stomach was churning from everything.

"Demi, sweetie, let's get you to bed." Mrs. Ivory reached down and lifted my hand into hers.

"Actually, Conrad will take her. Won't you, son?" Dr. Ivory boasted. I felt numb. It felt as if I were watching a movie, but here I was, living it.

"Yes, father," Conrad replied softly before moving toward me, dropping his opened palm in front of me.

"Come on, Demi." He nodded as I placed my hand into his. Following him out of the formal living room, I felt my peripheral vision grow fuzzy. I had to sleep; I couldn't do this any longer with a mind that was completely scrambled.

Once we got back to my room, I expected Conrad to wait outside just like Bradley did until the door shut completely to ensure I hadn't left again.

But he came inside, and the door shut behind him.

"Demi…" He grew closer to me, opening his hands he planted them under my elbows. "You have to stop. My father, he won't… he won't be as forgiving. My mother has taken a liking to you, and so have I, so we are doing everything to keep you…" he trailed, quickly averting his eyes.

"Alive?" I winced as I filled in the word for him, knowing without a doubt in my mind it was the truth.

"Demi, please, promise me that you'll just stay strong and know that one day… we're going to be okay. We're going to have our fresh start. It's always been the plan. You and me." Conrad brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "I can't believe you exist. The hair is perfect. They really kept their promise to me," he breathed out in admiration.

I froze. Everything he had just said had me completely confused. What promise? But before I could even ask, he leaned in and tilted my chin upward just before locking his lips with mine.

Closing my eyes, every emotion in my body shifted.

My first kiss…

I took a moment before opening my eyes once his lips left mine. And as soon as I did, my cheeks heated as Conrad smiled down at me. "Be good for me, Demilion. Our time is coming." He winked and turned to leave as I stood there speechless.

But it wasn't speechless because I was some lovestruck girl. No, I was speechless because I wanted to know. I wanted to know why he had just used the nickname only one person had ever called me.

My dead sister.