Chapter 7

Larkin

Iwasn't sure how much time had passed, didn't know where they'd transferred me, but I was still in hell.

Something big had happened, and for a split-second in time, as the facility had been burning, screams and roars filled the air, and smoke had made a thick blanket in every available space, I thought the chance of freedom was in my grasp.

I didn't remember much after passing out from all the smoke; my only memory of the oppressive heat was that I couldn't breathe. The smoke had been so thick and strong that I hadn't been able to see my hand in front of my face and found myself on the floor, trying desperately to get fresh air into my burning lungs.

And when I felt the heavy darkness start to dominate me, I swore I heard my name being called. I swore I heard his voice.

Then I passed out, but that small reprieve didn't last, as reality came crashing back to me in the form of burning lungs as I took a great inhale of clean oxygen. And as I saw my captors, scented their familiar stench in my nose, I almost wept that I was back in hell, or maybe this was purgatory.

And here I was, days upon days later, in a new cell, yet it was nearly identical to the one before in its hollowness.

I started pacing the length of the cell, not out of anxiousness but to keep my blood pumping, my muscles from deteriorating and becoming weak.

I did this for so long my exhaustion took hold. I was about to lie down just as I heard someone approaching. I stopped but stayed in the center of the cell. A moment later, D and Tore, the leader of this operation, stopped in front of me.

For a moment, they just stood there staring at me, and I held their gazes. Then Tore slowly smiled and took a step forward.

"How are you?"

I didn't bother responding.

"I apologize for the change of scenery, but as you're well aware, we had an issue with the last facility and had to leave suddenly." He looked me up and down. "But we've ensured we haven't disrupted your normalcy or schedule. We'd hate to displace you like that."

I curled my hands into tight fists at my sides but remained silent.

"A quiet one." He grinned. "I've liked that about you. You know when to keep your mouth shut." He licked his lips without looking away from me, and before I could anticipate what he'd done, D shot a dart into my neck.

I lifted my hand instantly and pulled it out, but it was too late. I felt the effects of the drugs making their way through me. I weaved on my feet, stumbled to the side, and hit the wall hard enough my ears rang.

"We have a surprise for you, one I think you'll like." He cocked his head to the side. "Well, maybe ‘like' isn't the best word for what we have planned."

D stepped forward and unlocked the cell, and I tried to move back, but my vision had gone wavy, my body heavy.

And then he was on me, dragging me out as if I were a dirty rag in his hold.