3. Kali

3

KALI

I rock back and forth, sitting on the cold, hard floor of the cell, my mind reeling from everything that's happened. If I thought things couldn't get worse, I was wrong. Watching Blake get sold to that monster was devastating. And then seeing Taren beat Matias to a pulp—the violence was horrifying.

But what has me shaken is how worried I feel about Matias. I hate him for what he's done to us, for the way he's forced me into these awful, compromising positions. Yet I can't stop thinking about him, can't stop replaying our encounters in my mind. My body betrays me, aching with an unwanted arousal whenever I think of his touch.

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill. The sound of footsteps has me looking up, and I see Alice approaching. She kneels beside me, her blue eyes full of concern.

"Kali? Are you okay?" she asks softly, gently touching my shoulder .

I let out a shaky breath, unable to meet her gaze. "No, Alice, I'm not okay. Nothing about this is okay."

She shifts closer, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "I know, I know. It's all so horrible. But we have to stay strong for each other."

I nod against her shoulder, feeling the tears threatening to fall. "I'm trying, Alice. I am. But Matias, he..." My voice trails off, unable to describe the turmoil inside me.

"Shh, it's okay," Alice soothes, running a hand through my hair. "I'm here. We're here for each other. We'll get through this, I promise."

Her words are a balm to my frayed nerves, and I cling to her, letting the tears fall silently. Blake isn't here, but I don't voice that concern.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself as Alice holds me. Her warmth and comfort are the only things keeping me from completely falling apart.

After a few moments, I pull back, wiping my tears. "Thanks, Alice," I whisper, my voice hoarse. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She gives me a small, sad smile. "We're in this together. No matter what."

I nod, trying to muster up some inner strength. But it's hard when my mind keeps drifting back to Matias, to the way his touch ignites something within me that I don't understand. It's like he's a drug, and I'm hopelessly addicted, even though I know he's poison.

Luna clears her throat and sits on the other side of me. "No matter what happens to us, even if we end up in different places, we must remain strong for each other."

I nod at Luna's words, trying to draw strength from them. She's right—we have to stay strong, no matter what. Even if we're separated, even if we're put through hell, we can't let them break us.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. "You're right, Luna. We can't let them win. We have to keep fighting, keep holding onto hope."

Alice squeezes my hand silently in support. "Exactly. We're stronger than they think. We'll find a way out of this, somehow."

I want to believe her, want to cling to that hope. But it's hard when every day brings new horrors, new degradations. And with Matias...

I shake my head, trying to banish thoughts of him. I can't let him get into my head or have that power over me, but it's easier said than done.

"I just wish..." I start, my voice catching. "I wish Blake was here. I can't stop thinking about what that monster might be doing to her."

Luna wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "I know, Kali. I'm worried about her, too. But Blake is strong. She'll find a way to survive, just like we will."

I lean into her embrace. "I hope you're right."

We sit there for a while, huddled together. Sticking together is the only way we'll make it through this nightmare.

Eventually, I pull away, wiping my eyes. "We should try to get some rest," I say, my voice still shaky. "Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"

Alice and Luna nod in agreement, and we settle down on the scratchy hay bales. It's not comfortable, but it's better than nothing.

I focus on the good memories as I close my eyes on the times before. I think of our lazy days spent lounging in the sun before our vacation turned to shit and how good it was living together back at Brown, attending frat parties, and just being normal college kids.

But even as I cling to those memories, I can't escape the reality of our situation. The fear, the uncertainty, the constant threat of violence and violation.

Even so, slowly, a fitful sleep claims me.

I don't know how long I'm asleep until a nudge forces me upright. Matias stands over me, his face bloodied and bruised. "Come," he demands, yanking me to my feet forcefully.

This isn't exactly anything new, but I'm surprised he's not in the infirmary after the beating Taren gave him.

I tense as Matias yanks me into the cell he always brings me into, his grip tight and unyielding. The bruises on his face are stark reminders of the violence I witnessed earlier.

He doesn't speak; he stares at me with dark, penetrating eyes that seem to bore into my soul. The silence is deafening, and I resist the urge to fidget under his intense gaze.

Finally, he steps closer, invading my personal space. I stiffen, every nerve ending on high alert, but I refuse to back down. I hold his gaze.

Without warning, he leans in and captures my lips in a searing kiss. I gasp, the unexpected contact sending a jolt of electricity through me. I should push him away and fight this, but my body betrays me. I respond, lacing my fingers into his hair and pulling him closer.

The kiss is rough and demanding, and I hate how much I crave it. Matias's hands grip my waist, possessive and unyielding, and I can't help the soft whimper that escapes my lips.

When we finally break apart, Matias smirks down at me, his eyes gleaming with dark triumph. "Good girl," he murmurs.

I hate how his words make me shiver and how my body responds to his praise. I want to lash out, to scream and fight, but I'm frozen, captivated by the intensity of his gaze.

"You're mine, Kali," he growls, his grip tightening. "And I won't let anyone take you from me."

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. I want to deny it, to tell him that I'll never be his, but the words catch in my throat. Because deep down, I know that's a lie. No matter how much I fight it, I want this crazy, unhinged man on a primal level.

Matias chuckles. "You can't resist me, can you?" He leans in. "Good, because it will make it that much sweeter when I finally tear open your cunt with my cock."

I shudder, torn between disgust and desire. His words are like venom, seeping into my skin, poisoning me. This isn't the playful dominance he displayed before, the rough touches that ignited a spark despite my fear. This is different. Darker.

He traces a finger down my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle, yet it sends shivers down my spine. "Such a pretty little thing," he murmurs, his voice a husky growl. "So delicate, so breakable."

My breath catches in my throat, his words igniting a primal fear within me. He's no longer looking at me with desire but with something else—a raw and untamed hunger.

"I wonder," he continues, his voice dropping to a guttural whisper, "How long it will be until you shatter."

His eyes burn into mine, making me want to shrink and disappear. "Will you fight me, little rabbit?" he asks, his voice a low growl. "Will you claw and scratch and scream?"

He runs a hand through my hair, his grip tightening, sending a jolt of fear through me. "Or will you surrender," he whispers, "And let me devour you whole?"

His fingers trail down my cheek, making my skin crawl. It's a touch, but it's not the rough grasp from before. It's lighter but no less terrifying. It makes me sick, yet part of me leans into it.

"You're different," he breathes, his eyes searching mine. "The other girls, they break so easily."

His hand moves from my cheek to cup my jaw, his thumb stroking my bottom lip. My breath hitches, and I hate how my body reacts to him, how my core clenches with a need that sickens me.

"But you," he murmurs, his thumb trailing down my throat to rest in the hollow of my neck. "You're going to be so much more."

His thumb presses lightly against my pulse point, and I know he can feel the frantic beat of my heart against his skin.

"You're going to make me work for it, aren't you?" he purrs.

I try to speak, to tell him to go to hell, but the words die in my throat. I can't tear my gaze away from his, can't seem to break the spell he has over me. It's like he's looking right through me, seeing all my darkest desires, all the things I try to hide.

He's playing with me, toying with me like a cat with a wounded bird. And the worst part is, I'm letting him. My body craves his attention even as my mind recoils in horror.

Suddenly, he pulls away, breaking the contact as if I'm fire and he's been burned. I stumble back, a gasp escaping my lips as the loss of his touch hits me like a physical blow. I feel cold and empty.

Matias watches me, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then, without a word, he yanks me back down the corridor toward the cell, shoves me inside, and leaves me standing there, shaken and breathless.

I'm left with my two sleeping friends, my body thrumming with a mixture of fear and a yearning I don't understand. He's gone, and I should feel relieved and safe. But all I feel is a chilling emptiness.