Page 84 of Never Enough

Nothing.

FUCK.

An empty room greets me. Frustrated, I slam my fist against the wall. Blood spurts from my knuckles, but the pain is nothing compared to my inner agony.

I stumble back into the corridor, every shadow a potential hiding place, every whisper of sound a clue. I can’t give up. I won’t. She’s here somewhere, I can feel it. I won’t stop until I found her.

“Alex!”

The cry slices through the chaos in my mind, clear and sharp. It’s not Daphne; it’s Victoria’s voice. What does she want now?

“Not now, Victoria!” I shout back, uncaring about the venom in my tone.

“Alex, wait!” Her footsteps echo closer.

“I have to find Daphne.” I stop, only to recruit her for help.

Daphne was talking to Victoria seconds before she fled, with the stranger following her. My sister has to knowsomething.

Vic is right behind me now. I spin around, desperate to have her help me. We can cover more ground if we split up.

“Have you seen D—”

But the words die in my throat. Victoria’s face is pale, her usual composure shattered, her eyes wide with… Is that fear?

“Yes,” she pants, her breaths short and ragged. “She’s in trouble. Come with me, now!”

I’m frozen for a split second, but that split second is too long. Thankfully, my sister’s got me, as always.

“Follow me!” Victoria grabs my arm, pulling me along with surprising strength. We weave through the labyrinthine hallways.

“Is she—”

“Shut up and run!”

So we do.

As we dash past the last corner, the world blurs into indistinct shapes and colors, all irrelevant except for the singular thought that drives me—Daphne.

We’re headed straight to an obscure bathroom. This particular hallway is dimly lit, being largely unused. The door is shut, but I’ve already decided nothing will stop me.

Victoria grips my arm, trying to get me to slow down, but fuck that. There’s no time for questions.

I don’t care if death greets me on the other side. All that matters is that Daphne is safe.

I throw my body against the door, leaving Victoria behind.

My heart pounds against my ribs, each beat a drumroll to the unknown.

She’s all I see, Daphne. All I care about. I ignore everything else and lunge for her, even as a loud bang aims at her.

The scene before me is—

But no, the story cannot end here.

Not yet.

The world fades into the darkness, but at least she’s here. My beautiful Daphne holds me as she screams.

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