Page 110 of The Lottery

My eyes open slowly, looking for the face I was meant to kiss as the room comes into focus.

He’s not there. Only the ceiling above.

I part my lips a fraction of an inch and feel a sharp sting. When I move my tongue to apply some moisture, it runs over rough, jagged cracks.

What happened?

Cold.

Cold stone.

Cold stone floor.

Ropes.

Gags.

Buddy.

Bear.

“Marek!!”

My body shoots upright so fast I nearly fall out of the bed, stopped only by the searing pain that runs through my neck, back, and head.

“No no no, you need to rest,” a voice says from my side. I know it’s Astrid but don’t take the time to look at her, my eyes squeezed shut as memories come filtering back into my clouded mind.

It can’t be. It was a dream. It’s all a bad dream.

“Where is he?”

Silence.

Excruciating, dagger-twisting silence.

“Marek?” I call out. This is our room, he must be in here. This is where we live together until we get our own house built. This is where we begin our lives together.

Together. Now and forever.

“WHERE IS HE?” I scream as loudly as my raw and damaged throat allows.

“We’re still looking,” Declan answers from a chair to the side of the bed. “We saw where he fell, but…”

I don’t wait for him to finish.

“Zae!” Astrid calls as I bound out of bed and fly through the door, every step causing me to wince but not slowing me down. I even manage to ignore the dizziness threatening to topple me.

“The snow is too thick,” Declan says as the two follow me toward the lift. They catch up in time to get in with me before the doors shut. Only now do I have a moment to look at their faces—both seem exhausted. Both have bloodshot eyes and red cheeks.

They’ve been crying.

They think he’s gone.

They’re fucking wrong.

The doors open and I shoulder past Declan, my head throbbing and my vision starting to blur. I’m obviously not healed yet, but that isn’t important at all.

“Zae…” Astrid is still just a few paces behind, but I won’t slow down to talk.

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