Page 58 of Crimson Tears

I try to hold onto all of that as Green leaves the room and Gray unties Nessa from the chair before tossing her on the cot in the back. The doors shut behind them, and silence fills the space around us for the first time since I woke up.

Finding a way out is imperative. I glance around the room, noticing the stone that fell from the wall where the bucket hit it. It’s not significant, but I wonder if there is a way to get more.

As Green and Gray left, I noted that the doors bolt into the stone, which I could weaken over time by chipping away at the foundation that surrounds it. I doubt we have enough time for that to be our way out, but the chunks of stone that fell have me thinking.

Boris stares at me, seeming to see that my mind is forming a plan as I take the bucket from the ground and begin hitting the stone again. More chunks fall this time, bigger ones.

Will I be able to get her out of here?

All too soon, sweat coats my body as I realize that the glass is embedded into the stone deeper than I would be capable of breaking through. Besides, whoever is watching the cameras would likely notice after a while and stop me from making too much progress.

I heave a sigh as I toss the bucket that is now snapped and broken to the other side of the room.

That’s when I realize, I might not be able to dig a hole large enough for me to get out. But maybe I can use the stones that have fallen to break apart the wall near the door and access the back of the keypad that controls the locks.

The cameras can’t see that area of the wall. It would be easy to hide the hole if needed with some of the pieces that have fallen already.

I turn away from the cameras, not wanting to give anything away with the look on my face. Boris notices and nods slightly as his shoulders begin to relax.

That’s right, Old Man. This kid has a plan.

Nessa rolls over and groans as she sits up. Pangs of guilt threaten to have me breaking before they can break her.

“I’m so sorry, Sweetheart.” I say, my voice low and defeated.

Nessa shakes her head, her red hair falling around her bruised face.

“Don’t, Killer. Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

She looks up at me, her eyes that are swollen and mottled with a purple hue meet mine. “Do not apologize.”

“But, this is my fault,” I choke.

“It is mine too,” Boris says, taking me by surprise. “I should have stayed outside. I would have seen them coming in. I could have warned you.”

Again, Nessa shakes her head. “Please, both of you, just… just stop.” She takes a shaky breath, her ribs likely extremely bruised. “I followed you, Cillian. I knew it could have been a trap and I followed.”

She turns to Boris. “You came to check on us. You had no idea they would ambush us. There was no sign of anyone else at play here, much less my feckin’ father.”

She settles her body against the stone wall for support, a heavy sigh leaving her lips.

“If anyone is to blame here, it’s my father and his men.”

I nod in agreement, but Boris is out of the loop. It looks like Nessa is going to pass out if she keeps talking though, so I step in.

“These are his men. I knew Gray, but I didn’t know Green. He looks like a special kind of crazy. I also saw the track marks on his arms. I didn’t think Donovan was one to hire men who are insane and addicted to heroin, but I guess times have changed.”

Nessa nods, then tries to pull her hair back. There is a cut on her forehead, dripping blood down into her eye.

“Your forehead is bleeding,” I say.

Her brow pinches, and she slowly turns her head. “What?”

“Your forehead,” I gesture to her face. “It’s bleeding.” She looks down and tears off a piece of her shirt, wincing with each strained movement.

“Well, thanks for the feckin’ heads up, Captain Obvious. I hadn’t noticed the blood flowing down my face and into my damn eye.” A huff leaves her as she dabs the cut, then applies pressure while she rolls her eyes. “Thank goodness you’re here to help save me. Honestly, what would I do without you?”

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