Page 36 of Depraved

The windows exploded inward in a shower of glass shards. I instinctively threw my arms up to shield my face, feeling the sting of tiny cuts on my exposed skin. A hissing sound filled the air as thick, greenish gas began pouring in through the shattered windows.

"Hold your fucking breath!” River bellowed, already lunging to cover my body with his. But it was too late. The acrid fumes hit my lungs like liquid fire, setting off an explosion of coughing.

My eyes watered uncontrollably, vision blurring as the gas seeped in. I fumbled blindly for my weapon, but my limbs felt leaden, uncooperative. Through the haze, I saw Alex slumped against the seat, his eyes rolling back in his head. River managed to wrench the door open but collapsed half out of the truck, his bulk blocking any chance of escape.

The last thing I registered before darkness claimed me was the rhythmic thud of booted feet approaching and a deep, unfamiliar voice crackling through a radio.

CHAPTER 12

Layla

My eyes fluttered open, my vision blurry. Strands of my hair clung to my sweat-dampened forehead. I tried to move, but my wrists were raw. I could feel the metal of the handcuffs before I saw them. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, details of my surroundings slowly came into focus.

I found myself in what appeared to be a basement type room, the air thick with the musty scent of mildew. Rough concrete walls loomed on all sides, their surface pitted and scarred. There were no windows, no glimpse of the outside world to hint at how much time had passed. The ground was surprisingly soft though,thank fuck, covered in some kind of industrial carpeting that wasn’t even stained.

The only illumination came from a single red heat lamp suspended from the low ceiling. Its eerie glow bathed everything in a hellish crimson hue, casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to writhe and dance with each flicker.

The heat from the lamp was fucking oppressive, making the air feel thick and suffocating. Stacks of cardboard boxes lined the walls, their contents a mystery. Some were labeled withfaded markers, cryptic codes and dates scrawled across their surfaces.

That’s when I noticed him. River sat perfectly still, his hands cuffed together just like mine as he leaned against the far wall. A nasty-looking gash above his eyebrow had crusted over, adding another scar to his already impressive collection.

I searched the room frantically for any sign of Alex, my heart rate spiking when I realized he wasn’t there. "Where's Alex?" I rasped, my throat raw and parched.

"They took him. Woke up a few hours ago to the sound of them dragging him out."

Shit…

"Did you see who they were?" I asked, cracking my neck from side to side. My ass was numb and I needed water badly.

"Pretty sure they're feds," he said, his brow furrowing. "But why bring us to this shit hole instead of a proper detention center?"

He was right. The feds wouldn't have gone off the books. The basement seemed to close in around us, the shadows cast by the heat lamp growing longer and more menacing. Sweat trickled down my spine, my tank top clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

"Did you get a good look at any of them?" I pressed, hoping for any detail that might help us figure out what the hell was going on.

River's eye narrowed as he recalled the details. "There were four of them from what I saw, but there could be more upstairs. Their faces were unfamiliar though.”

“You don’t think they’re Carlos’s guys?”

He shook his head. “No. I’ve done my research on those assholes, and most are low tier junkies who have already found a new prick to follow. We took out his main guys thoroughly. Plus, these guys were too clean. Cop types.”

“So what you’re saying is we’re fucked.”

So far beyond fucked, actually.

“Pretty much.”

Time seemedto crawl in that oppressive basement, each minute stretching into an eternity. The heat lamp buzzed incessantly, an electronic mosquito that grated on my already frayed nerves. Sweat beaded on my skin, trickling down my neck and between my breasts. The handcuffs chafed against my wrists.

River and I spoke in low voices, our words barely audible over the hum of the lamp and the occasional creak of the building above us. We went over various scenarios, planning for every possible outcome when our captors inevitably returned.

"If they come for you next," I murmured, "try to get a layout of the place. Count the steps, note any turns or doors. Anything that might help us figure out where we are."

"And if they come for you?"

"I can always piss and shit myself. Make them work for it.”

A reluctant grin twitched the edges of his lips.

---