Page 20 of Ravage

Except, it's not Avery.

I lift the mask slightly, revealing my face, as green eyes peer over at me—slowly at first, before recognition dawns on them.

"Capello," I growl, surprised. "Fancy finding you here."

So—I was correct. She wasn't dead, after all.

She quickly scrambles to stand, relief rushing over her face. "Damon."

"Where's Avery?" I snap in frustration. It's not her fault, but it feels like I'm so close, yet so far.

Lifting her hand, she points to the other end of the corridor. "They took her that way."

My heart starts to race at her words. It's the only confirmation I need as I slam the mask back down.

Avery is here.

Flinging the key card at Leighton, I glare at him, my tone firm. "Get Capello back upstairs now. The code is 1109."

He nods, grabbing the card from me before I rush past him. Stepping out into the corridor, I look to my right, eyes scanning the closed doors.

Leighton and Capello appear behind me, my hand flying out to stop them before they can move past.

"Which room?" I ask angrily.

The small woman pauses, looking terrified at the thought of halting her escape. "I think the middle one," she squeaks back.

"Go."

I wait for them to disappear through the exit, door closing behind them. Once they are out of sight, I grip the handle of my knife, taking large strides to the closed door.

Jamming the tip of the blade into the top of the plastic access pad, I ram it down, dislodging the covering. I'm greeted with a bunch of wires, my fist grabbing them as I steadily drag the knife through them, severing the connection. The lights quickly turn off, and my hand grabs the handle, ripping open the door.

It's even brighter in here, the entire room white. But my eyes don't focus on that. They immediately fall to the ground, stomach clenching at Avery's curled up body, her long black hair scattered around her.

She's not moving and I fear the worst, feet darting forward before I can even dwell on it.

Dropping to my knees, I brush some hair away from her face, panic flooding through me.

Suddenly, her arm swings out toward my face, my own hand jarring forward as I manage to catch her wrist before her fist collides with my cheek.

Her eyes dart open—anger and pain staring back at me. It quickly vanishes, fear shining through her eyes. For a brief second, she also looks bewildered, a wall rising behind her eyeslike she's preparing to endure more horrors. My fingers tighten around her wrist and I'm not sure if I'm holding onto her tightly for her benefit or for mine. I'm worried if I let her go, even for a second, she'll disappear.

"What is your obsession with hitting me?" I say coolly, relieved for once that she's trying to knock me out.

Avery's lips part in disbelief, eyes softening as her voice cracks. "Damon?"

"Obviously," I murmur, a smile creeping onto my face behind the mask. "We need to get out of here. Can you walk?"

Tears of relief well up in her eyes as she sits up, my hand still grasping her wrist.

"Yeah…"

As we gaze at each other, a loud alarm starts blaring somewhere outside of the room. My eyes glance up to a camera on the wall and I watch as the red light comes back to life, a darkness taking over me as murderous thoughts fill my mind. They're coming.

"Well then, let's go," I say, standing up as I help lift her from the ground. "Time to get you out of here."

Chapter 8

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