Page 87 of Ravage

Sleep doesn't come and I keep replaying things in my mind. But I'm somewhat settled and at peace. The shock and adrenaline from earlier have faded. The earlier texts from Theo and Damon have thankfully calmed me, and I know Grey is outside in full guard dog mode. Everything is okay for tonight… We will sort it out tomorrow. All we can do at the moment is take it one day at a time, and we survived today.

That's enough.

There's a quiet rhythmic echo outside the door, so faint that it could be the pipes or guards doing their rounds. When my cell vibrates next to my head, I hastily grab it to make sure everything is okay. It's probably Grey texting since there's not much else to do while on ass duty.

Opening the inbox, I'm surprised to find it's not Grey, but Damon.

Damon: Are you awake?

I laugh to myself, more sarcastically than anything since sleep seems to be missing in action.

Avery: Not by a long shot.

His reply comes quickly—just one word.

Damon: Good.

My brows furrow in confusion as I sit up in bed. Maybe there's an emergency meeting or more updates that can't wait until morning.

Before I can start writing back, the cell buzzes again.

Damon: I want you to do something for me.

Instantly, more messages come through, one after the other.

Damon: In about twenty seconds, I'm going to unlock your door.

Damon: We're going to play a game.

Damon: You run.

Damon: I catch you.

My eyes widen as I read the chain of messages, heart beginning to race. The sound outside grows louder before… silence.

Click.

I jolt my head up as my door creaks open an inch. Slowly, I stand, crossing the room to pull it open.

The corridor is dark except for sections of patchy moonlight. As I step outside the room, I look right toward the direction of the library, squinting my eyes. When I'm positive there's nothing there, I look to my left.

At first, I see nothing there, but a faint glint catches my attention, and I do a double take. There, in the dark at the end of the corridor, a figure stands, hidden in the shadows.

My heart starts beating so rapidly in my chest that I'm almost certain I can hear it echo around me.

I tense up, staring at the figure with uncertainty. They take a step forward into a shard of moonlight and I finally see their face.

Hard red and black, twisted features…Devilish. I recognize it immediately—theCirque des Mortssignature mask and black attire. It's the exact same getup that Damon wore when he rescued me.

The. Exact. Same.

My hand squeezes the cell in my palm, reminding me of his messages as heat rushes through my entire body.

Just one word comes to mind… the one instruction he gave.

Run.

As if reading my mind, he takes a step toward me, forcing my body to spring into action. I turn and take off down the corridor, the sound of footsteps quickly following behind.

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