Page 66 of Unmasked Legacy

It sounds like a kind statement, but the way he delivers it is anything but kind.

I glance around the room, my mind racing. Is this where my father brought his victims? The thought is suffocating, and I struggle to keep my composure. I need to find a way out, but first, I need to understand exactly what Caleb plans on doing with me here. It’s apparent he has a plan, and I’m scared to hear what that plan is.

“I’m not anything when it comes to him,” I say, my voice firm. “What do you want?”

Caleb’s expression softens for a moment, but the hardness quickly returns. “I want justice. I want revenge. I want him to feel exactly what he made me feel. Tell me, Mera, did you like the clues I left? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were enjoying my little game.”

“Believe me, I wasn’t,” I mutter.

He flashes me a smile, showing a row of perfectly white teeth.

“Do you know what your father did to me?”

Stay calm, Mera. “Yes. And for what it’s worth, I don’t agree with it. I never would have wanted something like that to happen to you.”

He moves quickly, slapping me so hard my head swings to the side and a gasp escapes my lips. My cheek burns as I swing my eyes back to him. “Do not fucking speak to me like I’m an imbecile.”

Okay, so Caleb is a little more unhinged than I first thought.

“Touch me again and I’ll cut your fucking finger off,” I snap. “I don’t think you’re an imbecile, I’m only speaking the truth.”

He steps up close to me, his presence overbearing and strong. I don’t back down, I face him, a desperate attempt to show him I’m not scared. “Your father will pay for what he did to me, and I’m going to make him pay with the one and only thing he loved.You.”

I flinch.

“Why, because you figured out he didn’t love you?” I retort. “Is that what this is? You’re butthurt because your fake daddy didn’t care about you the way you thought?”

He slaps me again, this time sending me flying back so hard I smash into an old desk in the corner of the room. As I hit the ground, pain radiates through my body, but I refuse to let it break me. The impact is jarring, and for a moment, I fear I might just black out. I won’t give this dick the satisfaction.

I grit my teeth, determined not to show weakness. My resolve hardens, and I push myself up, ignoring the throbbing in my side. I won't let Caleb see me defeated. I won't give him what he so desperately wants. I rise slowly, meeting his gaze with defiance. No matter what he does, I won’t go down without a fight. I am stronger than this, stronger than him, and I will find a way out of this nightmare.

Caleb grins. “I see you have your daddy's streak in you. We’ll have fun, Mera. You’re going to enjoy this.”

With that, he turns and walks out, leaving me standing alone in the room with the two guards staring daggers at me.

This isn’t over.

Oh no, far from it.

He’s right, I do have my father's streak, and it’s one hedoesn’twant to see.

I’M LEFT IN THAT ROOMwith the two guards for a couple of hours, before one of them receives a call and then I find myself being dragged from the room to a basement below the house. The basement itself is dimly lit, with a single flickering bulb casting shadows across the cold concrete walls. The air is thick with the smell of mildew and something metallic, like rust or old blood.

When we reach the main open area, my eyes move to a girl and my heart skips a beat. She is around my age, and I already know who she is – I’ve seen the pictures, I’ve watched the news, hell, I’ve been accused of taking her. It’s Nia and she's huddled in a corner, her eyes drooping with exhaustion. Her clothes are dirty and torn, and her wrists are red raw, like at some point, she has been bound with rough rope. Despite her disheveled appearance, there's a spark of defiance in her eyes that mirrors my own.

Seeing her like this, my heart aches with a mix of relief and anger. Relief that she's alive, and anger at the monster who put her here. I want to rush to her, to reassure her that we'll find a way out, but the guards' firm grip on my arms keeps me in place. He isn’t letting me move until he’s good and ready.

Nia looks up, her gaze meeting mine. I do the only thing I can, and that is to offer a small smile, in hopes that she will know I’m not here to hurt her. I’m on her side. We're both trapped in this nightmare, but seeing her, only strengthens my resolve. I will find a way to get us out of here, no matter what it takes.

I will fight for both of us.

The guard tosses me to the ground, and with that, he turns and leaves. I’m grateful to see him go, and the moment the door slams closed and locks, I rush over to where Nia is sitting, kneeling down in front of her. She’s exceptionally beautiful, which I already knew from the pictures, but up close, she’s even prettier.

Her hair is a soft strawberry blond and her eyes are vibrant green. She’s only tiny and petite, from behind, you would probably assume she was only a teen. She’s like a little pocket version of a lady and it’s absolutely adorable. Nia is beautiful in a way that is rare. “You’re Nia.”

It’s not a question.

She nods. “And you’re Mera.”

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