Page 156 of Closer

Images flash through my mind, disjointed and terrifying. My father’s hands around my throat, squeezing, choking. The boy from my dreams suffocating. Blood. So much blood. And a rock. My mother’s screams.

Hide. You need to hide.

I can’t breathe. The elevator walls close in around me, suffocating. I need air. Now.

The doors open, and I stumble out, gasping, hyperventilating. I don’t know where I’m going. I need to get away. Far away.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Tears blur my vision, and I push through the revolving doors out into the night. The cool air hits my face, but it doesn’t help. Nothing helps.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I keep walking faster, my heels catching on the pavement. I drop, my knees hitting the hard stone. But all I hear is that insistent pounding.

“Lil!”

A horn blares, loud and angry. Tires screech. I turn my head, and everything is red. Blinding, searing red.

The red room. It’s a nightmare.

We’re going to play our little game, okay?

Mom?

Chapter 47

Sebastian

Fuck. I set to run after her, but my father stops me with his hand on my chest.

“Don’t you think you should give her room?”

“No, she needs me.” I glare at him.

He lowers his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“Apologize to her.” Ignoring my father, I rush out of my office.

The elevator closes right before me. I hammer on the button. Come on, come on! But it doesn’t come back.

Stairs. I burst through the door and hurry them down like a madman.

I have to find her. Now.

I yank the door to the lobby open and spot the receptionist.

He motions to the street. “She went outside.”

I rush out. And then I see her in the middle of the street, covering her ears.

“Lil!”

She turns as I’m gaining on her, but before I can reach her, a car appears.

A horn blares. Tires screech.

And a sickening thud.

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