Page 23 of Us Dark Few

Winnie patted her shoulder.

“Not to worry, dear. They prefer to kill prisoners out in the open. Don’t venture from your path, and make sure not to enter their rooms. There are worse things than death.”

8

Demons no longer rest in the bedlam of sleep. I hear their monstrous steps lingering in the deep.

The guard’s quarters were located in the lowest level of Braderhelm. The black granite walls and lit torches offered no warmth, forcing shivers down her spine.

Khalani rolled the cart of books along the dark hallway. Her sweaty palms clutched the metal handle with a death grip. The eerie quiet, disrupted by the screeching of wheels against the stone floor, made her shallow breaths pump faster.

She was brutally aware of the imminent danger. The hairs on her arms bristled, and her eyes anxiously slid to every corner, crevice, and steel door she passed.

A distant scream echoed down the hall from one of the enclosed rooms. Her eyes widened as she whipped her head around. No prisoner stood visible, but the grating bellow sliced the murky air like a deadly hymn. Blood drained from her face and goosebumps chilled her entire body. The screams ground to a sudden halt, and the only sound left was her frantic heartbeat in the still air.

She needed to leave this place.Now.

She wasted no time depositing the books at the base of every door. There were no bars or cells. It appeared that each guard had an actual bedroom. But she wasn’t about to knock and ask for a grand tour. Adrenaline pumped through her bloodstream so rapidly that pain no longer registered in her hands as her body moved at record speed.

Each door had an engraved number, and she quickly scribbled the room numbers on the paper Winnie provided. As Khalani bent over in front of one of the steel doors, it suddenly swung open.

Black boots entered her vision.

Her muscles froze, eyes slowly lifting over a wide chest in a black vest, past broad shoulders, to a face that peered down on her with a sinister grin. The man’s bald head was so shiny that the skin looked waxed. The eerie expression in his gaze made her heart sputter to a halt.

“Are you here to help me, prisoner?” The guard’s grin deepened as his cold blue eyes perused her hunched-over frame.

Khalani swiftly stood ramrod straight, icy fear coating her skin. She held out the book, her hands visibly trembling. “Your yearly review of the Apollo Ordinance, sir.” She tilted her head forward, using her hair to partially obscure her face.

The guard stepped closer, his cold-blooded energy prickling at her senses. Khalani subtly shifted back, ready to bolt. He smirked at her movement and advanced further. His piercing stare offered no kindness or disregard, but something far worse—a cruel interest.

“Prisoners shouldn’t be wandering these halls alone.”

She bit the inside of her lip and tried to remain calm, but her heart pounded against the confines of her chest. “I was instructed to deliver the Ordinances to each room.”

He leaned against the wall and shook his head. “Well, you seem to be moving rather slowly. That will require some punishment. Luckily for you, I’m in a forgiving mood. Come in here, and you can help me forget this happened.”

Shallow breaths pumped out of her chest.Winnie’s words rang in her ear like an alarm bell.

“I’m sorry. I must leave to finish my work.” She swallowed tightly as the words came out in a quick breath. She turned, but her shoulder was quickly captured in a vice-like grasp.

The guard squeezed harder, making her face squint and eyes water. His grip was so impenetrable that his fingertips would soon imprint on her bones. Khalani held her breath, and every single muscle in her body became rigid as a flood of terror shrouded her veins.

“Please, let me go,” she pleaded.

The guard ignored her begging, pulling out a silver switchblade with his other hand. Her green eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He casually rubbed the blade along her forearm, and she tried to pull back, but as soon as she moved, he pushed the knife into her skin, drawing a thin line of blood. Her adrenaline went into overdrive as red liquid pooled across her arm.

He was going to kill her. She was going to be murdered in that decrepit dungeon.

She frantically glanced around for help. No one else stood in the hallway. She was alone. What would happen if she were to scream? Would anyone come to her aid? But she already knew the answer to those desperate thoughts.

In Braderhelm, rape might be standard practice.

Despite her best efforts, the guard pulled her closer and slid his other hand around her neck, the blade kissing her skin as she gulped. Khalani flinched at his touch and tried to turn away, but he squeezed her chin harshly and forced her gaze back to him.

“You don’t look too bad. Must be new here. If you don’t give me any trouble, I won’t be too rough with you. Promise,” he whispered the last part in her ear.

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