Page 109 of Sardonic Burn

It’s like he knows I’m interested in him. Slowly, he takes a step back, his taunting gaze never leaving my face. An arrogant smirk is on his face, and he releases a subtle laugh.

The motherfucker is enjoying this.

“Alright, I’m in.” Lucas releases a small sigh of relief. “Woah,” he mumbles. “That’s… a cage?”

I glance at the camera, though he can’t see my face. However, he can read my body language. That’s something he’s exceptionally good at.

“Noelle, your signal will be to either speak if you can, or tap your forearm twice if you can’t. It will send the teams your way. Right now, they’re four miles away. They’re ditching the cars soon and will arrive on foot.”

They’re all quick, and I know they’ll be here in record time. They have to be. Nothing can go wrong tonight. If it does, a lot of lives will be lost, and I will never be able to forgive myself. Incompetence is not allowed.

“Lyla and Niko just split up.” Lucas keeps me updated every ten minutes. “Niko’s team will surround the nearby forest and wait for any attempts to escape.”

I bring one of my hands beneath the veil and cough.

“Are there any cameras in the basement—”cough,“or on the top floor?”

“Top floor, yes. Basement, no. I can’t spend time now to look back at the footage, Noelle. It will have to wait until you’re out of there.”

He’s right.

I know that.

But why am I being pulled toward the basement? I can assume all the horror and terror that lies beneath the stairs, and I can’t ignore it. I’m not a saint; I never claimed to be one.

I’ve killed and tortured more people than I can remember. Somewhere along the road, all the faces got blurred, and I no longer remember their names. If I had to guess, I’d say that my body count is well above a hundred already.

I’m no different than the monsters here.

I tell myself that it’s for the job only but when did I completely stop caring about taking people’s lives? Their deadeyes don’t haunt me. The blood that I carry on my hands doesn’t stain me.

Yet, when I think that I cannot possibly be different than the rest of the people here, my blood starts boiling. The fury builds inside of me until I’m no longer able to control it.

But I have to.

For the sake of everyone here.

For my sake, too.

The soft music stops playing, and I straighten my back. Hudson looks up at me, eyes filled with determination. He’s silently telling me that it will all be okay and that it will be over soon.

I try to believe it.

I try to ignore the terrible nausea that builds in the back of my throat.

Because as soon as the music stops, the lights go out. There’s a reflector shining directly onto the cage. A tall, muscular, masked man steps to the front. He holds a microphone in his hand and since his entire face is covered, I’m unable to catch even a glimpse of his face.

“Good evening.” All the murmurs and whispers stop when he starts speaking. “Tonight, after a long time, we’ve brought quite a few interesting items. The bidding will now begin.”

Everyone around me prepares their numbers. I can feel their excitement, the rush of adrenaline that pours into the room. My eyes are locked on the man with the microphone as he walks over to the big, red curtain and grabs it.

My eyes find Hudson’s. The Hudson who is sweet and tender with me is now long gone. The murderous intent is evident, and I’m grateful not to be on the receiving end of his wrath. I never saw it until now because my arrogance knows no bounds, but a furious Hudson is a dangerous Hudson.

He briefly closes his eyes and while he’s sitting on the cold, concrete floor, he readjusts himself so that he’s staring ahead. I’m clutching the chain in my hands, holding onto it like it’s my lifeline.

“The market will now commence.”

TWENTY-EIGHT

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