Page 7 of Drop His Mask

I tried to move again, but with more vigor. The numb feeling began to fall away and in its place…Searing pain.

Burning across my skin. My mind splitting into two.

This time when I opened my mouth to scream, the noise echoed around the room.

“Fuck, not again!” Jayce shouted frantically, followed by a cool wash cloth across my burning skin. "Raven, it’s okay.”

I still couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt as Jayce’s hot breath tickled my ear.

“You were drugged for too long, your body is feeling the effects of it wearing off, but you’re going to be okay. Just rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Tell her the truth,” Maverick spoke steadily, monotone.

“No!”

I tried to jump away from Jayce’s loud voice, but I still couldn’t move.

I didn’t have a chance to fully process what that meant before my mind was pulled back into unconsciousness.

“The strings cut off your circulation, the knife in Levi’s hand stabbed you in the side. You are going to be okay, but you need to wake up soon. They won’t allow us much more time.”

The beeping sped up. It pierced the air in rapid succession.

“Shut the fuck up!” Levi barked angrily, much closer this time. “I’m here darlin’, you’re going to be okay. The wound is all stitched up. The pain will fade. You have a bit more time, we’re going to put you back under, but we’ll be here.I’llbe here when you wake up.”

I desperately wanted to question him, to say anything at all. But now that I was no longer screaming, my lips refused to function again. It wasn’t long before a heaviness tugged at my subconscious, yanking me firmly back into the dark depths of unconsciousness.

Chapter 4

Bunny, Please

Julian

Five Years – Three Months Ago

“Bunny, you need to trust me.” Julian glanced around in each direction of the hallway he stood in. It was eerily quiet. There weren’t the usual guards.

It was three days after his argument with Jayce.

It wastheday.

“Something big is going to happen. We need to keep away from Jayce and your sister today. We need to leave.” Julian brought his hands up to Raven’s face. He glanced down at her stomach before shifting his attentionto her eyes.

Just as bright and innocent as always, but there was concern andannoyancein their depths.

“You told him,” Raven said irritably, she wasn’t listening to him at all.

Julian glanced around. “Come on, we need to go.” He let her face go and reached down, grabbing her hand.

He attempted to tug her with him, but she dug her heels in. “You broke our pinky promise,” she croaked into the otherwise silent hallway.

Anxiety and dread crawled their way into his stomach. They needed to hide, to find a safe place.Now.

“Bunny, please,” Julian pleaded with her, but he saw the stubborn set to her face.

“You told Jayce! You promised me.”

Crashing and screaming came from outside.

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