Page 284 of The Reluctant Hero

Damn it.

Doesn’t matter. Keep moving.

This time, I take the path to the right. One left turn later, I see a long, well-lit hallway to the metal door at the end.

My teeth clench, my chin tucking down as I stomp forward. Each step resonates inside me, that cold overtaking everything until I’m focused on what lies behind that door and nothing else.

It’s cracked open as if someone is waiting for me inside.

I hear the soft sounds of sobbing. A man’s voice begging in a choked tone. A muffled scream.

My grip tightens on Jakob as I slip through the opening, trying to be quiet.

The crack isn’t wide enough, and my arm bumps the door, making it swing open wider.

My brain takes in what I’m seeing in flashes that barely make sense. People in cages. Men and women. Naked and filthy. Some are healthy, and others are sprawled on the floor unconscious. No one notices my entry. They’re all focused on something going on ahead of me.

This concrete room is set up differently. The cages are in the same lineup, but there’s a wide open space past them that looks like a torture room. Including a drain in the center of a tiled floor and instruments of torture lining the walls. A metal table and a chair, just like the one I was taped to, are in the center.

My focus goes to the man dressed up in a suit bent over the table. A woman is strapped spread eagle on it, gagged, with terror written all over her face.

“You’re early,” he says, his voice echoing eerily.

A lot of attention swings my way as I steadily move toward him, my grip shifting on Jakob.

“Really? I feel like I’m right on time,” I reply coldly.

He turns to face me as I swing like Jakob is a baseball bat. My arms shake from the contact as I hit him directly in the face. My eyes close on instinct, trying to shield my brain from whatever happens to him. They don’t open until his body thumps to the ground

The terrified woman meets my gaze. I see a flicker of disbelief turn into wary hope, and she starts sobbing.

I undo her gag before she starts choking. I can’t take in her nudity. My brain can only handle so much, and this? It’swaytoo much on top of everything else.

Voices rise all around me and begin shouting. Panic descends as they realize I’m here to help them.

“Keys,” I mutter and glance down at the gurgling man at my feet. I gag, trying not to look as I crouch to search his pockets.

When I feel metal, I yank my hand out hard enough to jostle him. His gurgling stops as I hold up a shiny key.

“Yes!” I shout without reserve and start undoing her shackles.

When she sits up and stares at me with wide eyes, I gape back.

“Plan. We need a plan,” I babble.

“Get help,” she rasps back helpfully.

She pushes me away, takes the key from me, kicks the body on the ground a few times, and starts working on unlocking the cages.

“Yeah, sounds good,” I nod and spin to run away.

NowI’m panicking.

I’m not the only one escaping now. I have several people, wounded and who knows what else, behind me. They’re expecting me to clear the way.

I’m not equipped for any of this. Physically or mentally.

I make sure to open every single door in the sex hallway, checking for people. It’s still eerily quiet, and my pulse of doom is at a low hum. As long as it stays that way, I know we’ll be good.

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