Page 129 of Choices

Deafening silence.

“Why won’t you speak to me?” I ask, looking at her again. She backs away and shakes her head, placing a hand over her mouth.

“You can’t speak?”

Another shake of her head. No.

“Did he do something to you?” My gaze travels over her naked form littered with scars and dirt.

Wide, lost eyes stare back at me, and I rack my brain, recalling the pictures we have of all the missing girls, but can’t connect her with any of them.

Fuck. What has he done to her? How long has she been here?

“Are you alone…are there others here?” I ask desperately.

Shaking her head, she wags her finger toward herself and then me, holding up two fingers.

“Just us two?” I surmise.

A nod, and she holds up two fingers again.

Just us two.

All those pictures of missing girls and only one is here alive.

“I’m going to get us out of here,” I promise to her and myself. I’ve already survived one demon, I can survive another. I refuse to let this bastard defeat me. Monster has shown me somedefensive moves. I’ll wait for him to come back, and now that I can think straight, I’ll be smarter. Stronger. Ready.

Placing a hand on the back of my head, I wince and pull it away. Wet, sticky blood stains my fingers, and Callan floods my thoughts, followed by my mom and Bear. My heart cracks.I have to get home to them.

Looking around, panic rising in my chest, I already know there’s nothing in here I can use. I scan my body. Nothing but the dress I’m wearing, panties, bra, and the boots on my feet. Boots with a heel.And laces.

A noose.

Dropping to my ass, I untie the laces and weave them out from the loops, tugging them free one after the other. Wrapping one of the ends around each fist, I stretch it to test its strength. It may work.It has to work.

Kicking my boots off, I stand barefoot, grab one of the shoes, and smack the heel against the wood, wiggling and jerking until I loosen it. After several more strikes, the heel finally comes off and drops to the hay at my feet. I sigh in relief, swiping it up.

Hiding the leather in the hay, I palm the small, spiked heel, grateful I wasn’t wearing flats for once. Tying one of the laces around the hoop attached to the back wall, I sit beneath it and tuck the lace around my throat and into the back of my dress, clutching the other lace tightly in my other fist.

Sensing the girl watching me through the slats, I place a finger to my lips. “Shhh,” I command, tilting my head to the side and closing my eyes.

I breathe shallowly, willing myself to stay calm and still and praying like hell that it looks believable. Time passes in what feels like hours. The silence only shattered by the chirping of insects. Finally, I hear a latch give way, and footfalls pound against the concrete.

Stay calm.

When a lock disengages and a door creaks open, I will my eyes to stay closed. It takes every bit of self-restraint. Mewling sounds from the stable next to mine, then a thud and a gurgled cry. He’s in there with her, not here with me. “Are you going to behave, now?” I hear him ask her.

Stay calm. Stay still. Stick to the plan.

It’s so silent, my stomach tenses and I wonder if he’s testing me, watching me. Vomit threatens when I hear the distinct sound of a zipper opening.

No.

“On your knees, show me how sorry you are.”

Oh god.

“What, what is it?” he growls.

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