Page 35 of Hysteria Rises
My jaw locked tight, I stare at Arrow who looks like he’s going to absolutely lose his shit in the next tenseconds. He strides toward me, stopping on the other side of the bars. There’s an uncharacteristic snarl marring his lips. Hands to his head, he heaves out, “What have you done?”
My breathing is unsteady as I stare into his pale-blue eyes. “What have I done? What didyoudo, my friend?” I shake my head, then march off in pursuit of my father to see what’s going on. He doesn’t follow.
By the time I reach the women’s quarters, Kiefer is nowhere in sight. I take the stairs to the main floor two at a time, my heart near bursting. At the landing, I almost crash directly into Cross.
“Whoa,” he chuckles, putting his hands up between us. “What’s got your drawers up your ass?” His hazel eyes glint as they skirt over my features, but there’s no way in fuck he’s getting a damn thing out of me.
“Did you see which direction Kiefer went?” I shift in an attempt at sidestepping him, but the dick blocks my path. I shove past, but he stops me again, cocking his head to one side and eyeing me warily.
“Yeah.” He gestures toward the door. “Your old man took off outside with Twenty-three. Told me to stay here.” Before I can take another step, his hand clamps down on my shoulder in a firm, unrelenting grip. “He said all of us should stay here. What’s going on?”
Impatience practically vibrates from me, and I give an angry bellow as I shrug him off, throwing a glare over my shoulder. This guy. Ever since I arrivedhere, he’s got his nose in my fucking business. He’s always right where I am at every goddamn turn. But I can’t afford to worry about him right this second. My breath heaves out as an internal battle plays out within me.
Do I find out what Kiefer’s planning to do with the girl? Stand back and watch what transpires from a safe distance? Do I mention what went on downstairs in the cell or what the potential ramifications could be? My father has a short fuckin’ temper on the best of days. And this sure as fuck isn’t one of those. So, no I won’t say anything right now. I’ll bring it up later. Or I won’t. Whatever I decide is in my best interest at the time. Gritting my teeth, my eyes flash as they connect with his. “Maybe tell your boy to stick to what we’re told to do. You know, like what has been hammered into me every motherfucking day since I arrived in this hellhole.” The look of surprise and confusion on Cross’s face is worth every second I waste delivering the message to him. “Now, fuck off.”
Pivoting on my heel, I hurry to the side door and haul it open. The temperature is decidedly cool, and the morning mist that so often shrouds our compound lies heavy in the air. It’s actually more of a fog than anything else, but it’s damn fucking hard to see much beyond ten feet in front of my face. I turn my head one way, then the other, searching for… what, I haven’t any idea. I see no one. But then, I sense movement in my periphery, followed by an excited whoop off in the distance.
“Couldn’t stay inside like I told you to,huh?”
My head snaps toward my father’s voice, finding him standing a ways down against the stone exterior of the building eyeing me with a frown. I drag a steadying breath into my lungs, treading cautiously. “I only wanted to offer my help, sir.” There’s a stirring deep inside that tells me what happened today will be a new beginning. Whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen… but the ghoulish cast to my father’s gaze as he stares off into the forest is terrifying.
He raises a brow. “You wanted to help? Son, I have something you can do for us.” He pauses, studying me. “But what remains to be seen is if you’re up to the task.” His lip curls.
My throat going dry, I nod. “Of course I am. You can trust me.”
He takes a deep breath, beady eyes scanning over me from head to toe. “Well, if that’s true. And if you’re able to prove that you truly belong here—today—beyond a shadow of a doubt … then perhaps more things will go your way in the near future.”
I stare at him, unflinching. “You know I’ll do whatever you need of me. I want this way of life.”
Eyeing me intently, he finally gives a nod. “Follow. Honor. Nourish. Kneel.”
I drop to my knees and bow my head.
NINETEEN
DELILAH
The beatof my heart throbs relentlessly in my head as I sprint through the dense morning fog for the cover of the trees. A moment later, I’m darting among them and hoping that the thick foliage hides the direction I’ve taken. I don’t want to go back into these woods… but I don’t want to stay here either.
I also don’t trust that bastard called Kiefer, or a single one of the words that had feathered past my ear.Girl, you’ve caused too much trouble already. We have no use for you here. We think it’d be best if we let you move along now. So, go forth. Be free. Don’t come back.
He’s full of shit and bravado, considering our limited history. I admit I caused him plenty of trouble when I raked my nails down his face, but the rest of it—the idea that they’re allowing my departure, that they have no use for me? It’s a bald-faced lie. Because hedefinitelyhas other things in mind. When that snake slithered into my cell, he’drelayed in disgusting detail what he had planned, every last thing he was going to force me endure. It’d been enough to make my stomach pitch and hands shake. It’s a miracle he’d left me alone that day.
So, despite the fact that I have no earthly idea where I’m heading, and my leg muscles burn like they’ve been dipped in hell, I’ve gotta run. Anywhere but here is the goal. Find a way to survive. Don’t give up. This may be my only chance to escape.
I purposely zigzag my way through the trees, hoping not to leave evidence of the path I’ve taken, but after a minute or so, I begin to worry that I’m getting turned around, so I flatten myself against a tree, then shift so I can investigate where I am in relation to the building.
The massive structure that I’d been kept in stands a good hundred yards off. It’s dilapidated, moss-covered, and downright gloomy the way it’s surrounded by the fog. It looks more like an insane asylum or an abandoned prison than a home. I shudder roughly and push myself to run again.
“Go! Track her down!” Kiefer’s shout sends icy fear down my spine. I suck in a distraught breath.Oh no. No, no, no.I urge myself to move faster now and hardly notice as branches scratch at my skin and rocks bite into my bare feet as I run. I don’t have a choice. An awful thought surfaces from the murky depths of my mind.I really might die in this place.
Then, I hear it.A river. Hope surges. If I can get toit, maybe I can follow it off this mountain. My breath escapes in pants as I run toward the sound.
“Got you!” Out of nowhere, arms band around my waist and all the air exits my lungs as I’m swept off my feet. Frantic, I twist and contort my body. “No!” My captor spins, and a blur of trees and fog pass before my eyes. He chuckles maniacally, abruptly stopping to swing me around in his arms like a rag doll. “Look what I caught, Gannon.”
Oh no. I can hardly get my bearings, but I recognize that voice. Shuddering viciously, my gut twists and clenches. It’s one of the assholes from last night. I suck in a breath to scream, but the word never passes my lips, only reverberates through my head.No!
“Should we take her back to your father?”
