Page 12 of Verses and Blooms
My next stab hit resistance. Bone. Malik’s screams were downright feral as the soldiers finally got a hold of me. They’d been trying before but were half-stunned.
The knife was jerked from my hand, the metal clanging against the cement where it was tossed aside. My hands were wrenched behind me painfully, a zip tie securing them until it was digging into my skin.
“Stupid bitch!” Malik screamed, holding a hand over a wound on his chest now. I’d hit collarbone, gone too high in my haste.
Pity.
A self-satisfied smirk was all I gave him in return. No matter what happened now I was choosing to cling to knowing Rydell and Ledger especially would hunt me down. Rydell had nearly killed Theo for less.
The truth was I was in danger. I now wore the same thin, white dress I’d worn for ten fucking years. Though, this one was cleaner. New.
“Get her out of here,” Malik groaned, grabbing one of the discarded shirts in the corner to press to his wounds. He hobbled to the far way, the guards dragging me behind him.
I couldn’t see what he did to open the doorway, but he found one where I couldn’t before. It groaned open as one of the guards slapped tape over my mouth.
My fight was still fading but the adrenaline of my new reality was enough to make their job harder. They both grunted and groaned, tiring out right along with me.
I was grateful they didn’t cover my eyes so I could take in every detail of the dingy hall we were in. More cement walls, the floors dirty and covered in plant debris. We were close to outside. Maybe a maintenance hall that was forgotten?
My heart pounded as we came to a stop against a dark metal door. Malik turned, baring his teeth.
“Can you two finally do your fucking job and hold her still?” he hissed. Their grips changed, harsh now, forcing me to settle. “Lights out, Audrey.”
The prick of the needle in my neck had panic rising. It was like ice in my veins, slowly coursing through me and making each limb feel like lead was weighting them down.
My vision started to blur, and the last thing I saw was a sick grin on Malik’s face. Though, it was pale now.
I’d caused damage.
I could practically hear Ledger in my head.
“Good fight, Wildling.”
My consciousness returned slowly. A heavy ache lingered over my entire body, making it impossible to move right away. The icy meds had faded and now I felt like I was being cooked alive. It was stifling hot in here.
Every breath was a fight, opening my eyes feeling like the hardest thing I’d ever had to overcome.
I was half paralyzed. What had they done to me?
Fuck!
My breath stuttered as I pushed through the heaviness, determined to at least take stock of my body.
What the fuck had Malik pushed into my veins?!
It felt like hours before it was fading enough to truly move. My breaths came easier, my heart not quite as erratic when I could move my body again.
I sat up, holding out my shaking hands to study them, not noticing anything other than dried blood.
Not even my own. I hoped wherever Malik was, that he was worse off than I was.
My body looked mostly unharmed outside a few bruises and scrapes. My head was tender but I couldn’t tell if it was the medication or something more.
I was alive.
That was about all I could say with any ounce of positivity.
Especially when I was back in hell. I’d escaped, and Malik had dragged me right back here. My omega was already freaking out, calling out for her pack even though we had no real way to do that.
