Page 34 of Love Sick

She knows if he managed to break free, he would have no qualms killing her.

Looking at Bobby, I now have an obligation to both him and Dutch. I want to save them both, but how? If I go, I may never have this chance again. But if I make myself known, I take the risk of Alanna killing me, leaving Dutch and Bobby at her mercy, and my Misha’s death will never be avenged.

There is no way I’m returning to Parkfields because I can’t help Dutch being locked away in there. But Noah will notice my disappearance soon. If not already.

I am running out of time.

I stay here, they’ll sound the alarm. I go back, I will be subjected to Noah’s perversions and who knows when my luck will run out with Alanna.

But if I escape, they’ll look for me—I’ll be a fugitive.

I’m faced with so many scenarios—I wish I knew how this story ends so I can make the right choice. But there is no right in this circumstance. I do know, however, that when thisdoesend, I’ll be slathered in Alanna’s blood as I eat her fucking heart.

Going back to Parkfields isn’t an option. Neither was slitting Alanna’s throat. So as much as it pains me, there seems to be only one choice.

“Come here,” Dutch orders Alanna. “I’ll show you what real love tastes like.”

I close my eyes, swallowing down my horror because I know what comes next.

Her heels resonating on the linoleum is a sound which is forever burned into my memory, but when I hear her moan softly, that sound replaces all others and is the incentive I need to open my eyes and sneak out of the room undetected as Dutch sacrifices his self-worth by bedding the devil.

We needed her distracted and what better way than by Dutch giving himself to Alanna.

My body trembles in anger, demanding I go back, but I know that’s not the smart thing to do. Running isn’t the right thing to do; but it’s the smartest thing to do because I’m Dutch’s only hope, and I won’t fail him.

I make my way through this house of horrors silently, memorizing every step because when I come back, I’ll come prepared, prepared with a fucking shotgun.

Once I’m back in the tunnel, I take a moment to gather my bearings and once I know where I am, I take off into a dead sprint.

My heart beats frantically, it echoing in my ears so loudly, it leaves me dizzy. But I persevere because I know the window for escape grows smaller and smaller. Once I reach the crossroad, I turn and venture down the tunnel farthest to the right as Dutch said.

And that’s when I hear it…the barking of dogs and the frenzied voices of men.

I am now the hunted.

Every muscle in my body protests that I stop as I can’t take in breath quick enough, but I focus on nothing but getting to the ladder.

“This way!” I hear a man scream, followed by the snarls of what sounds like the beasts of hell.

The tunnel is suddenly illuminated in flashing red as an alarm is in sync with the strobing red lights. The strobe effect only adds to my hysteria, testing my already frail sanity. I trip over a crack in the ground, falling face-first onto the cement.

I taste blood…

Without delay, I pick myself up, ignoring the blood pouring from my nose because the metallic taste is what I need to run faster than I’ve ever run before. This scene is pure bedlam, but I realize as a maniacal laughter spills from me that I am now one with the darkness.

All that was done to me comes bursting from the seams and I won’t rest until every single person who has wronged me pays.

The snarling of dogs and the feverish catcalls of men echo from the walls, hinting they’re getting closer. But the chase excites me. It only cements that I won’t come out of this a victim—no, I am a survivor.

And when the silver of the ladder is illuminated red, I realize surviving is literally a step away.

“I know you’re down here,” Noah singsongs, excited by the game of cat and mouse. “And when I find you, I am going to have so much fun with you.”

His lewd comment gives me an idea.

I grip onto the rungs of the ladder and scramble up the steps so quickly, I lose my footing and trip down. But I yank myself up and the moment I reach the manhole, I attempt to shift it, but it’s stuck firmly in place.

“Come on!” I curse under my breath as I use all my strength to move it.

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