He is gone

Ava’s POV ~

The chains rattled as I shifted. My wrists were raw now angry red lines wrapping around them. My cheek throbbed, and the side of my lip stung with dried blood. Still, I sat straighter than before, even if I was trembling inside.

Sebastian was gone.

After laughing at my words like a maniac, he had disappeared through the heavy double doors like this was just another business meeting. Like threatening to kill me was something he was used to in his business.

But he left the guards. Two of them. Built like statues and just as silent. They stood by the door, expressionless, weapons tucked at their waists, pretending I didn’t exist.

I wasn’t going to give them a show.Instead, I breathed In and Out.

Just like Logan taught me during one of our rare, quiet nights. “You breathe when the world won’t let you speak,”.

Back then, I thought he meant anxiety.

Now I realized he meant war.

The sound of a key turning in the lock jolted me upright. I scrambled to wipe my face, not wanting any