LOGINThe sun came through the window and touched my face. I blinked and turned away from the light. For the first time in a long while, I slept without fear. No nightmares, no screams in my head, no enemies waiting in the corner.Kira was already awake. She stood near the small table, brushing her long hair. She smiled when she saw me open my eyes. âMorning,â she said softly.âMorning,â I replied, stretching my arms. My body still felt sore from everything that had happened before we came here, but the quiet made it better.âJace went to get breakfast,â Kira said. âHe said we should stay inside today.âI nodded. It didnât bother me. I liked staying in. The air outside was still new, still strange. I didnât know the people here, and they didnât know me. That felt safe.I sat by the window. From there, I could see the street below â small houses, people walking, a fruit seller calling out to customers. It was normal. I had forgotten what normal looked like.Kira came beside me and handed me
KadenShe closed her eyes. âAlways,â she whispered.We walked down the steps. The rain from yesterday had dried. The grass smelled clean. The men moved like they had done this a hundred times. The guards watched the road. I made sure every exit was watched.Before they left, I told them one last thing. âIf anyone asks where you are from, say you are from the city to the east. If anyone asks your name, give the one you like. Do not tell them where you live. Do not tell them who I am.âBrenda nodded. She got into the car. Jace took the wheel. The other guard sat in the front. Kira sat next to Brenda. She held Brendaâs hand like a lifeline. The car rolled away slowly. I watched until it turned a corner and was gone.When they left, the house felt emptier than before. The room where Brenda had slept felt quiet and hollow. I closed the door softly. My fingers stayed on the wood for a long time.I went back to the map table. There were papers and names and lines. Our work lay on those paper
KadenThat night, Brenda slept in the next room. She had cried hard last night. Her shoulders shook when she slept. I watched her for a long time. Her face looked small and tired. The fear left little marks on her. I wanted to take them away with my hands. I wanted to make every hurt go away.I stood up and put on some clothes. I walked out into the hall, my boots clinking softly. I met with Luis and Tom near the map table. They looked ready. Their faces were sharp. âBrenda will leave today,â I said. My voice was low. The men nodded. They already knew. We had talked last night. We had planned. But saying it again made it real.âWhere will she go?â Luis asked. He always asked what I wanted before he acted. He wanted to know so he could do it right.âTo another city,â I said. âFar from here. A place where no one knows her face. A quiet place. How soon can you have the car ready?ââTwo hours,â Tom said. âAnd Kira can ride with her.âKira. The thought of her warmed me. She was brave. She
Chapter 154BrendaThe room felt very loud even though everyone was quiet. My heart beat like a drum in my chest. I could hear each breath I took. I could hear Kadenâs shoes on the floor. I could hear my own sobs, small and soft.Kaden put his hand on my shoulder. He was gentle. He pulled me a little to the side. His voice was soft, so only I could hear him. âWhat do you want now, Brenda?â he asked. He looked at me with kind eyes. His jaw was hard, but his voice was gentle.I looked at him. I wiped my face with the back of my hand. My fingers were shaky. I felt tears already gathering at the corner of my eyes again. It all still felt like a dream, and I really wished someone could snap me out of it already.I looked up and my gaze met theirs again, and that only ignited the anger in my heart.I swallowed. I thought of all the nights I cried. I thought of the empty bed and the long days. I thought of the face that lied to me and smiled while I hurt. I thought of the way they told me I
Chapter 153KadenI stepped out of my room as the sun was slowly beginning to set. Evan and Luis were already outside, standing by the black car. Marcus sat in the backseat, his hands tied, his face swollen and pale. His eyes were half-open, and he looked weak, but I didnât care. He was still breathing â that was all that mattered.âEverything ready?â I asked.Evan nodded. âYes. Weâve got four men in another car behind us, and two bikes on the sides. Weâll cover you no matter what happens.ââGood.â I opened the car door. âLetâs end this.âAs I got in, Marcus gave a dry laugh. âYou think youâre ready for what youâll find?âI didnât even look at him. âJust tell my men where to drive.âHe grinned weakly, blood still on his lips. âDonât worry. Youâll know when we get there.âThe car started moving. The road was wet and full of puddles. I sat in silence, my hands tight on my knees, my thoughts spinning.I kept thinking about Brenda. She felt so peaceful as she slept in the morning. I didn
Chapter 152KadenThe morning came too slowly. The rain had stopped, but the clouds still hung low and gray, covering the sky like a blanket. The house was quiet. Too quiet.I hadnât slept. I tried, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Marcusâs face. The way he looked when I hit him. The way his mouth still tried to smile, even when his blood filled it. He wasnât afraid. Not enough. Not yet.I got out of bed before the sun rose. My clothes were still damp from the night before, and my head hurt from not sleeping. But I didnât care. Today, I will get the truth.I walked down the hallway. The air smelled of rain and metal â the same smell that came from the old dungeon behind the house. My boots made soft sounds on the floor as I passed Brendaâs door. I stopped for a moment.The door was half open.I looked inside.She was asleep, her face calm against the pillow, her hair spread like soft waves. The blanket covered her up to her shoulders, and for the first time in days, she didnât l







