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Chapter Four: Buried Voices, Dim Rooms

Author: Celéste
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-25 12:12:16

An abandoned car wash — their hideout for now.

The place was falling apart—rusted metal, flickering neon remnants of letters long dead. Inside, the cracked tile floor was littered with beer bottles and cigarette butts. An old couch sat beneath a buzzing light. Riko leaned back on it, drink in hand. Milo and Luis sat nearby, half-drunk, the air thick with smoke and grime.

The metal door screeched open, and Ozzy walked in, laughing to himself like he’d just heard the best joke in the world.

Ozzy grinned. “Yo, Riko—you should’ve seen her, man. Barely spoke a word the whole trip. Had that look—y’know, that broken-doll look. Me and Milo? We trained her good. Real good.”

Milo chuckled darkly, raising his bottle. “She stopped crying by the second night. Kinda miss the noise.”

Ozzy smirked at Luis. “Shame Luis here missed the fun. What happened, man? You fall asleep or just scared to get your hands dirty?”

Luis said flatly, “Was running drop-offs for you idiots. Boss said the girl was priorit
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  • Broken Wings    Chapter Thirteen: Not Alone.

    The room was dim, lit only by the amber flicker of a streetlamp outside the window. A fan hummed weakly in the corner. Raven lay curled beneath a threadbare blanket on the couch, one arm draped over her eyes, her breath steady in sleep.The door slammed.She jolted upright, heart pounding against her ribs—confused, disoriented.Riko stood in the doorway, chest heaving, soaked in rain and rage. His jacket hit the floor like a warning. Boots stomped across the room.“Riko—?” Her voice was groggy, thick with sleep. “What… you came back?”He didn’t answer.His hand yanked the blanket off her, exposing the tank top and shorts she wore to sleep. She blinked, shielding her eyes as he flipped on the overhead light.“Who the fuck was he?” Riko’s voice was low—dangerous.She stared up at him, confused. “What are you—?”“The guy. At the club. The one you smiled at like he was yours.”Her stomach dropped. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t—”“Don’t play dumb with me, Raven.” His

  • Broken Wings    Chapter Twelve: Buried in Ash

    A few hours earlier.The sky was still black, but dawn teased at the edges. Fog clung to the ground like a secret. The barn’s floodlights cast long shadows over cracked dirt and rusting fences.A black van idled beside the farmhouse. The engine purred low. Tinted windows. No plates.Inside the barn, girls stood in a silent line—hoods over their heads, hands zip-tied in front. Some trembled. Most were quiet. Trained into obedience or broken into it.No one noticed when one of the girls let her wristband slip to the ground, then stepped on it to hide it.Riko lit a cigarette, pacing in front of them. Calm. Cold. In control.Milo stood at the house doors, radio clipped to his shoulder, watching the road.Ozzy was in the back, checking each girl—rough hands, blank face.Riko, quietly: “No crying. No noise. Anyone pisses themselves, you ride in the trunk.”He exhaled smoke through his nose, watching it curl into the cold air.Riko, to Milo: “That route you checked—it clean?”Milo, without

  • Broken Wings    Chapter Eleven: ‏ Watching

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