Chapter Six

Kia

 “Pam,” I breathed, scrambling to my feet.

She shut the door quickly behind her and pressed her back against it. “I don’t have much time,” she whispered. “They think I left already.”

I rushed toward her. “They’re moving me tomorrow,” I said, my voice breaking now that I wasn’t holding it in anymore. “To the mountain house. Pam, once I’m there…”

“I know,” she said, grabbing my hands. “I heard what they said.”

“Then you know I can’t stay,” I said quickly. “I can’t. You have to help me. Please.”

She hesitated for a second and I saw it in her face, the fear, the risk, everything she was thinking about.

Then she nodded.

“Okay.”

I blinked. “Okay?”

“We get you out of here tonight,” she said, her voice low but firm. “Before they can move you somewhere worse.”

My heart started racing again but this time it felt different.

“How?” I asked.

“There’s a supply van leaving through the lower gate before sunset,” she said quickly. “They don’t check everything once it’s cleared. If we can get you out of this wing, we can hide you in one of the crates.”

I squeezed her hands. “Will it work?”

“It has to,” she said.

I nodded, even though my stomach was still in knots.

“Tell me what to do.”

Pam took a breath and started explaining the plan, step by step, quiet and fast.

And for the first time since Ryder spoke those words in the hallway, I felt like maybe I had a chance.

I didn’t sleep, not even for a second and every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryder’s face. That smirk. That look in his eyes like everything was already decided and I was just… part of the plan.

So I stayed awake.

I sat on the edge of the bed, counting seconds, then losing track, then starting again. My heart wouldn’t slow down. It just kept racing like it knew something bad was coming.

Because it was.

Pam’s plan replayed in my head over and over. Timing. The guard shift. The lower gate. The crates.

It sounded simple when she said it but It didn’t feel simple now.

A soft knock came at the door and my entire body went still then the lock clicked.

The door opened just enough for Pam to slip inside again, this time without the red coat. “It’s time,” she whispered.

I stood up immediately. “Now?”

She nodded. “Guard shift just started. We have maybe ten minutes before they settle in.”

My hands felt cold as I moved toward her. “Okay… okay.”

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door. “Stay close to me and don’t say anything.”

I nodded and we stepped out into the hallway.

Pam moved quickly, like she knew exactly where she was going, and I stayed right behind her, trying not to look around too much because I didn’t want to draw attention.

We turned down a side corridor I barely recognized.

“This leads to the service stairs,” she whispered. “Less traffic.”

I nodded again, my heart pounding so loud I was sure someone could hear it.

We made it down the stairs without running into anyone and that almost made me nervous.

It felt too easy.

“Almost there,” Pam murmured as we reached the bottom.

I could see the back hallway now, the one that led to the lower gate… Freedom.

It was right there, Just a few more steps.

“Kia.”

My blood ran cold as I stopped as Pam froze beside me and Slowly, I turned around.

Ryder stood at the end of the hallway, He wasn’t alone as Liam leaned against the wall to his right, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Kratavak stood to the left, looking way too entertained.

“I told you not to run,” Ryder said, his voice calm, almost bored, which somehow made it worse.

“I…” I started, but nothing came out.

Because what was I supposed to say?

That I wasn’t running?

That I just happened to be heading straight for the only exit?

Yeah. That would go well.

Ryder took a slow step forward.

“You really thought you could walk out of here,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Just like that.”

Pam stepped in front of me, It shocked me enough that I forgot to breathe for a second.

“It was my idea,” she said quickly. “Leave her out of it.”

“Pam…” I whispered, but she didn’t move.

Ryder’s gaze shifted to her and something dark flickered in his eyes.

“You,” he said, almost like he was amused. “I was wondering who helped her.”

“It’s not her fault,” I said quickly, stepping around Pam. “I asked her…”

“Stop talking,” Ryder snapped, and my voice died instantly.

Then Kratavak let out a low laugh.

“This is cute,” he said. “Really. I almost feel bad ruining it.”

Liam finally pushed off the wall and stepped forward. His eyes moved from me to Pam and back again.

“You shouldn’t have done this,” he said quietly.

I let out a shaky breath. “You weren’t going to give me a choice.”

“No,” he agreed.

“You disobeyed me,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “You tried to run.”

I swallowed hard.

“Yes,” I said.

If I was already caught, I wasn’t going to lie.

“At least you’re honest about it.”

His hand shot out and grabbed my arm and I flinched.

“You don’t get to leave,” he continued, his grip tightening. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”

“Ryder, you’re hurting her,” Pam said, stepping forward.

Big mistake.

Kratavak moved instantly.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, hard enough to make her gasp.

“Careful,” he said, his voice still light but his grip wasn’t. “You’re already in trouble. Don’t make it worse.”

“Let her go!” I snapped, trying to pull away from Ryder.

It didn’t work.

It never worked.

Ryder didn’t even look at Pam. His attention stayed on me.

“You don’t seem to understand something,” he said quietly. “Actions have consequences.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“What are you going to do?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

For a second, he didn’t answer.

Then he leaned in slightly, close enough that only I could hear him.

“I’m going to make sure you never try this again.”

“No…”

“Liam,” Ryder said without looking away from me.

Liam stepped forward.

My heart started racing again.

“Take her back.”

I shook my head immediately. “No, please… Ryder, I won’t run again, I swear, just don’t..”

“Too late,” he said simply.

Liam grabbed my other arm and I twisted, kicked, tried to pull free, but they were stronger and we all knew it.

“Stop it!” Liam snapped. “You’re making it worse…”

“It’s already worse!” I shouted back.

Ryder watched the whole thing without moving.

Kratavak shoved Pam toward the wall and let her go.

“Stay there,” he told her.

She looked like she wanted to fight him, but she didn’t because we both knew what would happen if she did.

They dragged me back the way we came, every step felt heavier than the last…Hope didn’t just fade. It shattered.

When we got back to the room, Ryder opened the door himself this time.

Then he stepped aside.

“Inside.”

I didn’t move.

My chest rose and fell quickly as I tried to breathe.

“Please,” I said, my voice breaking. “Don’t lock me in there again. I won’t run. I swear I won’t…”