Chapter 30.THIS IS ALL I REMEMBER.Clary's POV.Huddled around a corner, I held my head in my hands and sobbed quietly. I'd been trying to wrap my head around her words — whoever it was that pretended to be Hayley. But it just didn't make any sense. No matter how hard I tried to make something out of it, it just wasn't working. What could she have meant by nothing out of the ordinary had happened to Hayley? Swallowing the lump in my throat, I wiped my face with the back of my hand as I tried to pull myself together. I'd been waiting, but still there was no sign of the real Hayley. Suddenly, I heard a soft groan. “Hayley, is that you?” I asked, my body vibrating to the thump of my heart as I raked my eyes all over the place. “Please, tell me that you're fine.” I swallowed hard and got on my feet then I moved closer to the barrier to search the other cell for her. However, there was still no sign of her.“Please, give me a sign, anything at all.” I said, barely breathing the words
Chapter 29.A BARGAIN.Clary's POV.“Where is she?” I asked, my voice matching the hardness of my gaze. “And what have you done to her?” “Easy there, alright? Easy.” Hayley said, with a smile. “Your friend is doing just fine.” “Then where is she!” I yelled, shaking the barrier by gripping the iron bars. “Tell me where she is else I'm going to bring down this barrier and rip you apart.” “Can you really do that?” she asked, with a bubble of laughter rising in her throat. “I don't think you can. It would take you to fully transform in order to give it a shot.” “Will you just shut up already!” I yelled, as a flash of amber lighted my eyes. “Not another word from you. If you say a word, then I'm going to prove you wrong by bringing down this barrier.” “Very well then, be my guest.” she said, and gestured like an opera singer who'd just finished performing. “I await to see what you can do.” I should have known. But then, there was no way I would have known that it wasn't Hayley to beg
Chapter 28.THE BITTER TRUTH.Clary's POV.“You are kidding right?” I asked, blinking back tears. “Tell me this is a joke, please. They didn't do all that to you, did they?” “Can you see a smile on my face right now?” she asked, her face unreadable. “I just explained to you what would happen if you choose not to give them what they want, and you are asking me to tell you that it's a joke. Seriously? How long do you think you can endure the pain? An hour? Or perhaps two? Well, let me enlighten you, you're going to break sooner or later.” My spine stiffened at her words. From the way she sounded, it seemed like she'd been broken. And if not, then she was just this close to being broken.“How could they do that to you?” I asked, as my throat tightened with tears. “It just doesn't make any sense.” “Of course, it doesn't.” she said, glancing at the cut on her wrist. “But it will when they eventually do the same to you.” “No, they won't do that to me.” I shuddered, my eyes burning with
Chapter 27.WE ARE DIFFERENT.Clary's POV.“You don't want to do this Clary.” Hayley said, with a broken voice as she shook her head. “Just tell them already. Tell them what you know.”Her voice gave me the creeps. It was as broken as her skin. But then, did she really think that I want this? That I signed up for this? Of course, I didn't. But why wouldn't they just understand me? I have no idea where Reggie went to. Why wouldn't they just choose to believe me? “I really don't have any idea where he is right now.” I said, trying to quell the sob rising in my throat. “They searched his house themselves after they brought me out, but they didn't find him in there. So, why then are they still asking me about him?” “Are you really going to be stubborn to the end?” she asked, as tears began to form in her eyes. “Do you want to end up like me? For your own good Clary, tell them what you know so that you can leave this place in one piece.” “Are you kidding me right now?” I asked, somethin
Chapter 26.AN UNEXPECTED REUNION.Clary's POV.“Let me out of here!” I yelled, pounding a fist against the door. “I will bring down this door if you don't let me out.” And to prove that I wasn't just saying those words, or better still, that I didn't just say those words, I lowered my knees and glanced at the hinges of the door, trying to see if I could find a way to break them. However, merely looking at it, I knew that it would be impossible to do so.“Damn it!” I said, pounding a fist on the door again and then pushing my fingers through my hair.Exhaling sharply, I turned and allowed my back sag against the door as I sat on the floor. Did they really think that locking me up in here would make me change my mind about saying a word concerning Reggie's whereabouts? Why couldn't they just understand that I knew nothing about it?I tossed my head down and scrubbed my hands over my face as I tried to gather my thoughts together. For one, I didn't just want to believe that there was
Chapter 25.ONE LAST CHANCE.Clary's POV.I actually had something in mind to say to him earlier when I asked him to wait. But before he could walk back to me, I changed my mind because I didn't think it was necessary anymore. Besides, I couldn't betray Reggie. Although, I wasn't so certain that Reggie would be there. But then again, I would have asked Ryker to check out the shack in the woods. Perhaps, he'll be able to find Reggie. But I know Ryker too well; he would storm that place with a lot of men and I couldn't risk that.And please, don't give me that look. At least, not now. I only thought about taking Ryker out of the picture. And what better way to do that than to send him to go up against a hybrid? So, I bet you understand me now.“I am sorry, but I changed my mind.” I said, with a shrug of my shoulder. “I don't think it's necessary to tell you anymore.” He tossed his head down and scratched his brows as he laughed low in his throat. He remained that way for a few second