2

ALLISON

I woke up exactly at 3:35 AM, heart hammering against my ribs. I hadn't slept deeply. Boy, I couldn't even sleep a wink for fear of what would happen to me if I did, but the little rest I managed had felt like an hour of peace before the war.

I moved silently, so as not to alert my father or my grandmother of my presence. I gathered a few important things I owned: a worn book, my diary, a few pieces of my underwear and the same hairpin I used to defend myself against Mr Blaze. I didn't bother to take my clothes. It's not like I had much of it.

At exactly 3:55 AM, the cheap phone vibrated in my palm. It was Elliot.

“Time to go, Allie. Start coming. We need to leave as early as possible.”

A fierce energy pulsed through me. I didn't hesitate. I climbed onto the windowsill, the cold air biting my skin. The drop wasn't far, but the jump was dangerous, but I didn't care one bit.

To me, freedom from this hell hole and from Mr Blaze was worth any risk.

I jumped down, landing awkwardly in the wet grass. The pain was minimal compared to the promise of a future. I ran immediately, not daring to look back at the dark, old house that had been my prison for twenty-two years.

A laughter escaped my lips as I raced down the street. I was finally free. Free from my father. Free from his mother and Mr Blaze. I was fucking free. My lungs burned, but I dare not stop to catch my breath. I finally stopped when I reached a corner, so I could send Elliot a message.

But there, parked a little way off the fence line, was Elliot's familiar beaten-up sedan.

My heart swelled with such overwhelming happiness and relief that I almost sobbed. He was here. He did keep his promise. He was my savior.

I ran straight to him and launched myself into his arms. I clung to him, inhaling the clean scent of his cologne, feeling safer than I had ever felt in my life.

“Elliot, thank you so much. Thank you so much.” I whispered, tears of gratitude stinging my eyes. “You have no idea, but you just saved me. You really saved me.” I wanted to tell him about the baby.

But he pulled away quickly, his eyes scanning the deserted street nervously. “Yeah, yeah. Of course, Allie. Now get in the car. Hurry up. If your father notices you’re gone, he’s going to chase after us, and I don't want to deal with Orion.”

His rushed manner and slight distance stung a little, but I immediately rationalized it. He was focused on our safety. He was being responsible. Therefore, I decided to wait a little longer to share my news. The time for joy and big announcements was when we were truly safe, when we're truly away from here.

If my father notices that I've left the house, he won't hesitate to inform the police and they'll search for me and bring me back to him. That would mean my death. And that's the last thing I wanted.

“Okay,” I agreed, sliding into the passenger seat.

He didn't waste a second. He pulled out onto the road, driving fast, but with precaution at the same time. The dark streets began to give way to the more commercial part of the city. I leaned back, closing my eyes, feeling the tension drain away with every passing mile. We were free.

I brought my hands to my flat stomach and caressed it gently. “We're free, baby. We're free. I'll take care of you. I'll make sure you get all the love in the world. I'll make sure of that.” I muttered under my breath. Thankfully, Elliot didn't hear me.

“Are you hungry?” His voice dragged me back to reality. And that was when I realised that my hands were still on my belly. He must have seen the action as hunger. Nevertheless, I nodded slowly. I didn't want to tell him about the baby now.

He threw a wrapped box on my lap and immediately, I opened it. It was a box of chocolates.

“Thank you.” I whispered and he nodded. “Anyways, where are we going?” I asked, a hopeful smile finally touching my lips. “I'm ready for whatever you’ve planned, Elliot.”

He didn't answer immediately. His jaw was set, and he was gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.

"Elliot?" I repeated, my tone laced with tentative worry. "Are you alright? Why are you driving this way? This isn't the road out of the city, is it?"

The street was becoming recognizable in the worst possible way. The buildings were larger and ringed by high fences. The car turned onto a familiar dirt road, and suddenly, my entire body went ice-cold.

My breath hitched in my throat.

I knew this street. I had been dragged down this exact road months ago for the first auction. My stomach dropped like a stone, the sudden nausea of terror instantly eclipsing the familiar morning sickness.

The sweet taste of chocolate in my mouth suddenly became bitter.

"Elliot," I said, the fear rising in my voice. "Stop the car. Please, stop. This isn't right."

He ignored me. His usually kind and open face was now hard. Cold, and utterly unfamiliar. I didn't recognise who I was in the car with. This isn't Elliot. This is a beast.

The car stopped with a jolt outside a massive, unmarked warehouse. A heavy steel door stood slightly ajar.

I looked at the building, then back at Elliot, and the horrifying truth crashed into me like a physical wave.

This wasn't an escape. This was a delivery, into the place I hated most. Corner X. The auction house. The same auction house that I'd been dragged to a few months ago.

Oh goodness! No! No. This cannot be happening.

My mind raced, trying to find a way to deny what my eyes were seeing, what my gut was screaming. He promised to save me from my parents. He loved me. He was my last hope. I had jumped out of my prison only to run straight into a lion's den.

A wave of regret consumed me. I should have stayed home. I should have gladly accepted my fate, rather than coming to meet him. I would rather face Mr. Blaze than this man in front of me. The man who claimed to love me.

I should have stayed home. At least my father's cruelty was honest. All the vessels in my body screamed at me to leave the car and run, but it was as if I was glued to the seat. I couldn't run. Nor could I leave.

His face was stripped of all warmth and now it was replaced by a contemptuous smirk. “This is where your father and grandmother sent you, Allie. I was just the delivery man.”

The shock was so profound it left me paralyzed, unable to move or speak. It wasn't just betrayal; it was the calculated cruelty designed to shatter my soul.

How could he do such a thing to me? I fucking trusted him. I trusted him to save me from my parents, but what did he do? He brought me here, to the one place I hated most.

The steel door creaked open, and two burly men stepped out. I recognised them. Maximus's men. They were the same men that had dragged me onto the stage that day. They walked directly toward the car and they were waiting for me to step out.

I finally found my voice. “No, Elliot! You can't do this to me! You loved me! You promised to save me.”

A cruel bitter laugh that pierced my heart escaped his lips. "Love you? Did you really think I'd run off with a pathetic, worthless thing like you? Did you really think I'll love a dirty bitch like you?”

He didn't wait for my answer. He quickly grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the car, shoving me toward the terrifying men who were standing outside the car.

“Take her.”