Consciousness slammed into me like a blow. I woke choking on my own breath, gagged so tightly my jaw ached. My arms wouldn’t move. My legs wouldn’t move. The ropes bit into my skin, burning, unforgiving, as if someone had poured fire around my wrists and ankles. For a second, I didn’t know where I was. Then the stench of the room hit me—mold, damp concrete, old sweat, and something metallic that made my stomach roll. I was lying on the cold floor of a small, windowless space, lit only by a single flickering bulb that hummed above me like an insect. It wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t a nightmare. It was real. My heart thrashed. I twisted violently, trying to kick, trying to crawl, trying to scream through the gag. The sound that came out was pathetic and muffled, like a dying animal. Tears blurred my vision, burning hot and relentless. Elijah. The thought carved through me like a knife. Elijah is dead. Elijah is gone. And now—now it was my turn.God, I’m so sorry, Eli. I’m
Last Updated : 2025-11-15 Read more