The Quiet Room lived up to its name.The walls were padded with heavy, cream-colored vinyl. The floor was soft foam. There were no windows, only a recessed light in the ceiling protected by a steel cage.The orderlies had strapped me to the single bed in the center of the room. Leather cuffs bound my wrists and ankles to the metal frame. They weren't tight enough to cut off circulation, but they were tight enough to make movement impossible.Then they left.I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I tested the cuffs. Solid. There was no way to slip my hands out.I had gambled everything on Sterling coming in alone. If he didn't—if he just left me here to rot for the night—Julian would burn the front gates down in three days, and we would lose the element of surprise. And probably our lives.Click.The heavy door unlatched.Dr. Sterling walked in.He closed the door behind him. He didn't lock it—he expected me to be helpless.He walked ov
Last Updated : 2026-01-24 Read more