Page 167 of Love Me

Panic seizes my lungs when he returns with a syringe. The evil smile on Caleb’s face tells me I won’t like this.

“This will feel like your insides are burning.”

“Bring it on.”

“Just do it. She won’t withstand the truth serum,” Felix says.

As he injects me, I look at the people working for them. Scientists who should be up to greater pursuits, yet here they are, inflicting pain. They avoid my glances as if ignoring what happens to me would make it better. We all have a choice.

A scream erupts from me the moment the drug hits my bloodstream. It seems like my body has given up on me. I can smell the burn, as if my flesh disintegrates from my body. I feel the wetness soaking the front of my pants, and I know it is not from sweat. Embarrassment clings to my drenched clothes. I toss in my confinement in vain.

“What about now, Celine?” Felix asks.

“We forgot to tell you, the pain increases if you struggle until you faint and then we will do this all over again,” Caleb says.

“Sir, we should take a break.”

Look at that. Someone in here is growing a conscience.

Everything is a jumbled mess in my head. Sounds are amplified, lights flash before my eyes. Then it all turns black.

I have blacked out three times since I’ve been here. A part of me, the one responsible for my survival, says, tell them the truth. My friends are on their way anyway, the other part insists on keeping going.

I must preserve the element of surprise.

My eyes open and I gasp for air. My body shakes uncontrollably. Ice cubes pelt my body.

“Hmm, I have to give it to you. I never thought you’d hold on this long,” Felix says.

“Why do you hate me so much, huh? Do I remind you of everything that could be yours but isn’t? Like how my mom never looked back after meeting my father?”

He huffs. “Your mother is my trophy.”

“You have a woman who didn’t choose you of her own free will. But then again, who would do that?”

“Shut up.”

He slaps me and I spit the blood right onto his polished shoes.

He rakes a hand through his hair and my heart aches for Kaden. Felix is a despicable human, but he gave life to the love of my life, my dreams, and my future.

“Your system doesn’t work. Look at you. Where is the loyalty, huh? You go against the order for what? More power?”

“Power is everything, silly girl. And the old woman has reigned long enough.”

“And it can be taken away, just like that.”

I hope that Grandmother has read my letter by now. At least, if not for me, for my mother. But my hopes are slowly dissipating.

“Tell me, Celine, did it pain you to know my son renounced you? All that puppy love––”

“Don’t you dare talk about us. You know nothing.”

“I think we’ll celebrate his and Abigail’s wedding right after your death.”

“What about Grandmother?”

“That old witch doesn’t have much time left.”

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