Page 64 of Sin Like the Devil

“This is going to turn bad, fast.” I glance around at the advancing guards. “With all that extra muscle.”

“We need to get out of here,” Noah agrees.

Pulling the wad of wet tissue from my nose, I shove it in my pocket before offering Rae a bloodstained hand. She smiles gratefully then links our fingers so we can stand up together.

“Let’s go.”

“What if they stop us?” she worries.

“The guards are gonna have bigger things to worry about if this goes south.” Scanning the crowd, I search for Langley. “Besides, I can get us out.”

Seeing us rise, several other nervous patients begin to follow, seeking a safe route out of the increasingly unstable situation. How I became a symbol of safety, I’ll never know. It’s laughable, really.

Winding a path through the crowd, we’re halfway to the doorway when there’s a loud crackling noise. I glance over my shoulder in time to see one of Rick’s friends—Owen, I think—thrashing on the cafeteria floor.

“Tasers?” Noah gasps. “Move!”

A cacophony of screams fuels the rising panic. There’s another loud crack. Thudding batons. Crying. Barked orders to disperse. Now there’s a tsunami of people trying to do exactly the same as us—escape.

We’re being half-carried by the shoving crowd. Sounds of violence echo all around us, adding to the carnage. All it took was a tiny spark to ignite.

“Ripley!”

Waving above his head, Langley motions for us to go to him. Clenching Rae’s hand tight, I tow her along, hoping that whoever is behind me can fend for themselves. We have to fight to get over to Langley as it is.

Snagging his shirt sleeve, I drag us the final steps. Langley clears the rest of the path. He has a reputation for being one of the good ones, so he doesn’t seem to be attracting the attention of those looking to fight.

“What happened to your face?” He winces.

“Just help us!”

Langley pushes open the exit doors then ushers us outside into the welcome safety of the corridor. As soon as we’re free, I can drag in a full breath. It’s short-lived, though. There’s a whole ass stampede hot on our heels.

“Get out of here,” Langley instructs. “Go!”

Still holding Rae tight, I break into a run. Only this time, it isn’t a crazed fellow patient posing a threat. It’s the very forces hired to protect us who want to harm us.

My kingdom is crumbling.

Harrowdean isn’t safe anymore.

CHAPTER 12

LENNOX

MONSTER – FIGHT THE FADE

Arms folded across my chest, I lean against the corridor wall. My room is being thoroughly ripped apart by two guards, leaving no item of clothing or possession untouched. I don’t know what they’re hoping to find.

Down the entire hall, similar scenes of destruction are replicated. Why bother asserting their control when they know full well who supplies contraband in this place? Well, for exactly that reason.

It’s all about control. Scare the herd enough, and they’ll stay contained in their self-enclosed pen. The clinicians may be feeding this experiment to elicit the juicy results they desire, but the chaos must be strictly governed.

They want us to suffer. Self-destruct. Barter and bicker our way to dominance over each other. Those are the fascinating situations they want to see play out. But when the guinea pigs start to bite their masters? The chaos isn’t so measurable then.

“Nox.”

Tapping his way towards me with his stick outstretched, Raine whisper-shouts my name. I take a final glance at the guards ripping apart my mattress to check for stashed weapons and approach him.

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