Page 29 of It Was Always You

But my captors didn’t wait to hear any requests. The clang of the door to my cage being slammed closed acted as their parting words as they filed out without so much as a backwards glance.

I don’t know what’s worse—their callous attitude and the echoing silence or their taunting.

Since then, it’s just been me, my piss bucket, and the mice, except for once a day when someone comes with my rations.

Usually, two slices of mouldy bread and a glass of water, but it’s better than nothing. At least they are content to leave me to rot here. Small victories and all that.

My body aches. Something about being confined in a cell without so much as a blanket between me and the concrete floor or the bitter chill that seeps into my bones doesn’t agree with my body. At least I’m still wearing my hoodie and leggings. I dread to think how cold this place would be without them.

While I’m not naive enough to believe I’ll be left alone forever, and I’m aware that they’re probably trying to get me to a weakened state before progressing, for now, I’ll just count my lucky stars and pray I get out of here before they move on to phase two.

* * *

“Fuck’s sake, she’s been sick again,” one of the captors mutters as he enters with my ration. My stomach rebels at the sight of the food, and before I can stop myself, I vomit, splattering his shiny shoes.

“Stupid bitch.” He grabs my hair, dragging me up, only to throw me to the ground in the puddle of my vomit. I wince and try to shuffle back, but he grabs my hair again and lands a kick to my side.

I gasp for air, barely sensing him leaving the cell, stealing the light away and leaving me alone in my dark cage once again.

Sighing, I drag myself into a corner and curl into a ball. My mind races with desperation, wishing for this to be a nightmare, to wake up safe in Owen’s arms.

* * *

When I’m jolted awake, it’s by the harsh glare of overhead lights and the prick of a needle. Wincing, I flinch away from something sharp and struggle to open my eyes, only to see I’m strapped onto a doctor’s examination table while an older woman with greys peeking through her brown hair and a harsh frown is sticking a fucking needle into my arm.

I try to flinch and dislodge it, only for two guards to pin my shoulders and ankles.

“I don’t see why we’re wasting our time with this.” “Boss’s orders,” replies another guard, tightening his grip.

“Yeah, but what does it matter if she’s sick? It’s not like anyone who comes to these things gives a fuck.”

“Will you both shut up and let me do my job?” The doctor snaps as she withdraws the needle before walking out of my line of vision.

I have no idea how long it is before she comes back with a grim look and says, “One of you should get him. He’ll want to hear these results.”

When the door slams open again, in walks a man who screams trouble. He’s pretty average height and build wise, with a ginger beard that matches the smattering of hair on his head but it’s the look in his grey eyes that have the hairs on the back of my neck standing up and shivers trickling down my spine.

“This better be important.” At the sound of his Scottish accent, dread fills my veins. This has to be Angus based on what little Jonathan and Owen have described and that can’t mean anything good for me. His voice is as cold and menacing as I expected and it washes over me like a thousand ice pricks as his grey eyes pin me to bed.

“Sorry, sir, it’s early on but she’s pregnant,” the doctor announces like a death sentence.

I swear my heart stops at those words and fear overtakes my whole body.

Pregnant? While in captivity? God no, this can’t be happening. I wasn’t due my next birth control shot until…shit. I should have had it again at the start of October but with being in the safe house and everything else going on, it completely slipped my mind.

The doctor flashes me a look I can’t read before facing the man again, shifting slightly to the side to block me from his direct line of vision. I can’t read her intentions and I don’t have time to think about it because all I can focus on is this defenceless life in me that needs me to protect it, and I’ll be damned if I don’t succeed.

Chapter 25

People vastly underestimate rage and desperation.

The things we will do when backed into a corner or feel threatened. When all hope is gone. The rage that’s been simmering under my skin from the moment they took her from me could burn down this whole city and I’d still have more to spare.

For now, I’ve internalized that feeling until I can get my hands around the neck of every fucker who’s dared to so much as look at her never mind laid a hand on her pretty head. And so help the fuckers if there’s so much as a scratch on her.

Christmas passed by like every other day has in a red haze of isolation. What would be the point in celebrating when there’s nothing to celebrate? I didn’t even realise the date until Mum came, arms heavy with leftover food and Dad hovering at her back, concern etched into their features.

Which is how I find myself spitting out blood as Matt lands a punch against my jaw, winning this round of sparring. According to Dad and him, locking myself away isn’t healthy. According to me, the only way I’ll take a break from trying to track Cora down is to spar. So here we are.

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