Page 53 of Kai's Hunger

I drifted into a meditative state. Saying Kai’s name until I was practically screaming it inside my head. A tingling sensation washed over me, and something brushed my mind. As if I wasn’t alone. As if...

Kai?

Lily? You’re alive?

Yes. How is this happening?

Later for that. Where are you?

It’s like a prison. There are cement walls and bars for doors.I hesitated only a moment before adding,Your father is here. He’s alive.

Good. How long were you in the van? Minutes? Hours?

My hopes plummeted.I was drugged, Kai.

Warmth filled me, as if Kai had embraced me. It chased the chill away.I’ll find you, Lily. Stay strong. I’ll find you both.

I’m scared.I hated to admit my weakness, but being caught by a crazy scientist was way out of my realm.

I know, my love, but you must stay strong. Listen to my father. He will help you.

I thought of Tessa. Seeing one of Patterson’s men hit her with the gun.Is Tessa...

She’s alive. Creeg is treating her.

A noise in the hallway broke my concentration, then the connection was lost.Kai? Kai!It was useless. The only link I had to Kai, severed. God, he could be a million miles away for all I knew.

“Don’t let Patterson know you can reach Kai,” Lucian said in a rushed whisper.

“I won’t,” I promised, listening as footsteps grew closer. I went to the back of the cell, pressing my body into the far corner, then waited. Dread filled me when one of Patterson’s men came into view. The one who had hit Tessa. He saw me hovering like a cornered mouse and smiled.

“Patterson wants to see you,” he explained, pulling a set of keys from his pocket.

“Why?”

He never answered, simply unlocked the cell and slammed it open. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t budge. Whatever lay outside the cell was far worse. I could feel it.

He rolled his eyes. “Always the same bullshit.” In two strides he was standing in front of me, blocking my exit. The fist came out of nowhere, sending me to the floor. A kick to my middle had me doubling over. Bile rose and tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Get up!”

I forced my body to comply, getting to my feet and pushing down the pain. I watched the man in front of me. He liked it, I realized. Enjoyed hurting me. The knowledge turned my fear into anger.

He shoved me from the room, prodding my lower back with his gun. “Go,” he ordered. “The doc is eager to play with you.”

When we passed the other cell, I turned my head and saw the man calling himself Lucian. He had a skeletal build and dark hair that hung limp and greasy past his shoulders. His pale skin was a testament to the many days spent confined to the darkness. God, he didn’t look much older than Kai and I didn’t know how that could be possible. He stood in the middle of the cell next to mine. Rage in his light-grey eyes as he watched the man drag me away. Lucian Ravenbriar had survived two years. Two long years at the mercy of monsters. The very least I could do was fight to stay alive.

I could hear Lucian screaming at the guard, goading him to turn and take his anger out on him instead. The guard was impervious to Lucian’s taunts. He only kept walking, his gait steady and his gleeful expression unwavering.

They walked up a set of stairs to another floor. Another row of cells. All appeared empty until they reached the last one. A tall, muscular man stood against a wall, his arms stretched above his head, chains wrapped around his wrists. A pair of filthy, worn jeans his only clothing. Black hair draped around his shoulders and fell in limp clumps. I had to be imagining things because his eyes were the brightest shade of purple I’d ever seen. He tilted his head toward the ceiling and a low growl emanated from his chest, then I was jerked swiftly away.

“Trust me, he’s not someone you want to make friends with,” the guard muttered, his eyes wide in fear, sweat beading along his forehead.

I wondered if I’d ever see the man again. If I’d ever see Lucian again. Would any of us even survive? I forced my focus back on Kai. He would find me. I had no doubt. And I would help him by learning everything I could about the place Patterson was holding me. Every little detail, and I would relay it all back to Kai. At least it was a link. It gave me an advantage. And in the end, that link would be Patterson’s downfall.

---