Page 14 of The Caged Girl

Opening the door, Anu waved me over to the cart she had outside the door. “Get under.”

I looked at the cart and nodded. Sliding my leg in first, I glanced at Kandi, who was shaking her head.

“You’re really going to do this?”

Shrugging, I cracked a small smile. “No one else is. Remember, you all have something worth living for. I’m living for this.”

Anu tugged the black sheet over the cart and began rolling it down the hall. There was a pull in my chest where I knew this may be the last time I’d ever see Kandi or this floor of La Gabbia. I knew that once I ascended into the darkness, there was no hope in ever finding the light. This time, it would kill me.

“What are you doing up here?” a masculine voice called out. I clutched my knees to my chest and bit my lower lip.

It sounded like Bradley. There was a long pause from Anu, and I could see a sliver of the white platform shoes making its way around toward me.

I sucked in a breath before Anu’s black ballet flats quickly slid in front of his. “Sir, I’m going back to the cag?—”

“Stupid woman.” Bradley hushed her immediately. “If I ever catch you up here again, I’ll slit your throat and drink your blood.”

I was trembling as his footsteps wavered away and Anu quickly pushed the cart until we got to the elevator. I knew the elevator could take you to any floor in the resort, but there were different badges. My badge only allowed me access to specific places in La Gabbia. Peeling the sheet back a bit, I looked and watched as Anu bent forward and had her eyes in front of the panel.

It pinged before the doors shut and swiftly slammed downward. “Anu,” I hissed.

She kept looking forward with her arms crossed as she nervously tapped her foot.

The doors opened and I sat back, hiding myself under the cart. Her shoes clicked against the black marble floor as she pushed me into the darkness.

What was I thinking? This was too soon for me to come down here and do this. I didn’t even know what I was going to do yet.

“Get out,” Anu whispered as she parked the cart in a corner. I sat for an extra minute before dipping my leg out first and then sliding toward the edge.

As soon as I pushed upward, my jaw dropped.

It was all dark. Complete darkness besides one thing…

A giant gilded cage in the center of a stage with black brick walls surrounding it.

One small light shined at the cage in which the door was open. Squinting, I could make out the theater-style chairs that were crafted into a semi-circle around the stage.

“Anu…” My voice shook. “What is this?”

“Welcome to hell, Demi. I guess you’re a nightingale now.”

CHAPTERTEN

Anu had disappeared,leaving me standing in the corner. I glanced around but couldn’t see any small red lights flickering, which were always attached to the cameras in La Gabbia.

Sliding against the wall, I looked around the space until I was directly in front of the cage.

The enormous, rustic gold cage sat in the middle of a massive, all black stage. A light shone directly onto a small golden swing, which hung from the center. My heart raced as the silence of the space intimidated me.

“Why are you standing around? The show is about to start!” I spun around and my eyes locked onto piercing green eyes and shiny black hair that was matted down with gel. “Who are you?”

“I’m…”

Shaking his head, he grabbed my arm and tugged me away. “Alister will slit your throat, and mine, if we mess this up.” My ankle almost twisted as I picked up my pace in the slightly too large black heels.

“What…” I started, but the man pulled me through thick drapery. There were girls everywhere, yet it was pin-drop silent.

They were all sitting quietly in front of the wall-to-wall vanities. It was incredibly dark beyond the small flicker of light from the small lamp perched on each girl’s table. They were painting their eyes in black shadow, their hair was slicked back in a neat bun, and they all wore the same black tulle dress I was wearing.

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