Page 32 of The Caged Girl

I wondered where Bradley was and if he was okay? I needed to go back down to the lair that held the girls. I needed to understand how to help them.

My heart was racing as I laid next to Alister and waited to be sure he was asleep.

Sliding out of the bed, I tiptoed out of his bedroom and walked into the living room. The balcony doors were open, so I made my way and looked outside. I welcomed the warm breeze as I hugged myself tightly. The sound of the ocean crashing made me realize I had never gone down to the coast. After being saved from the ocean, I never thought to go back to it—not that I’d been allowed to leave these walls in the time I’ve been here.

I could have spent hours outside, soaking up the salty air and the silence that was only laced with the waves of the ocean.

But instead, I turned back into the penthouse and looked around cautiously before grabbing one of the cards from a bowl I’d seen. Alister had a stack of black metal cards I had seen him swipe to enter where he was keeping the girls.

I was wearing a lace, black nightie, but I knew it was too risky to look for anything more. I didn’t have much time.

Sliding into the elevator, I held my breath and was thankful for everything in this pit of hell being as silent as possible. Swiping the card, I hit the bottom floor button and watched as the penthouse disappeared behind the door.

Not even a minute later, it opened to the dark hallway. I could smell death in the air and feel the pain behind the doors. Slamming my hands against my ears, I sucked in a breath of air.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” I whimpered, seeing my sister’s bloodied face and then the girls I’d left behind at the Ivory estate when I fled and saved myself.

Taking deep breaths, I wiped away the tears streaming down my face.

Looking down at the card in my hand, my fingers shook as I took a few steps down and waved the card against the scanner.

The small red light turned green, and the door slid open.

A small rattle echoed against the floor.

Taking a few steps in, the door slid shut behind me. I could tell this wasn’t the main entrance to the floor. Flinging around, I panicked but then…

“Please…I miss my mom.”

Her voice was so meek, but I couldn’t see anything—it was completely dark. Putting my hand out against the wall, I kept walking forward.

“Ow!” she cried out as I jerked back and dropped down. Blinking repeatedly, I looked forward and then, she smiled.

I flew back and gasped as her teeth stood out against the otherwise pitch-black space.

“You’re not Marisha,” she rasped. I remembered Marisha—the woman with the long, dark hair in the black gown.

“No…no, I’m not.”

She wouldn’t stop smiling. I pushed back a bit and suddenly, she began crawling toward me. I could see the outline of her body move through the room.

“Who are you?” I closed my eyes as the fear felt like too much to handle.

“Please stop.” I felt a cold hand brushing against my face as I held my breath.

She traced my face with her bony fingers. “Name?” she asked, her voice regressing to almost a child-like one.

“Demi,” I replied. I could feel her breath on my face as she traced my face with her fingers.

“You’re so beautiful, Demi,” she whispered.

“How long have you been in here?” I shook as I felt the floor around me. It was warm and wet.

“Sorry, I couldn’t hold it.” She pulled her hands away and moved from me.

She peed. Squinting, I wiped my hands on my nightie, cringing as the pungent urine stung my nose and soaked my feet.

“What’s your name?” I stood and placed my hand against the wall.

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