Page 37 of The Caged Girl

“You don’t have to drink it. It may not taste great since I took so long to bring it back to you,” I rambled as she looked at me with confusion.

“This is La Gabbia’s most talked about smoothie. People swear you drink it for the entirety of your stay, and you leave with a face as smooth as a baby’s butt.” My stomach churned as Sage took a sip.

“How much longer are you and Declan here for?” I took the seat next to her as she looked forward.

“Another week or so. I believe Declan extended it.” She stirred the icy smoothie around.

“Hello, ladies.” I abruptly jumped out of the lounger and stood. It was another wife and Jamie, both dressed in white dresses. They both had blonde hair with piercing green eyes. I sucked in a breath as the other wife made her way closer.

“It’s such a beautiful day. Sage, you’ve been hiding from all of us, now, haven’t you?” She snapped her fingers at Jamie and pointed at the lounger I had just moved from.

“Wipe this clean. Sage, I don’t know why your…dove was sitting in our seats.” She clicked her tongue with disappointment and disgust.

Jamie tugged a wipe from her pocket and began cleaning the chair. “Ms. Sabrina, please take a seat. May I bring you anything else?”

Sabrina looked at me, her head tilted. “You look familiar.” She brushed her fingers through her blonde hair as she studied me carefully.

I glanced between Sage, Sarah, and Jamie before following Jamie’s lead and taking a step back.

“I know you from somewhere.” Sabrina took out a tube of nude lipstick and painted her lips.

Jamie cleared her throat and nudged me slightly. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Sabrina… I don’t know you.”

She nodded, her lips pinched to the side. “Of course not.”

Sabrina and Sage began to make conversation as the sun beat down on Jamie and me. My palms and neck grew sweaty, but it wasn’t because of the heat…it was because I did recognize her. I recognized her instantly and didn’t know what would happen because this was feeling all too familiar, too terrifying, and much like a reoccurring nightmare I was trying to escape but knew there was no way out.

“Have you seen Daniel since check in?” Sage asked Sabrina.

“No. Have you seen Declan? I mean, in the contract it was made quite clear that we had to follow the rules to not be charged that ridiculous resort fee, but it also made it seem like there were far worse repercussions if we bent the rules.” Sabrina shrugged her shoulders.

“I know. It was the NDA that was included that really made me think we’d have to play nice here. Besides, it’s great not having the husbands hovering around. I think this is the most freedom I’ve received since well…forever.” Sage finished her smoothie and nodded at me to take the empty glass.

“I mean, even prior to marriage, you and I both were enrolled in…” Sabrina glanced back at us and sighed.

“Anyway, I’m loving this. It’s all such a nice break,” Sage quickly interjected.

Sabrina laid back into her chair. “It truly is.”

“Girls, you may be dismissed. I’d like some one-on-one time with my old friend.” Sage waved Jamie and me away.

“Let’s go, Demi. We must head over to our assessment, anyway. Have a wonderful day, ladies. Please page us if you need anything,” Jamie said as I paused an extra moment, taking Sarah in.

Jamie let out a small cough, breaking me out of my trance, and we spun around on our white padded shoes and made our way out.

“We need to go down for our assessments.” Jamie looked at me. Her eyes were a shade of pale green and her blonde hair was matted to her scalp, trailing into a tight, neatly plaited braid.

“Assessments?” I lifted a brow and followed her.

Jamie didn’t answer. I followed her through the narrow white hallways that were set up like a maze. Looking down at my feet, I hated the same white padded shoes we were forced to wear at my previous residence. There was no noise, but it didn’t make sense. Why would everything need to be all white, sterile, and clean on these parts of the resort? Down below is where they were caging the girls.

I picked up my pace to catch up to her. “Hey, Jamie, do you know a girl named Layla?”

Jamie started to walk faster, and her skin flushed when I grabbed her arm. “Jamie, please.”

“Demi, your sister died here. What you saw wasn’t her, I promise.” She peeled my fingers from her arm before sighing. “Please, we can’t be late. The doctors, especially, get very upset.”

“I saw her, Jamie.” My voice trembled as I closed my eyes and could clearly see my sister in that room with Bradley.

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