Page 34 of Gorgeous Nightmare

And I hate that they have it.

Because this thing, whatever it is or whoever’s behind it, has already won.

I close my eyes.

Stop thinking.

Stop fighting.

I try to go somewhere else– anywhere else.

But it finds me there too.

My body folds in on itself like it’s trying to disappear.

And at this moment, I let it.

The water finally stops.

I barely notice until one of the men kicks my foot.

“Yep, still alive,” he confirms.

Yeah…barely… no thanks to you.

I respond in my head, but my voice is too weak to form words.

My body is trembling, the shock still running through my veins like a bad trip.

They don’t offer me clothes or a towel. Just watch as I try, and fail, to get to my feet.

I hate this fucking feeling.

They don’t care that I’m naked and soaking wet. That my skin is raw or that my body is carved open with small, stingingcuts.

I’m just broken, damaged goods.

“We’ll let the boss know you're ready,” the taller one says, giving me a wink as they walk out.

The sound of the door clanging shut behind them echoes like a bad omen.

I close my eyes tightly and try to ignore the dampness. The pain.

I think of him…his strong arms and warm scent. The way he made me feel safe, even when my world was falling apart.

I know he’s out there, burning down everything in his path to get to me.

I smile to myself because pretending helps.

At least a little bit.

CHAPTER 31

Unknown

She whispers before I’m even fully awake.

Pretty girl’s ready for you now… go see what they’ve done to her.

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