Page 193 of Cerulean Truth
Number Three grabbed a scalpel from the table and stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine.
"What..." My question was abruptly cut off by the impact of his fist colliding with my jaw. Tears sprung to my eyes, and my cheek burned as if I had just awakened from a nap on a hot stove. The copper-taste returned to my mouth and I finally recognized it as the taste of blood.
“Shut the fuck up and comply,” Number Three hissed.
“What the fuck man? He said no funny business!” Number Two exclaimed, fear ringing through in his voice.
Number Three simply shrugged. “Henever specified what that entailed.”
“Not laying your hands on her, was pretty much implied,” Number One spoke through gritted teeth.
The door flew open and a cold and calculated Logan Stark was standing on the other side. He tilted his head slightly, like a predator observing its prey, but his eyes weren’t fixed on me, rather on Number Three.
Another man came up behind Logan. “Boss, you needed me?”
Logan created a haze, as black as his hair and soul, and a second later, Number Three crumbled at my feet, his hands clutching his throat, his eyes bulging, his face turning blue. I gasped. He was suffocating?!
“Yes, I need you to replace Rex,” Logan explained dryly to the new guy. “Let me know when she translates.” Logan closed the door without another word after ushering the new Number Three in.
“Rex” was now lying dead at my feet.
FIFTY-THREE
EMMA
My mind was racing. I tried to drown out the shock and quickly analyzed this new turn of events. They were about to torture me, but couldn’t lay a hand on me? How was that to work?
“Stupid Rex,” Number Two muttered to the new Number Three, while checking my face.
The latter shrugged, clearly unimpressed by his boss murdering one of his colleagues in cold blood. “Wasn’t the first time he went against protocol, probably wouldn’t have been the last time either if the boss hadn’t off ’ed him.”
I clenched my jaw. So they were allowed to touch, just not outside of Logan’s “protocol.”
Logan. With his pitch-black haze. Which had confirmed something crucial: all the hazes were visible here. Given their intention to analyze my energy, it wasn’t surprising, but still. Did this mean we were in the Human World? At Alliance? Or had they simply made all hazes visible within this building?
A singular, dominant thought emerged and seized control of the incessant whirring, going on in my brain.
James.All I craved, all I yearned for. As I fought back the tears, my heart ached for him. Despite him leaving me without a word, I didn't care. In this moment, I needed him morethan ever. I closed my eyes gently, attempting to summon his comforting presence in my mind.
“Don’t you dare close your eyes; you keep them on your attackers at all times! Come on, Emma, you’re killing me.”
His voice echoed in my head, vivid as if he stood right beside me. My head snapped back up, fixing my gaze on the three assholes keeping me in line with their cold stares through their masks. Actually… just with their stares. With nothing more. I wasn’t tied down. I was sitting in a chair, unbound. Momentum and speed were all I needed for a chance at escape. And my wits.
I made a quick mental calculation, desperately seeking a strategy. I needed a diversion, something to catch them off guard. Scanning the room, my eyes finally rested on the door. How long would it take me to cross the room?
The new Number Three drawing closer, urged me on—it was now or never. Just before he reached me, I feigned a sudden weakness, deliberately slumping into the chair to create an illusion of vulnerability.
The distraction worked like a charm, and their attention momentarily shifted. Seizing the opportunity, a sense of purpose spurred on my next move.
Before they could react, I sprang to my feet, and I darted toward the door, adrenaline pumping through my veins. The men lunged after me, but I managed to pry it open just in time.
Yes!
But before I could move through the frame, cold hands grabbed me forcefully and yanked me backwards, propelling me into the unforgiving wall. Pain shot through my limbs as I struggled to regain control. The fraction of hope that had accompanied my near escape vanished in less than a second.
As I laid there, disoriented and weakened, Number Two approached, his cruel laughter filling the air. "Nice try, butyou're not escaping this," he taunted, his eyes glinting with triumph.
He grabbed me by my good arm and dragged me back to the chair where he translated ropes around my wrists and ankles, tying me in place.
