Page 16 of Buried in Blood
I didn’t leave my room at all yesterday, and he never came back.
What kind of game is he playing? He seems more unpredictable than usual lately. It has me on edge. I feel like any moment he is going to slit my throat. Or beat me to death. I think I’d rather have option one if I had to pick.
But I still don’t want to die. I want to live. I want him to die.
I slowly open the door, peering down the hallway. My stomach grumbles, and my head throbs from the lack of food.
No one is there. I creep down the hall, entering the kitchen. I jump when I see Reese leaning against the counter. I give him a look of disgust as I walk over to the pantry.
I enter the pantry and grab two muffins. One for myself and one for Brooke. She is probably starving as well, even though she barely ate when I fed her. She got full really fast, probably from a lack of food for almost two hundred days.
She will have to eat enough to put on a little weight so she looks healthy enough for the auction. My heart sinks at the reminder.
I turn to exit the pantry, and Reese blocks the doorway.
“Excuse me,” I say nicely.
His hard expression doesn’t change.
“Why do you let him use you like that?”
My cheeks heat. I feel adrenaline coursing through my body. Pumping my blood quickly. If Damien hears him, we will both be dead.
“Shh…”
He looks around and lets out a chuckle.
“He’s gone. I’m in charge. Now answer the question.”
“I… I have to…”
“No, you don’t. I can get you out.”
“No… I can do it myself.”
He rolls his eyes. Clearly, he doesn’t believe me.
“The only way you will get yourself out is if you’re in a body bag.”
“No. I just need time,” I say.
“How much?”
“I-I—”
“What are we doing?” Brooke asks from behind Reese, making us both jump.
“H-how did you get out?” I ask.
“The door was unlocked today,” she says cheerfully.
“So what are we talking about?” She asks.
“Nothing… It’s nothing.” I hand her a muffin, and her eyes light up.
“Oh, thank you!”
She skips off into the kitchen, and I move my way past Reese to join her. I don’t miss the look he gives me, though.
