Page 47 of His Queen

“I want to see you. Please, can I open my eyes?”

“No,” she urges. “You can’t open your eyes, Mira. If you do, it’ll take you, and I will never get you back.”

“What will take me?”

“The red haze.”

“What red haze? Momma, I don’t understand.”

“Listen to me. Please, Mira. You have to fight.”

“I can’t.” My tears burn like molten lava down my face, and everything hurts. Even Momma’s touch is starting to sting.

“Promise me, Mira!” The urgency in her voice has me swallowing hard, gritting my teeth. “Promise me you will not stop fighting.”

“Momma, please.”

“Mira!”

I sniff, sucking air through my teeth. All I want to do is open my eyes and look at her. I know if I look at her, I’ll feel safe again. Home.

“Promise me you will not stop. You will not give up. Please, Mirabella. Please promise me.”

My sobs are coming out like choked cries, my throat raw. “I promise. I promise I won’t give up.”

“That’s my brave little girl. Remember, we keep our promises.”

“Yes, Momma.”

There’s a violent tug at my back, and I’m being pulled through the air, out of Momma’s reach and away from her.

“Momma! No!”

“Don’t give up!”

I jerk awake, flames searing down my back, leaving aching bones and sore muscles in their wake. My mouth is dry, and my head throbs. I’m disoriented and dizzy as I push myself up with my palms.

Confusion clouds my thoughts.

Roses.

Baby’s breath.

Rain.

The van.

The pungent smell of smoke.

My eyes snap open, fear slamming into my gut, knocking the wind right out of me. It’s dark. Too dark. But I know I’m naked, my trembling hands hesitantly brushing my side.

I don’t see or feel any walls, but I’m claustrophobic and shaking. The air is too stale, my lungs refusing to be sated with my shallow breaths. My heart pounds inside my chest as reality starts to trickle in.

I’m trapped.

A presence shivers across my spine, and I can feel someone’s eyes on me. Watching me. Haunting me.

“Hello?” My voice is weak and hoarse as my head continues to throb, and I wrap my arms around myself. “Is anyone there?” Silence greets me like a vacuum, swallowing my words. “Please. Where are my clothes?”

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