she was in an unknown warehouse. The

l from a broken window, cut

to find her mouth sealed with rough

her skin until he

through her c

y, until the sound of someone she

f James cam

pleading, screamin

e changed instantly. The fury and control

the bruises forming at her wrists. His jaw clenched

. He stepped forward, only to stop whe

an with eyes hard as stone, raised

gure shift

leeve stained dark at the cuff. Her bod

mach dropped. She recognized that look. It was nothing close to

l, his voice like gravel. "One life. On

were heavy

's chest rose fast, his eyes darting from Sarah to Tiana, then ba

ng, her chest heaving. She tried to speak throug

e her. To remember their son waiting for them at home.

isted with grief. But when his eyes sh

deliberate. "Save Sarah," she whispered, her palms open

with a sweetnes

in this moment, Tiana was perf

a knife, dragging it cruelly along Tiana

lowed quickly, her face folding

sing hard against Tiana's temple. "Make

h's lungs felt crushed. She fought harder agains

he desperate need to

head, his voice barely holding together. "Take

or them? Easy words. But that is not the game.

tearing out of her throat. She wanted to scream

enced everything

g down his temple. He shut his eyes briefly,

t Tiana one

devotion. "Don't look at me with regret," she whispered. "If you let me die, I won't hate you. I'll

h the weight of old prom

straining against the ropes. Her

her being scr

atiently. "Now! Choose

ned forward, their faces hungry for the outc

ward Sarah. For one fleeting heartbeat, there was love in his eyes; lov

se Sarah. And Sarah's fast breathin

king steel, his voice came

sharper tha

stolen even her heartbeat. The sound of tha

ly to her feet. James caught her in his arms, ho

and broken, as she buri

ody trembling as though protecting h

hat would not stop. She screamed behind the tape, he

mes held Tiana tightly, guiding her fo

rried a grief so deep it hollowed her completely. His

I hope you understand, Sarah. Tiana i

eding against the ropes. She wanted to colla

ice barked from

m, whispering something Sarah couldn't hear. His shoulders sl

across the floor, two figures locked together whi

warning, the n

e exit door, Tiana still holding unto James like a

s and cries inside