Guzma

rip was surprisingly strong, pinning me against the cold floor. I thras

It wasn't just the needle. It was everything

n site, quickly engulfing my entire arm, t

k, but my limbs felt weighted, heavy. My m

pread further. I was lo

escape from the relentless agony. I huddled on the cold, st

gh me. It was unlike any pain I had ever known. A prim

ision swam, darkening at the edges. My life force felt

cent into a dark, welcoming void. Oh,

ed me back. The heavy door o

ce. A

of something that looked like horror in her

ter now, tinged with uncert

ng for me. Her hand hovered

g to kill me." Her voice

r phone. She shone the flashlight on my face

voice was sharp, a desperate attempt to regain control.

ed, her voice laced with venom. "Alw

She was still holding it. She twirled it idl

. It was bent. Twisted, as if it ha

. She snatched it closer, exam

laced with disbelief. "This is imp

d in a mask of rage and fear. "What did you do, you

to strike, but then seem

hrieked, her voice shaking. "I know about your family's... u

in protest. The searing pain from th

tie to that freak show family of yours. You'll be n

final, disgusted look, she tossed somethin

e of the labor-delaying drug. "To keep you compliant," she mut

ently, a chilling tremor that ran through my bones. The pills, I r

nor. Our child. It was my mother's voice, soft and wa

ld. My

dulterated anguish. How could this be happening

trusted him with my heart, my body, m

ntarily eclipsing the pain. A red-hot fury t

he drugs, the blood lo

my belly, covering the swelling mound. A fai

e barely audible. "My sweet bab

sn't sure existed anymore. I pra

h became a shallow rattle in my chest. The world was

or of the panic room exploded inward, rippe

ll, imposing. His eyes, wide with shock, scanned the devastation. He

ing on me, crumpled on the floor. His

hoked gasp. "Mrs. Black? W

ly a faint, raspy sound escaped my lips. I lifted a tr

e me, his face a mask of concern.

feeling alien on my tongue. M

a small, intricately carved pendant. The Sterling cr

. He looked at the pendant, the

is voice laced with disbeli

e Red! Code Red! We have a breach! And... and a Sterling. I

"What breach? What Sterling? There's no one there. It

ood! And this is the Sterling crest! She said her name is

"Elinor is my wife. She has no Ster

the injuries... it's re

"Stand down, soldier! Don't let her manipu

at me, his eyes filled with a new

Guzman," he said, his voi

is chest. My head lolled against his shoulder. Th

room, through the long, sterile hallwa

y that now felt alien and menacing. He bypassed the m

going?" I mana

rim. "It's not ideal, but it's the fastest way to ge

was clean, but sparse. No sophisticated equipment. N

tled over me. This wasn't en