pte

by one. Every door I tried was locked except for one. It wa

the knob despite my fear. I needed so

scape him. We had to help each other. It was the on

y hands trembled as I felt along the wall for a light swit

er lifeless woman. That was my pr

cattered on the floor. I looked at th

I heard faint sobbing. I quickly tur

etely bare. Just like the other woman I saw earlier, her body

metal chain, bound to the leg of the bed. My he

of her. She looked up at me, her e

d, lips quivering as I

. I gently rubbed her back and no

no response. I grabbed the blanket from

ut of here. Please, help me," I begg

der, clutching her stomach. "Why did he give this

derstand wh

o live," she whispe

he's pregnant. She's pregnant,

to do this to her, knowi

eart? Does he

ant?" I asked

d at me a

ived. It won't live anyway. He won't let

hearing. What if I end up preg

ant this child to live,

ut in a situation like this, it fel

here. I'll die tomorrow, alo

meant tomorrow, she would be killed. I shook

't kill you," I said. That was

he said he didn't care about the b

child," I said

, she looked toward the do

she said, pushing me un

racing when I hea

she whispered. "Hide. Hide un

at first becau

I followed her instructio

voice calling my name. Then he calle

t you close the doo

. I had forgotten to shu

u, my Rapunzel?"

y mouth with my hand so

rcy. If not for me, at least for the

r. Where

you loo

virgin Ti

ady escaped, and right now, she

ppen," he said

Xantheus shouted. I heard the

hand tighter

. Don't make this hard for me," h

ady missed yo

e me up. Please, someone, wake me up

t y

lease

and looked under the bed. He was smi

er," Xantheus s

bed. Once I was out, he grabbed

he bit my lip. Then he stopped and gripped

pain in my lip, t

our punishment, diso

to know how furious he was. Th

bore into me. I coughed, struggli

es use your f*cking brain, Xantheus. You're a genius when it comes to crime and murder, so

heus let me go. He took a deep

" he asked. I bac

eplied, trembli

looks weak. Do you really think she can survive the punishments you ga

the f*

cause she was going to die tomorrow, she final

eply. He stayed q

me and carried m

rried me. But I was confused when he didn't bring me back

sofa, picked up the remo

aid before walking

ed by white curtains. Despite the pai

For a moment, I felt peace, imagining

e I truly appreciated

re you

n't answer and returned my gaze outside.

e? I'll get

was near, I felt terrified. I flinched when he wrapp

ed. I looked away. I didn't want to see him. I didn't want h

d part of my lower lip. I kept my mouth

pressing closer until I felt s

d and loo

Xantheus said hoarsely, then kissed me a

injured lip, then tied m

phone rang. He pulled it from his pock

t here t

rther away w

at phone so I can call fo

d back against the sofa, closi