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I knew that if I hadn't already endured everything I'd been through—living through before this—then this shit would really be fucking with my head right now.

The silver lining . . .

I was stronger now than I had ever been, the only positive that came from the pain I had already suffered.

But nothing was going to break me, I wasn't going to let it.

Taking another deep breath, I calmed my nerves. Letting my fingertips feel over the rope, I found the knot and began to work at it.

I need to get free and find something to protect myself.

Pulling and digging, tugging and tearing at the rope, I felt the knot pop loose, easing its talons over my wrists. Wiggling hard, I twisted my hands and pulled them free.

Okay, now we're getting somewhere.

My shoulders slumped forward as I brought them around, twinging with pain as the blood rushed back in like fire through my veins. But I didn't wait for the feeling in my muscles to come back. In one quick snap, I tore the blindfold off my eyes.

A soft glow of light was coming from a single bulb dangling in the center of the room, blasting my eyes like the damn mid-day sun. It seemed so bright, so harsh, zapping my pupils and blinding me again. Blinking rapidly, I shielded my face then shot forward to start on my ankles.

Pulling the last loop of the binding, the strands broke away, falling to the floor.

I was free.

Free from the bindings holding me hostage, but still confined to a small, cement room. The place was solid, concrete block on top of concrete block that made up the walls. The ceiling was low, but just as solid, made of thick wood beams. The floor was partially finished, a shimmer of gray spotted the dark brown, but dirt was spread across the whole damn thing.

Rolling and rubbing my wrists, I glanced around the room, noticing a wide, messy trail on the floor. I knew what it was . . .

It was from me, from whoever dragged my limp body into this hellhole. Large footprints were scattered like fossils in the sand around my drag marks, all of them leading in and out from one exit, one door.

One escape.

There was only one way in and one way out of this place. There were no windows, no air-vents, nothing.

I was in a tomb.

A weapon. I at least need some sort of weapon.

Rubbing my arms, I shivered as the cool air tried to grasp my skin. But there wasn't any time for that, and my instincts knew it, forcing adrenaline through my body.

Searching the room for anything to protect myself, the only real option I saw were the pipes above my head. Feeling the icy metal, I rocked them, shook them, twisted them.

Wet droplets coated my palms, turning the solid pipes into slick, melting popsicles. I couldn't grab one without my hands spinning wildly and making no real headway in loosening it.

I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Every inch of my body was throbbing and sore. My shoulders were stinging, my face felt swollen and bruised. I didn't even notice how badly my ribs burned when I inhaled until I had to exert the energy to try and move a mountain.

Fuck! Come on!

Dragging my fingers through my hair, I felt the sand against my scalp, and the knots binding it all together. I didn't need a mirror to know I must have looked like complete shit right then.

My shirt was torn, hanging off my shoulders and exposing my stomach. The jeans I had on were gone, leaving me practically naked, aside from the thin panties Remo always insisted I wear.

Fucking pervert.

Standing barefoot, I dug my toes into the dirt, staring up at the pipes. I had one final idea lurch into my brain, a last-ditch effort to protect myself from whatever evil had stored me here.

Tearing a thick strip of fabric off the tattered bottom of my shirt, I wrapped it tightly around the smallest and weakest pipe I could find.Using every last inch of energy I had, I finally felt the metal spring free.

Clunk!