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They're fine and happy. You have to believe that.

“No one is looking for me, no one has ever been looking for me. I'm not one of the lucky ones with a chance out of this hell.”

“Oh,” Aubrey said softly. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't be, it's not your fault.” The floor creaked outside my door, causing my back to stiffen. “Shh,” I huffed out quickly.

“Why? What do you hear?”

Boom!

The noise caused my muscles to jerk in surprise.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” A man's voice came out forcefully.

But he wasn't standing in my room, he was in Aubrey's.

Shit. . .

Snapping up onto my knees, I threw my ear to the wall, pushing it as hard as I could against it. Splaying an open palm on the sheet rock, I wanted desperately to climb through the wall and save her.

It was my idea to talk, not hers. I was the one who had reached out, I was the one who had decided to break a rule.

This is all my fault.

“N—no one, just myself.”

His feet pounded over the floor, and I heard Aubrey let out a cry that made my stomach jump into my throat.

Her screams could probably be heard through the entire building. It sounded like she was being dragged away and her heels were scraping against the floor, doing their best to keep her inside.

“Let me go! No! No! I didn't do anything!”

Jumping to my feet, I ran to my door and started pounding on it. “It was me! I talked to her! Leave her alone! Take me Asshole!”

A loud bang hit my door, making me jump backwards. “Shut up, Berlin!”

“Leave her alone! It was me! Take me!”

Aubrey was crying loudly, her sobs fading as the man yanked her further and further away, bringing her to receive her punishment.

I stood like a statue in my room, guilt gnawing away at my insides like a rabid dog that killed a squirrel.

This is all my fault. I did this to her.

I didn't have much time to think about what had happened. Within seconds my door was thrown open and a man named Juno stepped in, grabbing me by the hair.

“You want to see what happens when something's your fault?” Yanking me out of my room, I followed on stumbling feet, doing my best to stay upright. “Let me show you.”

Juno dragged me like a rag doll downstairs, walking me through the hall that led to the basement. I could feel my stomach as it knotted, unsure what the hell was going to happen.

It doesn't matter, you can handle it.

Her screams began to fill the air as we reached the door for the ditch. But Juno didn't open the door, he just held me there, his fingers pressed around the back of my neck, keeping me in place. I listened to her cries for help, I listened to the sound of her being hit, I listened as my choice created scars on her body.

And there was nothing I could do.

Juno loosened his grip, allowing my body to fall. Dropping onto my knees in the center of the hall, I pressed my fingertips to my temples. I wanted to take her pain away, I wanted to cry for what she was going through.