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Wolfe stands, straightening his jacket like we’re at some fancy business meeting. “I’ll give you some time to think about your situation. Perhaps you’ll be more—amenable… After you’ve had a chance to reflect on your options.”
As he reaches the door, he pauses, glancing back. “Oh, and Mr. Hawkins? I wouldn’t get too attached if I were you. In my experience, loose ends tend to get cut rather quickly.”
The door slams shut, the sound echoing in the small room. There’s only silence for a moment, broken by our ragged breathing.
“Ember.” Blaze’s voice is low, urgent. “Are you okay?”
I try to nod, but my body won’t listen. The weight of Wolfe’s words presses down on me, threatening to crush me. “I—I didn’t know. All those kids…”
“Hey, look at me.” Blaze’s voice cuts through the fog of guilt and fear. I turn to meet his eyes, finding a strength I wish I had. “This isn’t your fault. You were a kid. You saved lives that night.”
“But how many didn’t I save?” The words come out choked. “How many disappeared because I didn’t stop him then?”
“You couldn’t have known.” Blaze’s voice is firm, like he won’t hear any argument. “But now we do. And we’re going to stop him, Ember. I promise you that.”
I want to believe him. God, how I want to. But reality’s a bitch, and she’s staring us right in the face. We’re tied up, trapped in the belly of Wolfe’s operation. No backup, no way out.
“How?” I hate how weak my voice sounds. “We don’t even know where we are.”
Blaze’s eyes narrow, his mind working overtime. “We don’t need to know where we are.”
“That makes no sense.”
“My team will find us.”
“How? How can they possibly find us?”
“They just will.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Blaze
After Wolfe’s departure,the room erupts into chaos. Rough hands seize my arms, yanking me away from Ember. Her scream pierces the air, raw and desperate.
“Blaze!”
I thrash against the iron grip, muscles straining. A meaty fist connects with my gut, driving the air from my lungs. I double over, gasping, but manage to lift my head. Ember’s wild eyes lock onto mine as two guards drag her toward the door.
“Ember!” Her name tears from my throat.
I throw my weight forward, catching one guard off balance. My elbow slams into his solar plexus. He wheezes, grip loosening.
For a heartbeat, I almost break free, but then pain explodes at the base of my skull. The world tilts sideways, and Ember’s face blurs as darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision.
“No…” The word comes out slurred. I try to take a step, but my legs won’t cooperate. The concrete floor rushes up to meet me.
The last thing I hear is Ember calling my name, her voice fading like a radio losing signal. Then silence swallows me whole.
Time becomes elastic. I drift in and out of consciousness, aware of movement, of hands roughly manhandling me. Pain pulses through my body in dull waves. Voices filter in, distorted and far away:
“…tougher than he looks…”
“…Boss wants him softened up…”
“…gonna enjoy this one…”
My head lolls as they drag me down endless corridors. The fluorescent lights overhead strobe nauseatingly, each flash sending daggers through my skull. I try to focus and memorize the route, but it’s like holding onto smoke.