Page 27

I swallow hard, my throat becoming tighter with every second that passes, knowing that this stranger staring at meisme.
Panic fills my chest as all sorts of thoughts race through my head.
How long have I been out?
How long have these psychos kept me here?
I try my best to remember everything, but my mind is hazy from whatever it was that they used on me. After their appearance at my new place, and the journey in the car, I can’t remember much else.
I blink a few times, my fingers gripping onto the sides of the sink to hold myself steady, when the reflection of a man appears behind me in the mirror.
My stomach immediately drops.
His figure stands behind me, observing me silently. His presence feels like a heavy weight pressing against me, and I immediately look away, tearing my eyes away from him. I turn the tap off, shaking my hands, allowing the droplets of water to fall down into the sink, as another thought hits me; I’ve beenknocked out for hours now, if not even more. My heart races as my breath catches in my throat, fear filling every space inside me.
What if Papa and Dario think I’ve left on my own accord?
What if they never find me?
My chest tightens as I force myself to breathe out, my eyes closing momentarily as I fill my lungs with a mouthful of air. When a hand darts out to grab my arm again, I flinch as my eyes fly open. His grip on me is firm as he tugs me backward, my back touching his front. My heart pounds as we walk away from the mirror together.
“Let’s get moving, beauty.”
I have no choice but to comply.
My legs are still unsteady from everything that’s happened, but he doesn’t seem to care. And I’m too terrified to open my mouth again.
When we step into another room, I hear the muffled voice of another person first—his twin. He steps forward, his eyes locking with the man pressed behind me, and he nods. Almost immediately, the atmosphere in the room changes; now becoming more quiet, and cold.
A chill runs down my spine.
I look around this room, recognising it as a kitchen of sorts. There's a dining table in the centre, and a few dishes and utensils scattered all around the countertops.
It looks like everything has been put together at the very last minute.
The man holding onto me pushes me forward, forcing me further into this space. His twin steps closer too, and as I look up to glance over at him, I’m met with the same cold intensity. His expression is unreadable as my heart thuds painfully hard in my chest. I try to steady my breathing, but I can’t stop shaking.
“Take a seat, darling.”
He tells me, pointing to a chair at the table.
I don’t argue with him. I can’t argue with him.
So I do the only thing that I can do, and I move.
My legs feel numb as I pull the chair out, forcing myself to take a seat at the table.
The man who’s been holding onto me finally pulls away, moving to stand beside his twin.
Both men stand there, silent as they watch me, but I can’t look up at them.
I. Just. Can’t.
My mind is still racing with thoughts of my family.
Where are they?
Will they come for me?