Page 76
“Yes,” I answered briskly, turning back to my meal. The meat, thankfully, was not moldy. It actually tasted pretty damn good, if I was being honest. I was practically salivating by the time I came to the brownie.
“You’re an idiot,” Doug quipped. His voice was muffled as if he was speaking with his mouth full.
“I need to get to her. She needs me, especially now.”
Now more than ever, though I didn’t tell him that. What I had discovered, what I’d been told…
Tremors reverberated through my body, and my heartbeat rose exponentially. I could feel it pounding against my rib cage.
They couldn’t get to Addie.
My hands were shaking as I brought the brownie to my lips and bit down, immediately assaulted by the rich, gooey goodness.
And something hard.
I choked, sputtered, and removed the object from between my teeth.
“What the hell?” I whispered, glancing at my palm.
“What? Did you piss your pants again?” Doug droned. “I told you it’s not that big of a deal to use the chamberpot. It’s only a little unsanitary. I’m sure your ass will only get a mild infection.”
“Shut the fuck up, Doug.” My voice was high in wonder, taking the bite out of my words. I held the bronze key up to the scarcely lit hallway.
Not just any key, but the key to my prison.
“What the fuck?” I repeated. I held my breath as I brought the key to the lock. I was at a precipice just waiting to fucking fall. Every breath was wheezing, a horrible gasping noise.
“What’s going on?” Doug exclaimed. He sounded closer. I imagined he was huddled against the bars, attempting to peer out.
There was a clicking noise as the key turned, and the lock clattered to the ground. I held my breath as varying emotions battled for dominance. I settled on disbelief.
Was this a trap?
Was this a way to test my loyalty?
“Did you just…? Let me out, man.” Doug’s voice took on a pleading quality.
Ignoring him, I opened the door the rest of the way and stepped into the hallway. The cement was cold beneath my bare feet, colder than even the floor of my cell. The light was dim, barely breaching the far corners. The door out of the prison, the door to my freedom, sat in front of me.
Waiting.
Trap or no trap, I would never have another opportunity like this. It would be worth the beating to just claim I tried.
“Let me out!”
“Sorry, man.” I took a tentative step forward. “I need to get to her and soon. But I’ll come back for you.”
Maybe.
When had I turned into such a heartless bastard?
Doug’s laugh was humorless.
“And you still think I’m a spy?” he asked, and I shrugged my shoulders, a gesture I knew he didn’t see.
“No. But I don’t know your physical condition nor what you did that would require them to lock you up. I can’t take that risk. As you always told me, it’s every man for themselves.”
Another laugh wheezed through his lips. Surprisingly enough, this one was heavy with amusement.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76 (Reading here)
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134