Page 16 of Buried in Blood

I didn’t leave my room at all yesterday, and he never came back.

What kind of game is he playing? He seems more unpredictable than usual lately. It has me on edge. I feel like any moment he is going to slit my throat. Or beat me to death. I think I’d rather have option one if I had to pick.

But I still don’t want to die. I want to live. I want him to die.

I slowly open the door, peering down the hallway. My stomach grumbles, and my head throbs from the lack of food.

No one is there. I creep down the hall, entering the kitchen. I jump when I see Reese leaning against the counter. I give him a look of disgust as I walk over to the pantry.

I enter the pantry and grab two muffins. One for myself and one for Brooke. She is probably starving as well, even though she barely ate when I fed her. She got full really fast, probably from a lack of food for almost two hundred days.

She will have to eat enough to put on a little weight so she looks healthy enough for the auction. My heart sinks at the reminder.

I turn to exit the pantry, and Reese blocks the doorway.

“Excuse me,” I say nicely.

His hard expression doesn’t change.

“Why do you let him use you like that?”

My cheeks heat. I feel adrenaline coursing through my body. Pumping my blood quickly. If Damien hears him, we will both be dead.

“Shh…”

He looks around and lets out a chuckle.

“He’s gone. I’m in charge. Now answer the question.”

“I… I have to…”

“No, you don’t. I can get you out.”

“No… I can do it myself.”

He rolls his eyes. Clearly, he doesn’t believe me.

“The only way you will get yourself out is if you’re in a body bag.”

“No. I just need time,” I say.

“How much?”

“I-I—”

“What are we doing?” Brooke asks from behind Reese, making us both jump.

“H-how did you get out?” I ask.

“The door was unlocked today,” she says cheerfully.

“So what are we talking about?” She asks.

“Nothing… It’s nothing.” I hand her a muffin, and her eyes light up.

“Oh, thank you!”

She skips off into the kitchen, and I move my way past Reese to join her. I don’t miss the look he gives me, though.