Page 24 of Hunted By Fear

Without another word, I turn and leave.

I don’t hear them behind me, but I don’t stop as I run through the halls looking for a way out of here. It only takes seconds before I’m turned around, lost in halls that are beautiful but never-ending. But that’s fine; I just need to leave.

I’m not sure how long I run around before I finally come across a door. The grand arch is noticeable even at the far end of the hall, the dark wood making it appear as if there is no door, only dark nothingness in its place, but I know better. The entire castle is dark and old, with its Gothic architecture, deep gray and black stone, and wood giving it a sinister look and feel. If I’d been here to simply look around, I would have gotten lost in thebeauty, but right now I can’t help but feel like I’m prey, trapped with hungry predators.

By the time I reach the door, I’m panting, not only terrified they will be after me any moment, but I’m really not one to run, and I make a silent promise to start jogging if I make it out of here.

A smile pulls at the corner of my lips as I reach the door. It’s heavy; I can tell by looking at it, but I’ll figure it out if it means freedom.

Bracing my arms against the door, I push with every bit of strength I have, but nothing happens. It doesn’t even budge, and with a huff, I try again, planting my feet and really pushing, only for nothing to happen.

I knew the door would be heavy, but this is more than that.

It’s locked, I realize after a moment, and mentally curse myself for wasting so much time here. I need to keep moving. The castle is huge. I’m sure there are plenty of doors to choose from; one of them has to be unlocked, right?

None of them are unlocked, and after what feels like hours, my feet hurt, and I’m so lost I have to bite back the urge to break down right here on the floor. Twelve doors—I found twelve doors, and not one of them opened. I even went so far as to go up a set of stairs I found, but the windows were all barred, not that it mattered; a peek out of them let me know this side of the castle was over a huge cliff, meaning I wouldn’t be able to escape out of it. And even if I were crazy enough to jump and try my luck,this is apparently Hell, and as such, there is a lake of lava or fire down below. I can’t tell which, as it’s too bright to look at.

Is it still a moat if it's not water?

With a sigh, I fall into a chair that I’m almost positive is for decoration more than actual sitting, but I can’t be bothered to care right now. I’m lost, trapped, and now alone.

Fuck, this didn’t work out the way I’d hoped, but then again, most things don’t. Rome is my one good thing in a life of shit, and because of that, I’ll never give up on him, on us.

“If you're done with your little temper tantrum, I can take you back to your room.”

I almost jump out of my skin as I spin around to find the asshole, Kai, standing near the end of the hall opposite where I sit.

I glare at him, annoyed that it’s apparently so easy for them to find me.

“Or I can leave you here to run around like a chicken with its head cut off for a few more hours,” he snaps and turns to leave, clearly unimpressed with my glare. I want to tell him to get fucked, that I don’t need their help, but I’m dead tired, and if I have to stay here, I might as well do it in the bed.

“Wait,” I call, and he pauses but doesn’t turn around. Instead, he poofs out of existence, and I groan in annoyance. Why even offer to help if he had no intention to follow through in the first place?

I hear movement behind me and whip around to find Kai stepping out of the shadows. He grabs my arm, and before I can shake him off, the world spins violently, my stomach rolling. I fear we left my heart behind before my feet are flat on the floor once again, in the room they call mine.

When I finally get my breathing under control, I look around the room only to find that I’m once again alone.

Ithought the mortal was infuriating before, but now she’s almost impossible to even be around. She constantly asks about Rome, grating on all of our nerves, but even worse is our inability to make her stop because he still controls her mind.

If only we could break his hold‌ on her, she would no longer feel bound to him and look to him for comfort. She would once again remember the monster he truly is and remember that we’re trying to help her.

There are moments, fleeting, gone in the blink of an eye, but in those moments, she’s herself.

We just don't know how to make them stay.

Worse still, I’m pretty sure Rome is responsible for the pain she’s been feeling.

I haven’t told the others. The last thing we need is another reason for them to lose it, especially when I’m unsure, but it seems like something he would do.

Using her pain to draw her back to him.

It’s disgusting behavior for someone who is meant to protect mortals, someone who claims to love her, but then again, everything about Rome is disgusting if you ask me.

He’s always been selfish and thought himself superior.

The others have been doing all they can to try to think of ways to break his control, but I’m not sure it’s possible. Before Rome went around rearranging her mind, I hadn’t been able to access her thoughts while she was awake, only getting snippets when she was asleep.

So how had he?