Page 239 of Soul So Dark

My brain short-circuits, sending my panic response into overdrive. Flooded with adrenaline, my muscles jerk in short bursts, trying to break free from my restraints. But it only serves as entertainment for him.

“You think Ghost will try to find you?” The corners of his mouth curl. “Maybe he can crowdfund the search.”

My heart sinks as it dawns on me that I don’t even know where I am. How long was I unconscious? Does Alex even know that I’m gone yet? With Austin’s resources, we could be anywhere.

He grabs the back of my hair, clenching it tight. “Don’t forget, Dallas,Iwas here first,” then he leans in close, “in every fucking sense of the word.”

He smashes his lips into mine, eliciting a horrified screech as I try to jerk away, but to no avail. Eventually, he releases me with a cruel chuckle.

“Where is this place?” I creak out, my eyes darting around the dim structure.

A shed? A barn? A cabin? I think it’s night, but the stifling summer heat hasn’t broken yet, turning the musty space into a sweatbox. And now that I’m awake, my muscles are starting to fatigue and pain is radiating through my groin.

“Your friend, Bowen, gave me an idea.”

Bowen?

How does Austin know Bowen? Then I remember what Austin said during our last argument. How did he know what Bowen did?

“I even convinced him to let me store you here for the time being.”

Convinced him?

“I didn’t tell him about your side-gig, though,” Austin continues, “figured I’d hold on to that one.”

A million thoughts swirl through my mind, interrupted when I spy a metal table behind Austin, shoved haphazardly against the wall. A chain dangles above it, looped over the rafter. I follow it down to a pair of dingy handcuffs, hanging open at the end like steel claws. But my eyes are drawn to the planks behind them, a faint stain oozing down the wall like rusty tears.

“The night’ll come when you wake up in a safe place,”Bowen’s voice echoes,“where I can have fun with you whenever I want.”

This is Bowen’s barn. He kept his promise and it’s only a matter of time before he walks through that door and I never see the light of day again. Because he’s been watching us all, just waiting for a vulnerability to exploit.

“Dire Ridge’s star shooting guard, number 17…Austin…Bostwick.”

My eyes dart to Austin, my mouth twitching with fury as I glare up at him.

“What did he tell you?” I snarl through clenched teeth. “Do you even know who he is? He’s playing you. He’s fucking playing you!”

Austin’s silence suggests otherwise, because he’s unaware that Bowen Garrison doesn’t share what he perceives to be his.

My face contorts and more tears spill down my cheeks. “Who are you? I don’t know you anymore! He murdered Evie,” my voice crescendos, “and he’s going to kill you, too!”

Even after everything, I still don’t want to believe one of my closest friends could turn into this. But he’s not Austin. Austin is gone. Or worse, maybe this is who he always was, a thin veneer hiding the evil beneath.

“You’re dead!” I scream through the snot and tears. “You’re nothing! You’re nothing but a fucking rapist!”

I should probably shut up now, my neck is killing me and I’m in no position to be antagonizing anyone. And the more I think about what he’s about to do, the more I fight the restraints, trying to tear my limbs free.

“Me?” Austin glares down indignantly. “You should be thankful I’m here instead of one of your mask-wearing bondage freaks!”

Is he serious?

And I really hope that, wherever he is, Bailey the electrical lineman knows that he’s become such a popular talking point in my life.

Austin grabs the top of my hair and pulls my head up until it catches on the strap digging into my neck. “I’m doing you afavor,” he growls. “Your sweet pedophile’s going to use you up and leave you, just like the last time. Except, now, he’ll get rich off your stupid ass in the process. Are you just mad that I didn’t video all those times before so you could sell them to the highest bidder?”

All those times before?

Every muscle tightens and the fear melts away, replaced by pure, unadulterated rage.