30. Twenty-Nine
Twenty-Nine
Sienna
I ’ve never felt so alone or desperate in my entire life. The suffocating darkness wraps around me like a thick, oppressive blanket, squeezing the very air from my lungs. I pull my knees to my chest and hug myself tightly, trying in vain to shield against the relentless wave of hopelessness crashing over me. Each breath feels labored, each heartbeat a stark reminder of my precarious situation. Tears well up in my eyes, and despite my best efforts, they flow down my cheeks in silent, sorrowful streams. A small, flickering part of me clings to the hope that Fabrizio is already on his way to rescue me. Yet, I know better than to let my hopes rise too high; there’s no certainty he even knows where I am.
The mere thought of Fabrizio sends my mind racing, my heart pounding in frantic rhythm. What if I never see him again? The realization hits me like a physical blow—a stark and painful truth that I haven’t confessed my true feelings to him. I haven’t told him that I love him. Now, trapped in this nightmare, I might never get the chance. The prospect of dying for reasons I can’t comprehend adds another layer of agony to the terror coursing through my veins. The heartache is almost as unbearable as the fear that grips me.
Suddenly, my head snaps up at the sound of footsteps approaching. Each step reverberates through the quiet darkness, an ominous herald of what’s to come. I strain my ears, desperate to discern whether it’s more than one person or if I can catch any snippets of conversation. But all I hear are the heavy, ominous thuds growing louder with each passing second. My body tenses, a torrent of thoughts flooding my mind about what might unfold when the door to my cell finally opens. Each heartbeat feels like an eternity as I wait for the inevitable. Despite the limited options available to me, I refuse to sit idly by and be a compliant captive. Determined to take some form of action, I push myself against the rough wall, feeling it scrape against my back as I rise to my feet.
With my hands outstretched, I fumble forward in the darkness, reaching the door just as I hear the unmistakable sound of the key turning in the lock. Pressing my back against the wall behind me, I hold my breath, closing my eyes briefly to summon every ounce of resolve and energy I have left. The fear bubbling inside me threatens to consume me, but I fight to keep it at bay. A weak stream of light pierces the room, illuminating my surroundings enough for me to make out the grim details. The man who strides into the small space with an air of confidence is all too familiar—I don’t need to see him fully to know who he is.
As Vance steps inside, a fleeting look of confusion crosses his face when he doesn’t immediately spot me pressed against the wall next to the entrance. I seize the moment, gathering every ounce of strength left in my body. With a determined breath, I aim for the hollow of his knee and kick my leg forward with all the force I can muster. My foot connects with a satisfying thud, and Vance crumples slightly, a guttural grunt escaping his lips.
“What the fuck,” he growls in pain and surprise. Without wasting a second, I spring into the hallway, my heart pounding furiously as I prepare to dash into the enveloping darkness. “Fucking bitch,” he mutters under his breath, venom lacing his words. The victory is short-lived.
Before I can even think of my next move, a searing pain shoots through my scalp as Vance yanks my hair with brutal force, dragging me back towards him. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice is a venomous whisper, seething with anger and frustration.
“Let go of me,” I demand, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance. But instead of releasing me, his grip tightens, sending waves of stinging pain across my scalp. Desperation fuels my actions, and without a second thought, I drive my elbow into his stomach with all my might. The impact barely fazes him. A disappointed sigh slips from his lips as he effortlessly shoves my body against the cold, unyielding wall.
“There’s no need for me to hurt you,” he states, his face a mask of chilling indifference. His eyes bore into mine, devoid of any emotion. “So stop struggling and move.” Vance’s fingers, long and unyielding, dig into my arm with bruising intensity as he drags me down the dimly lit hallway. Each step is a struggle to keep up with his relentless pace. My arm aches from his iron grip, and I futilely attempt to pull away, my efforts only provoking his anger.
“Stop that shit,” he bellows, his voice echoing through the narrow corridor. “Why are you doing this?” I ask, unable to mask the desperation that taints my voice. The question hangs in the air, laden with unspoken fears. He shrugs nonchalantly, his shoulders rising and falling with a casual indifference that chills me to the bone.
“Everything has a price,” he replies, his tone devoid of any remorse or guilt. His words hit me like a physical blow, and my eyes widen in shock. My mind reels, struggling to process the callousness in his demeanor.
He has sold me out. Not just me, but Fabrizio too. And the twins. The realization crashes over me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and bewildered. As we finally reach the end of the hallway, a potent whiff of alcohol hits my nostrils, so strong and acrid that it nearly stings. What on earth is this place? Just a second later, every smell, every touch, every sensation bombarding me seems to vanish into thin air. The only thing I can perceive is the blond woman standing in the dark, shadowy hall. At that precise moment, the only thing keeping me from collapsing is Vance’s firm grip on my arm.
“Are you alright?” she asks with a chilling grin. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her voice drips with malice, and her lips curl into a sinister smile.