Chapter 2
TWO
Roxie
Everything is fuzzy, like a photo taken out of focus.
I blink my bleary eyes open and squint around the rundown motel room.
We’ve been here for days, or maybe even weeks.
I’ve lost track of time with all the drugs they keep forcing on me.
I sleep for most of the day and wake only to eat and shower if I’m lucky.
I’m alone in the room now, and I try to sit up, but my hands are tied to the headboard. I tug on the restraints, but only manage to aggravate the bruises on my wrists and hands.
“Crap,” I groan.
This all started when I went to my best friend’s house. Her dad had sold into marriage a few days prior. Luckily, she escaped and was rescued by her fated mate, Jameson, who’s now her boyfriend.
I was at Fern’s apartment to pick up her things before meeting up with her in Night Grove Falls.
But as I turned to leave, Fern’s dad was standing there with four strange men.
He looked like death warmed over as he stood there with those men.
He’d been spiraling since Fern went missing, and had stopped by my place a few times, asking if I’d heard from her or knew where she was.
Each time, he looked worse and worse. Pale and haggard, with dark circles under his eyes.
The men grabbed me and forced me into a kitchen chair and barked questions at me. Where was Fern? Had I spoken to her recently? What was I doing at her apartment?
I lied and swore I had no idea where she was. I told them I was worried about her. I’d wanted to file a missing-person report, but her dad talked me out of it. They seemed relieved about that.
That was the last thing I remembered before one of them jabbed a needle into my neck, and the whole world went dark.
I woke up once in a car, again in a motel room, and now in this motel room.
We’ve been here for a while, I think. I overheard the guys talking about lying low, and they seemed anxious.
Did someone see them take me from Fern’s apartment and call the cops?
That’s the only way I’ll be rescued from this nightmare.
Lord knows, my parents won’t notice I’m missing. Not until my rent is due.
My parents and I have never been close. They’ve never taken much of an interest in me or what’s going on in my life. I learned at an early age to stay out of their way and look for love and kindness in other people.
That’s how I became best friends with Fern. We were both anxious wallflowers, and we gravitated toward each other. We balanced each other out. She’s slightly cynical and more of a realist. I’m a romantic at heart and an optimist.
We’ve been best friends for close to fifteen years now, and we had big plans to move away from our hometown and start over together somewhere new. We were so close to doing that when she was sold off. Who knows what will happen now?
The door opens, and two of the men enter. They seem surprised that I’m awake, then annoyed as they stomp toward me.
“Time to go,” one of them says.
I try to protest, but my throat is so dry and scratchy that the words come out weak and raspy.
They cut the zip ties on my wrists and drag me out of the bed. I wince as they haul me outside, and I see the sun for the first time in God knows how long. They toss me into the back of the car, and I grunt as I land hard on my shoulder.
“Let’s get out of here,” the first man says as they pile into the front seats.
The other man grunts as he starts the car and pulls away. “Sheldon and Mitchell are in the car behind us.”
“Are we drugging the girl again?” the first man asks.
“Not yet. We only have one dose left, and we might need it. It’s a long drive.”
I try to orient myself as the scenery flies by, but it’s hopeless. I can only see glimpses of clouds and the tops of buildings. I suspect we’re driving out of the city and heading to wherever they were taking Fern.
Their cult, I realize.
How will I ever get out of this mess? Fern must have realized that I’m missing. I haven’t talked to her since they took me. She’ll be panicking and searching for me by now. Will she find me before they do whatever these men are going to do to me?
We drive in silence for what feels like forever. When we stop for gas, the man in the passenger seat turns toward me with a needle. I know what’s about to happen, but I still fight, even though I know it’s useless.
“Stay still, you fucking bitch,” he snaps.
I cry out as he jabs the needle into my arm this time.
A minute later, oblivion swallows me.
It’s dark when I wake up again, and the car is slowing to a stop. I know that this is my chance. I need to get it together and try to get away from them.
Can I run? My muscles feel weak from lack of use, and I’ve never been great at running.
But I have to try. I can’t wait for a rescue that might never come.
Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them away. I shake out my arms and legs to get the blood flowing. They throb and ache, and I bite my bottom lip to hold in my cry of pain.
The car stops. I tense, preparing to run.
I wait for them to get out and open the door. The men who were in the car following us grab me. I kick and scream, trying to get away from them, but it’s no use. They’re too strong, and there are too many of them.
They drag me into a dark house and throw me onto an old mattress.
“Oomph!” I grunt.
“Get her legs,” one of the men says.
A second later, I’m pinned down, and they’re tying my ankles and wrists together.
“No!” I shout. “HELP! Someone help me!” I scream.
“Get the shot!” another of the men yells.
I kick, trying to twist out of their grasp. They put more weight on me, holding me in place as they give me yet another shot.
Tears spill onto my cheeks as my eyes grow heavy again. I try to clear my head, but I can’t.
Just before I pass out, I make a wish that someone will find me and save me.