Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
Ifollow Pierce’s red-headed minion out of the room and into a long, sterile-looking hallway. The walls are the same glaring white as the room Teagan and I were just in, and the floor is the same hideous slate grey tile.
Clearly, someone with poor taste designed this.
Is this another one of Pierce’s underground bunkers, or are we in another strange part of Windermere that Pierce only uses to intimidate us?
“This way,” the minion says, ushering me through a set of double doors. I stare daggers at the back of her head. I could totally take her down if I needed to. She’s thinner than I am. From the timid glances she keeps daring to give me, I know she’s more scared of me than I could ever be of her.
There’s nothing I won’t do to get out of here and back to Teagan. So for now, I’ll pretend to play this game, at least until I know where everyone is, including myself.
The new room we enter is nothing like the one we just left. We are definitely back at Windermere because there is no other place decorated this ostentatiously. I think I’d take the sci-fi hall of doom and gloom over this monstrosity of a castle.
Heavy maroon velvet drapes line the windows, their thick golden cords hanging limp on the sides. We pass dozens of closed rooms lining the long hallway before the minion stops at the base of a long spiral staircase.
“If you go up, you’ll find your new quarters waiting for you. Mr. Pierce has requested that you shower and change into the dress he has left for you. You have one hour before I come back to collect you,” she instructs rather loudly.
I roll my eyes at her and start up the stairs. No need to speak to the help, right? What am I supposed to do? Thank her for forcing me to play the puppet to her puppeteer? Absolutely not going to happen. Besides, I can’t wait to take a shower and wash all this death off of me.
A hand grabs my wrist before I take my next step, and I look down to see the red-headed minion. She’s giving me a look of panic, which is the only reason I don’t jerk away from her touch.
“Please, do as he says. I can’t stress that enough.” She glances behind her, her expression full of fear.
I lower my voice. “What do you mean? Who are you? Are you trapped here like the rest of us?”
Her green eyes widen momentarily before she gives me a barely perceptible nod. She straightens and pulls back from me. “Just follow the rules. I beg you,” she reiterates, turning on her heel and strolling back down the corridor we just came from.
I watch her until she disappears from my sight, wishing I could chase her down and beg her for more information. There’s something she’s not telling me. She’s trapped here like the rest of us, but why is she doing what Pierce demands?
Is there anyone in this place who actually wants to be here? Or does Mr. Control Freak author have everyone here as unwilling participants in our torture?
Taking the steps up to my new room, I ponder this and wonder if I should have told Teagan that Josh is somehow twisted up in this, too. I was too scared to break the bubble of trust she extended, though, to speak of him.
What if I’ve just put her in more danger now that they’ve separated us again?
I get to my room and slam the door behind me. It’s almost loud enough to muffle the sound of my heart pounding heavily with regret.
Without a second glance, I take off into the adjoining bathroom and tear my filthy clothing off, flinging it at my reflection in the mirror before hopping into an ice-cold shower.
I scrub myself raw as my teeth chatter hard enough to draw blood when they snap down on my tongue.
I don’t deserve happiness.
I don’t deserve forgiveness.
I don’t deserve Teagan.
I should have told her the moment I saw her sitting on the opposite side of the glass wall, our friendship be damned. She deserved to know that Josh is a monster just like the rest of them.
I should have told her that he’s the Axeman.
My entire world shattered when Josh stepped out of the woods and smiled at me right after I was tricked into pushing Lochlan to his death.
He was the one who kissed me before I ended up at the bottom of the hillside.
I should have known it was him. He was all I dreamed about for years, and then when he finally deigned to give me the time of day, I consumed everything about him.
How could I be so stupid? I can’t believe I ever fell for him. I was ready to throw my friendship with Teagan away for nothing but lies and deceit.
He’s a disgusting, pathetic excuse for a man, and I was stupid enough to fall for his trap. I should have known. If I had paid more attention, I could have saved everyone. Kristi, Sammy, and Lochlan.
Josh tricked me into murdering Lochlan.
My heart constricts painfully as I step out of the shower and dry off. I choke back my emotions. I have to. I can’t let myself think of Lochlan, or I’ll fall apart entirely. I don’t have time to stitch myself together when I have more friends who need saving.
I walk out of the bathroom and look around the lavish room that’s been prepared for me.
The deep-forest-green duvet on the overly large four-poster bed makes me sick.
It’s the same color as the trees Lochlan, Lee, and I ran through to survive.
The cream white curtains and rug only remind me how dirty my soul is now, and how I’ll never be clean and pure again.
My eyes finally land on a garment bag hanging on the handle of the chestnut armoire. Unzipping the bag, I take a look at the assaulting bright color I’m supposed to wear for whatever comes next.
I rip the dress off the hanger and grab my makeup bag, blow-dryer, and jewelry holder from my suitcase, which has been moved into this room, and head back into the bathroom.
Quickly blow-drying my hair, I tease my blonde locks to the side, using one of my golden barrettes to pin them into place.
Next, I apply my makeup, swiping black eyeliner along my eyelids until the points are as sharp as the knife Lochlan secured to my leg.
I dust my cheeks with blush and shape my eyebrows with expert precision.
I take a step back, admiring my reflection. I don’t look like someone who just murdered a man she could have seen a future with. If only there were a makeup brand to hide the stain on my soul.
The dress goes on next. The satin glides over my skin like a lover’s soft caress. I tie the halter top in place and run my hands down my body. The material is thin, but hugs my every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination. Usually, this is the type of dress I’d murder for.
Instead, the bright, vibrant red makes me want to puke. It’s the color of freshly spilled blood. The kind of blood I’ve seen much too much of lately.
I swallow my nausea and slip my black heels on, then dig through the jewelry I brought with me.
I wish I had my dragonfly necklace; it would go perfectly with this dress.
I’ll have to settle for a couple of gold bangles and a pair of pearl teardrop earrings that Capri got me at a vintage boutique a couple of years ago.
I miss her and Teagan so much it hurts.
There’s a soft knock at the door. My hour of mock freedom must be up. I open the door and see the same redhead servant waiting for me on the other side.
“May I come in?” she asks, glancing behind her nervously again.
I give her a strained smile and wave her in, shutting the door behind us. I check my hair in the vanity mirror one last time.
She pulls something out of her pocket and hands it to me. “I was asked to pass this on to you.” I take the black velvet bag from her waiting hand. “Oh, and this goes with it,” she says before handing me a small, folded-up piece of paper.
I open the bag first and find my dragonfly necklace inside. My lip quivers as I run my fingers down the bent tail.
She clears her throat and holds out her hand again. “May I help you put it on?” I turn and watch her in the mirror as she moves my hair aside and secures the necklace with gentle fingers.
I turn around and face her. “Who gave this to you?”
She smiles and points at the note in my hand.
“A mutual friend. Someone who wants you to survive this,” she replies, reaching out and squeezing my hand hard before standing up straight again.
“Now, I think you’re missing one last thing.
Give me one moment, and we will be ready to go meet Mr. Pierce. ” She disappears into the bathroom.
I open the note and nearly faint at the words written on it.
Give him hell, lassie.
Lochlan wrote this? When? My mind spins in circles with questions as the woman returns from the bathroom. How did he find my necklace? He must have returned to that stupid escape room to collect it.
“Don’t ask me questions that I cannot answer,” she whispers. The emphasis on her words rings clear as day. “But here, I think you need some of this to really pull the whole outfit together.” She hands me a tube of my red lipstick.
“What’s your name?” I ask as I head to the vanity to apply the lipstick. Surely she can answer that, right?
“Ashley,” she responds. “Ashley Sutter. If that’s all, Miss Lexi, I’ll be waiting outside.
You should use the lights in the bathroom so you don’t smudge in this dull light.
” Ashley’s tone is nothing but formal, but her eyes flick to the bathroom quickly before she continues.
“Please do hurry. Mr. Pierce doesn’t tolerate tardiness. ”
Why does that name sound so familiar? I nod and head into the bathroom to open the lipstick tube as she leaves the room. I stop short when I see a small piece of paper shoved inside and quickly open it.
There is a knife hidden underneath the seat of your chair in the dining room. We’re all counting on you to set us free. And beware, the walls have eyes.
I reread the note, then flush it down the toilet before returning to the mirror to apply my lipstick.
If Pierce wants to play, then I’ll make sure to give him a game he’s going to die to win.