Chapter 20 #2
Bianca’s perfectly manicured nails click against the mirror as she flips it open.
She turns slightly, angling herself toward the dim light, and begins applying a deep red lipstick with practiced precision.
The sight is so surreal, so out of place, that I almost forget where I am, almost forget the danger.
She’s standing there, just a few feet away, touching up her makeup in this grim, filthy hallway as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
My mind reels, trying to make sense of it. Is she really touching up her makeup at a time like this?
I take in her appearance, noting the almost absurd contrast between her carefully groomed face and the dank, decaying surroundings.
Her hair is perfectly styled, cascading in soft waves over her shoulders, and her movements are delicate, elegant, as she applies lipstick with a steady hand.
The deep crimson shade is striking against the gray concrete walls, as if she’s painting herself in blood.
She pauses, examining her reflection critically, and dabs a finger against the edge of her lip to smooth it out.
The entire time, her expression remains cold, detached, as if she’s in her own little world.
There’s no trace of worry, no sign she’s aware of the stakes at hand, of the twisted plan Rhett has laid out.
To her, this is routine—a quick touch-up before continuing with whatever dark role she plays in this nightmare.
The casualness, the vanity of it—it’s unsettling.
It makes her seem less human, as though she’s wearing a mask, painting herself into a character she’s decided to play.
My skin prickles with unease. Here I am, fighting to survive, and she’s concerned with her appearance, with maintaining her facade of control and poise.
But then I realize—this is my chance. Bianca punches a code into a small keypad on the wall, and with a beep, I hear the heavy thunk of a lock releasing.
My heart leaps as I see a door at the far end of the hallway shudder open, just an inch, barely enough to slip through.
The door groans and stops, wide enough for a desperate escape but clearly heavy, reinforced.
“Well, while you deal with her, I’m going to visit my mother. I am not watching you claim another!” she snaps at Rhett, venom lacing her words. Her reflection is the only thing she’s focused on, her attention fully absorbed by the mirror.
The door is right there, mere steps away. The path to freedom.
I feel my muscles tense, every instinct urging me to run, to seize this fleeting opportunity.
My heart pounds as I calculate the distance, my mind racing through all the ways this could go wrong.
What if I’m not fast enough? What if she turns around before I reach it?
What if Rhett is waiting just on the other side?
Doubt gnaws at me, whispering that one mistake could mean the end. But I shake it off, steeling myself.
Now or never.
I lunge forward, my feet barely touching the ground as I race past Bianca, feeling the rush of air as I dart by her.
She startles, her lipstick slipping, leaving a crimson smear across her cheek.
Her gasp cuts through the air, sharp and indignant, but I don’t dare look back. My only focus is the door.
My hand slams against the heavy metal, and for a heart-stopping moment, my fingers fumble with the edge, slipping against the cold steel.
Come on, come on! I grit my teeth, forcing the door open another inch, just enough to squeeze through.
The hinges screech in protest, a piercing wail that shatters the silence, echoing down the corridor like an alarm.
I slip through the gap, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I stumble into the hallway beyond.
It’s dimly lit, bathed in a sickly yellow glow from the flickering fluorescent lights overhead.
My bare feet slap against the cold floor, sending shocks up my legs with every step.
I barely register the rough concrete beneath me or the sting of the air against the raw skin of my wrists.
All that matters is moving, running, getting away.
“Aubrey!” Rhett’s voice thunders behind me, a mixture of shock and unbridled fury.
The sound is like a slap to my senses, sending ice through my veins.
I push harder, legs pumping as I sprint down the corridor, my breaths ragged and desperate.
Adrenaline surges through me, electric and raw, sharpening my senses to a razor’s edge.
The hallway twists and turns, narrow and dim, the walls closing in like a maze.
Every door I pass is locked, the handles cold and unyielding as I test them in vain, my panic mounting with each one.
I can hear the pounding of footsteps behind me, fast and relentless, drawing closer with each passing second.
Rhett’s anger crackles through the air, his voice echoing down the corridor.
“You think you can escape me?” His voice is pure rage, each word a promise of retribution. “You’re only making this worse for yourself, Aubrey!”
I ignore him, forcing myself to keep moving.
My lungs burn, my muscles screaming in protest, but I push through the pain, willing my legs to carry me faster.
Every step feels like an eternity, but I can’t afford to slow.
I round a corner and spot a staircase at the end of the hall, the metal steps spiraling up into darkness. My chest tightens with hope.
An exit. There has to be an exit.
I throw myself at the stairs, my feet pounding against the metal as I climb. The sound echoes through the stairwell, loud and frantic, and I know Rhett can hear every step, can feel every beat of my desperation. But I don’t stop. Up and up, each step taking me further from his reach.
“Aubrey, don’t be stupid!” he shouts, his voice closer now, vibrating with fury. “If you come back now, I might go easy on you. Make this easy on yourself!”
I clench my jaw, blocking him out, focusing only on the next step, the next turn in the staircase. His words mean nothing to me. I know what he’ll do if he catches me, the twisted plans he has in store. And I’d rather die than let him mark me, let him turn me into a pawn in his sick game.
The staircase seems endless, each flight leading to another, the air growing colder and damper as I climb.
My legs feel like lead, the initial burst of adrenaline beginning to fade, replaced by sheer, aching exhaustion.
I force myself onward, my vision blurring as I push through the pain.
Behind me, I hear the clanging of footsteps, getting closer, echoing up the stairwell like the sound of an approaching storm.
Rhett’s voice carries up, his tone dark, simmering with fury.
“You can’t hide from me, Aubrey!” he bellows. “This will only end one way, and you know it!”
Flickering fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting eerie shadows that seem to stretch and reach for me as I flee.
The musty smell of damp concrete and mildew fills my nostrils with each desperate breath, thick and sour in the back of my throat.
My muscles scream with exhaustion, but I push harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs.
Behind me, I hear the slap of footsteps, the unmistakable sound of a hunt, and my heart hammers faster.
“Stop her!” Bianca’s shrill voice echoes through the hall, tinged with panic and fury.
“Get back here!” Rhett roars, his voice rough and savage, carrying an edge that makes my blood run cold.
The sound of his heavy footsteps pounding against the concrete grows louder.
He’s gaining on me, each step closing the small gap between us.
Fear spurs me to run faster, my legs burning with every stride.
I burst into a larger room, the space opening suddenly around me. My gaze darts frantically, taking in the cavernous darkness, every corner filled with strange, hulking shapes. Old machines and forgotten furniture litter the room, casting long, jagged shadows that shift under the flickering lights.
There has to be a way out.