CHAPTER 46
Eve
Istand above her lookingup toward the top of the stairs to the door.I'm waiting for something, but I don't know what.Is he up there?Is he hurt?Have they found us?The door rattles and I know this is it.They have found us.The threat is at our door.I knew she couldn't be trusted.I run to the shelves and grab my best defenses.The blade belt and a set of brass knuckles.I walk back over to the whip and pick it up from the floor.These three items have left me being the last one standing many times.They won't fail me now.I have no idea what I'll do without a mask, butthe girl was right,the people he's brought to me must have had masks.They could be upstairs, and I can hold my breath until I find one.I've been practicing holding my breath for years and the moment has finally come.
I hear movement at the door again and I step back into the darkness of my corner.Hurried footsteps come down the stairs and I see a man.A young man running down the steps.When he catches sight of the girl, his face turns to rage and fear.He's focused completely on her and he doesn't notice me step out.He kneels down beside her with his back to me and I strike, throwing one of the daggers and sinking it in the center of his shoulder blades.He cries out, but I fling the whip and have it wrapped around his neck before his voice has a chance to gain momentum.I don't know who or what is at the top of those stairs, but I know I don't want them to know I'm down here if they don't already.
I rush toward him, ready to grab my blade and put it in his throat, when he grabs the whip, pulling me toward him with a strength that I have yet to encounter.I stumble forward and let go of the whip before I lose my footing completely.Fear, like I haven't felt in years, courses through me, and my instincts saythis is not a time to fight.It's time for flight.
Looking to the top of the steps at the open door, the fear of the unknown is almost as great as the fear of this man.I hesitate briefly and look back toward the man who is scooping up the girl from the floor and once again ignoring me.I sprint to the top of the stairs, hesitating again once I'm there.Again, I look back to see the man at the bottom of the steps looking down at the limp body in his arms.I push the mangled door open further and the sight has me staggering backward into the open door.
It's a kitchen.No.It can't be.There's a body in the floor and I hear commotion in the room behind me.There's no time to think.I run in the direction opposite of the clattering sounds.This is a smaller room.There are two doors in here.I open the first and find that it's a closet.There are metal boxes and wires running everywhere, but no way out.I turn to the other door, which looks heavier.I suck in a huge breath of air and turn the knob pulling the door open quickly.
When I open the door, I can't believe what I'm seeing.The breath escapes my mouth in a gasp.It's night, but that isn't shocking to me.It has felt like night my whole life.I never could imagine the sunshine even though I've read about it so many times in so many different books.I step out onto the stone steps and into the night air.The air that feels clear and smells fresh.The air that doesn't burn my eyes or sear my lungs.I heave in a quivering breath as tears blur my vision.
A lie.It was all a lie.The girl was right.They all were.What have I done?
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The smell of bacon pulls me from a haze."Bad dream?"I hear Adam's worried voice ask as I stretch and grin with my eyes still closed.
"Mmmm.What makes you ask that?"
He leans over and catches a tear that's rolling down my cheek with his finger.I look curiously at his finger and touch my face.It's wet.I've been crying.
"Hmmm.I don't know.Maybe.I never remember my dreams."
"Never?You never remember any of your dreams?"He seems troubled by this fact and I'm not sure why.
"Nope."I say, popping the p."I used to think that I just never dream but I've woken V up a few times when I was apparently having a nightmare, so I know that I do dream.I just don't remember what they are."
Adam stares at me for a moment, but I can't be bothered with dream talk when there are biscuits, chocolate gravy, and bacon within licking distance."That's for me, right?"I ask, hoping to put an end to the stare down.
Adam blinks twice and looks down at the tray in his hands."Yeah.Yes, it's for you."He looks back up at me, looking more devilish than worried now."I loved my housewarming gift and I'm afraid the one I got for you won't quite measure up so I figured breakfast in bed might sweeten the deal."
I pull the tray over to me, placing it across my lap."Present, you say?"
He grins and looks at me."Yes.A present."
