This monster.
I’m surprised I haven’t blacked out yet.
He finishes with all my wounds and reaches up, untying me. I fall hard to the floor and slump into a fetal position; exhaustion and soreness take over my senses. I fall asleep immediately in my own blood.
Without saying a word, Martin leaves.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
It’s chapter night for my fraternity, and I don’t even have the energy to go. This is the last one before winter break. My family has organized a week-long trip on our family yacht to the Bahamas, and I am looking forward to relaxing and spending time in the sun. We leave in two days.
When it is Archer’s turn to speak, he makes it quick and tells us to follow him, and I silently oblige his command, getting in line.
He takes us to a part of the fraternity house I have never been to before and explains the fraternity’s illegal business operations. I try to block most of it out because it sickens me.
We move from each room, looking at the cages that are clearly made for animals and the hospital-like room for the preparation of the girls.
I act interested and walk through each room with fake excitement and curiosity.
In the preparation room, I spot something in the corner that catches my eye.
My stomach recoils; no, it can’t be. It’s just a strange coincidence. Vomit threatens to spill out of me.
Hanging back in the room until all the brothers exit, my heart thundering in my chest, I look around to double check that there is no one else in here and the door is shut.
I hold the item in front of me; it’s an iPhone in a black case with pink cherry blossoms on it. I have only seen one other like it.
Swiping the phone hurriedly, I pocket it in case someone were to come back in.
My heart flutters as Archer comes in seconds later. “Get lost?” he asks suspiciously.
“I was just taking it all in.” I grin at him, faking my excitement.
When we are finished, I rush up the stairs, taking two steps at a time as I make my way to my room, shutting my door and locking it immediately. I pull out the phone from my pocket, and sure enough, there’s a picture of Cassidy and Blair on the lock screen.
Shock overwhelms me, and the phone tumbles out of my hand accidentally.
“No, no, no.” I slump over, putting my head between my knees. Sickness rises up my throat, and I run for the small trashcan next to my desk, throwing up all the contents I had in my stomach.
Suddenly, a memory plays in my head about the encounter with Archer calling Cassidy a ghost.
Anger races through my veins, and I punch the wall next to me, leaving a decent-sized hole.
The feeling of helplessness floods me. Archer was right. How will I ever find her? They keep everything anonymous; there are no written records.
Pulling myself up, my mind whirls with scenarios of what Cassidy is enduring right now.
The darkness of pure grief over never seeing her again goes through my mind because that is the reality; she could be anywhere with who knows.
She has vanished without a trace, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
CHAPTER FORTY
As I come to consciousness, my foot is throbbing in pain, and between my legs feels broken and battered.
I’m strung up in the air again, my wrists tied securely to the hook like a creature awaiting slaughter.
Martin is right; he is going to be my undoing. He is going to break my soul along with any dignity I have left.
