Harris snatches the papers. “Oh my fucking God. You never suspected?”
“Of course not! Fuck!”
“Now it all makes sense,” Frost says. “Getting put in here, and how we’re so untouchable.”
I swallow hard. “They are all incredibly fucked. We just won the power, boys.”
“Let me see those files.” I ask them. I want to get another look at them after this huge revelation. What if? God... nothing would surprise me at this point. My mind whirls, putting all this information together.
Before I get into it, I show them what Harris and I found out. Curses echo in the kitchen. “Keep it down, I don’t want Iskra coming in just yet.” I turn back to read the journal entry, motioning for Synn to read it with me.
She was stolen from us like a thief in the night. When our backs were turned, no less. When we were reveling in the lust and the glory, someone with a hood on took her away. She's gone. We'll likely never see her again. My Bella.
Synn turns ghostly white, backing up from the table. “No, no, no. It can’t be. I thought I was saving...” he starts to cry, startling us all. I get up, slowly walking towards him, touching his shoulder for comfort.
“You can tell us anything, Brother.”
“You don’t understand—I never told any of you what I did.” He sobs once, then forces himself to continue. “When I was sixteen, I caught a glimpse of a tiny child being tortured and raped by my father. I tried to keep an eye on her. When I realized she was likely going to end up being killed, I decided to save her. I waited until it was a moonless night, and sat in the shadows until a perfect moment presented itself. Purge… I asked your father for a favor. To help me get the girl to safety.”
“What?”
“Let me finish, please. I waited until all the adults present were... celebrating, then I got her down off the wall she was shackled to. I wore a hoodie. I took her to a waiting car. There was an old man inside, so I figured she would be safe. I... I... was wrong. Oh God! My Pazessca!”
Synn’s knees give out, and he catches himself on the table. We've all heard parts of Iskra’s past. It's obvious that child was... her.
Chapter 34
Phoenyxx
I'm walkingto the kitchen with Valley to check on the guys’ progress, and to see if they need any help. I'm anxious to plan to get out of here. I'm worried about 3,6, and Bryan—especially 3.
As we get to the doorway, I hear a heated discussion. Synn is choked up. For some reason, I come to a halt, stopping Valley too. so we can eavesdrop.
As soon as I hear what Synn is saying, I go stock-still. My spine goes rigid, chills cropping up all over me. My eyes widen.
No. No. No!
Valley looks to me in shock, reaching over to squeeze my hand. She knows exactly why I’m reacting this way.
I step into the kitchen, and everyone turns to look at me. My blood chills in my veins as I walk right up to Synn. “You,” I whisper, reaching up to sweep his hair over his eyes. His stormy grey eyes. He can’t be... It makes no sense!
My voice cracks. “Ghost, give Synn your hoodie. Synn, put it on, over your head… then look down.”
No one questions my strange request, and Synn accepts the offered hoodie, pulling it on, and putting the hood up. He’s visibly trembling as he looks down. “Pazessca...”
That erases any doubt I had. Synn is HOODIE BOY.
How? My God...
I’m swarmed with memories. The time I was with... his father. The sick, abusive, child-abuser! God—how long was I prisoner there? I was so little, it seems like forever. I still don’t remember where I was before that. But now...
Phoenyxx Age 6
I shake so hard my teeth chatter. I look around my new... home. I'm inside a cold, empty cage. Somewhere cold and moldy smelling. I think I’m in a basement. Whose house is this?
A giant of a man comes down the stairs, and I shrink back as far as I can. He walks right up, sticking his fingers through the bars. “Hello, Bella. I'm your new Master. You will live here.” I start whimpering, but he raises his voice. “If you’re good, you get to come upstairs. If you’re bad, well...” He pulls the belt slowly off his pants, cracking it against his palm.
Tears and snot cover my face. I want to go home! I don’t understand!
