Then, she drags them to mine, and I know exactly what she’s saying without having to hear a sound.
He’s back.
Chapter 32
Sawyer
My heart is pounding so hard, I’m positive I could lead a boat straight to us.
Enzo looks indecisive, staring at Kacey, then down the stairs. I know what he’s battling with—leave me up here with her alone or let me come with him.
“Don’t go down there.”
He growls with frustration but ultimately looks to me.
“I need you both to stay up here,” Enzo says, gripping his shotgun tightly. I’m shaking my head before he can finish.
“No, no, just stay up here until I get ahold of somebody,” I plead desperately. The thought of him going down there and possibly getting hurt is enough to make my stomach twist with nausea.
“Baby, this is a tiny space, and it could easily turn into a shoot-out. I won’t risk your life. I won’t fucking lose you,” he argues vehemently, keeping his voice quiet.
“Enz—”
He stalks toward me, halting the protests on my tongue by hooking his fingers in my teeth and bringing me toward him. Then, he switches his hold to the back of my neck, holding me hostage as he captures my lips between his.
It’s soul-crushing, the way he kisses me. It feels like love, but even that seems so colorless when my entire being feels vibrant beneath his touch.
My bottom lip trembles and he catches it between his teeth before releasing it with a soft pop, stepping away as he does. My hands are curling into his t-shirt, clinging to him with fright. For so long, I’ve only ever felt that for myself, and this… this feels so much worse. Whoever created the word goodbye never knew loss. There’s nothing good about the way he leaves me.
“I’ve faced predators far more powerful than he will ever be. And now he will face me,” he assures me, his voice dropping low, sending shivers down my spine.
I try to nod, but it’s choppy.
He absently brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “I love you,” he murmurs, which makes me angry because that sounds more like an omen than a profession of love.
“I love you, too, but can you not say that right now? It’s concerning.”
That dimple flashes while he removes himself from my desperate grip. “You can take care of yourself?”
I nod. “Yes. I’ll be okay.”
Appearing unconvinced, he looks at Kacey with a severe frown, as if the dimple never existed.
“I’m going to trust you,” he tells her, though it sounds more like a threat. She nods, taking a step back again to assure him she won’t come near.
He’s still conflicted; however, he gives me one more glance before heading down the stairs.
I’m sick with worry, but I will not stand here and do nothing while he risks his life.
I turn back to the radio, flipping to another station and repeating my call for help, ensuring to keep my voice quiet but clear.
Kacey moves behind me, and an alarm blares in my head the moment she is out of my peripheral vision. I shift toward her, watching her slowly drift toward the steps.
“Stay up here,” I tell her. I don’t want her to follow Enzo. Something tells me that if she came up behind him unexpectedly, it could be lethal.
There’s something off about her. Obviously, there’s something off about her. She’s been trapped in this place for her entire life. Her mouth is fucking sewn shut.
How does she even eat?
Then, it dawns on me. Those handmade plastic sacks with the white tubing in Sylvester’s bedroom suddenly make sense. They were feeding bags, which means he must’ve cut a hole somewhere in her stomach in order to get the nutrients inside her. It also explains why there are so many Ensure bottles in the cabinets.
My stomach twists further, coiling into a tight rope. I feel sick at the thought. I can’t even begin to imagine what torture this poor girl has endured.
Kacey twists toward me, and it’s still shocking every time I see her mutilated mouth. There’s no getting used to the sight of that. It comes straight out of a horror movie and cements the feeling that somehow, I’ve managed to stumble my way into one.
Guess I can’t even be angry. The universe is definitely getting its karma right now, and well, I can’t really fucking blame it.
She can’t speak, and it doesn’t appear that she has any other method to communicate, so after a few uncomfortable seconds, she turns away and just stands at the top of the steps, staring down into the black abyss.
My discomfort grows, alongside my growing worry over Enzo and concern that no one has answered my call yet.