Page 109 of Wallflower

My stomach flips, and not in the good way. I’ve never been scared of a fight. Even when I concocted this plan, executed the first parts of it, I wasn’t terrified. I stepped into the path of those bullets fully knowing I’d either die, or the beginning stages of my mission were complete. All that was left after that was to heal, scheme, manipulate, infiltrate, then kill.

Simple.

Now, I’m more fear-stricken than ever. Everything I’ve worked for is on the line.

Two men with assault rifles pass us, moving to stand on either side of the main door. “They’re taking up my post,” Reid whispers over his shoulder, but it does nothing to calm my rapidly beating heart. Especially since it takes two of them to replace one of him.

I observe Reid closely as he leads me through a brightly lit dining room, into a narrow hallway with no windows. I’m waiting for the moment he turns on me.

Reaching a dead end, his head hangs. “I’m so tired, Mr. Morgan. I really hope you’re the one who can end this.”

I’m about to object, play dumb, and deny everything he’s implying, but his body sags further, exhausted gaze lifting to mine. “Let’s just skip the part where you pretend to not know what I’m talking about.”

“Fine,” I clip, looking around. There’s nothing of note in this corridor. Not a door, window, or sound to be heard. “Where is she?”

Slowly, Reid pulls at the corner of a heavy tapestry hanging behind him. It’s nothing special. The muted floral pattern is quite plain compared to the rest of Bleakcrest. Hidden in the shadows behind the cloth is another hallway. This one seemingly more restricted than where I’m standing, if at all possible.

“Follow it straight down, don’t divert until you come to a small kitchen area,” he says. I knew there would be secret passageways in this hellhole. “Leave that room, then turn left. Rose is in the same cell as before.” I nod, waiting to see if there’s more before I bypass him into the darkness. “I’ll wait here until I hear gun shots, then I’m pulling the fire alarm. It should buy you some time.” I’m shocked, rendered speechless. He’s giving me the key to the castle, all I have to do is claim it.

“Thank you,” I reply, clapping him on the shoulder. Reid nods his head, the movements slow and sad. He doesn’t want to betray Maximus, but the weight of the organization has crushed him. This is probably his final attempt to save his companion…friend…lover? I don’t know what they are to each other but only love would drive a man to insanity such as this.

The heavy door clangs open. The strength needed to observe my surroundings has evaded me, along with my ability to give a shit.

“What the fuck?” Brad breathes.

“What areyoudoing here?” Sam snarls.

Not the doctor then.

“Well this is an unfortunate turn of events,” Maximus mumbles quietly. He clears his throat, enunciating across the room, all traces of the torturer erased from his voice. “Mr. Morgan, a pleasure as always.”

Mr…

My head lolls as I fight the exhaustion, the pain.

Just one look. That’s all I need.

But blackness sweeps in like a razor-sharp net, ripping me away.

Aclusterfuck of emotions come alive within my chest, battling for dominance.

Oh, my beautiful flower, what did they do to you?

I resist the urge to run to her, to cradle her angelic face in my hands and trace the threads that bind her crimson stained lips—cage her smart double-edged tongue.

She’s spiritless. Lifeless. A complete void of anything that once resembled her.

Rose hangs suspended, shoulders near dislocation, sandwiched between two men aggressively thrusting against her soft skin, seeking release. The bald man at her back has his hands around her neck, rapidly squeezing the life from her.

Why isn’t she fighting?

A smattering of new bruises bloom across her skin, thin red rivers trailing from new lashes.

Theywhippedmy fucking girl. My light. My escape.

The man at Rose’s front digs his fingers into her hips. Crimson colours his face, his hands, as it makes a slow descent down her legs.

Nothing so much as a whimper passes Rose’s lips.