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“Inflicting pain on others?”

“No. I dread the day that it does.” A light nudge to my elbows, and he helps me up off the bed. “You’re free to return to your cell.”

As I step in that direction, a tight grip around my arm holds me in place, and I glance there then up at him.

“You can return what belongs to me, first.” He holds out his palm, flicking his fingers.

Panic spirals down the back of my neck, my throat tight and thick when I swallow. “I don’t …. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m not stupid, girl.” Flicking his fingers again, he grips my arm tighter. “Hand over the dart in your pocket.”

He didn’t see me. I know he didn’t see me take it.

“You left it out intentionally.” I reach into my pocket for the dart, reluctant to hand it over to him, in case he decides to stab me with it.

“I didn’t think you had the balls. I was wrong.” He holds the dart up, examining the tip of it. “If you’d accidentally stabbed yourself, the poison would’ve killed you within seconds. But I’m certain you knew that when you took it.”

I don’t answer him, my whole body stiff in defense for how he’ll punish me for this.

“To answer your question, yes. I left it out intentionally.” The grip of my arm falls away, and before I can react, a flash in my periphery is the only warning before a hard crack lands on my face, knocking me back a step.

Pain shoots up into my nostrils, burning the rims of my eyes, and grinding my teeth, I stare up at him, daring myself to say something smart.

His eyes seem to want the same.

I can’t risk that he’ll lock me in my cell tonight.

“I’m sorry,” I grit out, choking back the urge to spit in his face.

“Who did you plan to stick with that, hmmm? Me? My sister?”

Telling him it was Titus might anger him. “Lindsay. To put her out of her misery.”

As he reaches to cup my face, I flinch, expecting another hard smack. Instead, he strokes a thumb over what will undoubtedly soon be a bruise on my cheek. “So merciful. You’re pious to a fault. Unfortunately, this isn’t the most merciful way to go. But fear not, once the child is born, she will no longer have to suffer.”

Sick bastards.

“Now go to your room.”

With flames of agony across my back, I exit the room and make my way back to the lower level, where I scamper toward the bed. Lifting the pillow reveals a knife, the size of which is small enough to tuck inside my pants, so long as I don’t stab my thigh. I’ve no doubt Tom left it for me to offer what little defense he could, in case Agatha decided to throw me back into that Rager cell. I dread to think what she might do in retaliation once Remus leaves. Twisted as it may be, he seems to be the lesser evil.

A knife this small will do little against the beastly Titus, however, which leaves me in a position of choosing to stay to exact vengeance for Will, or escaping to avoid impregnation by a psychopath.

I can’t risk losing the opportunity for freedom. Even if I’ve no idea what lies beyond this place, at least I’ll be free. And Will would understand. In fact, I believe he’s watching over me, hoping I get the hell out of this place. At least one of us should.

I exit the cell and pad quietly toward the front entrance. Only two guards pace the perimeter fence.

Odd.

With the knife tucked at my side, I sneak out of the entrance, eyes scanning for more guards at the front and any that might be behind me. Every nerve is a livewire, waiting for the signal to run, if I have to. The welts on my back are a reminder that this will probably be an excruciating escape, but with Remus leaving at first light, I’m not willing to risk another couple days in a Rager cage, if Agatha suddenly gets a wild hair and decides to finish me off this time.

Without so much as a glance my way, the guards continue to pace and chat. Not that they have reason to worry about anyone escaping this place, given what Tom told me about the likelihood of surviving that jump.

I don’t care, though.

I’d take my chances drowning than risk the same fate as Lindsay. And with what happened to Gwen back at that cave, it surprises me she survived.

Upon reaching the corner of the building, I do one more quick scan before ducking behind the bushes where I left the sheet rope.