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I ignore him, forcing myself to keep moving. My lungs burn, my muscles screaming in protest, but I push through the pain, willing my legs to carry me faster. Every step feels like an eternity, but I can’t afford to slow. I round a corner and spot a staircase at the end of the hall, the metal steps spiraling up into darkness. My chest tightens with hope.

An exit. There has to be an exit.

I throw myself at the stairs, my feet pounding against the metal as I climb. The sound echoes through the stairwell, loud and frantic, and I know Rhett can hear every step, can feel every beat of my desperation. But I don’t stop. Up and up, each step taking me further from his reach.

“Aubrey, don’t be stupid!” he shouts, his voice closer now, vibrating with fury. “If you come back now, I might go easy on you. Make this easy on yourself!”

I clench my jaw, blocking him out, focusing only on the next step, the next turn in the staircase. His words mean nothing to me. I know what he’ll do if he catches me, the twisted plans he has in store. And I’d rather die than let him mark me, let him turn me into a pawn in his sick game.

The staircase seems endless, each flight leading to another, the air growing colder and damper as I climb. My legs feel like lead, the initial burst of adrenaline beginning to fade, replaced by sheer, aching exhaustion. I force myself onward, my vision blurring as I push through the pain. Behind me, I hear the clanging of footsteps, getting closer, echoing up the stairwell like the sound of an approaching storm. Rhett’s voice carries up, his tone dark, simmering with fury.

“You can’t hide from me, Aubrey!” he bellows. “This will only end one way, and you know it!”

Flickering fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting eerie shadows that seem to stretch and reach for me as I flee. The musty smell of damp concrete and mildew fills my nostrils with each desperate breath, thick and sour in the back of my throat. My muscles scream with exhaustion, but I push harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs. Behind me, I hear the slap of footsteps, the unmistakable sound of a hunt, and my heart hammers faster.

“Stop her!” Bianca’s shrill voice echoes through the hall, tinged with panic and fury.

“Get back here!” Rhett roars, his voice rough and savage, carrying an edge that makes my blood run cold. The sound of his heavy footsteps pounding against the concrete grows louder. He’s gaining on me, each step closing the small gap between us. Fear spurs me to run faster, my legs burning with every stride.

I burst into a larger room, the space opening suddenly around me. My gaze darts frantically, taking in the cavernous darkness, every corner filled with strange, hulking shapes. Old machines and forgotten furniture litter the room, casting long, jagged shadows that shift under the flickering lights.

There has to be a way out.

Chapter 21

• Aubrey •

Then I see it—a set of metal stairs bolted against the far wall, winding up toward what I can only hope is freedom. Without hesitation, I bolt toward them, my legs burning with renewed effort. I take the steps two at a time, the metal clanging underfoot, each sound feeling like it will give me away. Behind me, I hear Rhett’s labored breathing, closer now, the rage in his voice echoing off the concrete walls.

“You can’t escape, Aubrey!” he shouts, his voice booming, reverberating through the empty space. “You’re mine, do you hear me? Mine!”

The idea of being his, of being trapped and used, is more terrifying than anything. I reach the top of the stairs and burst through the door, slamming it shut behind me. My eyes scan the hallway—a dusty, dimly lit corridor stretches out before me, lined with more doors, each one promising yet more twists in this nightmare maze. I spot a chair leaning against the wall and jam it under the handle of the door, hoping it will buy me precious seconds though I doubt it. That chair looks on the verge of crumbling any second but it’s all I have right now.

For a split second, I pause, heart pounding, trying to get my bearings. Where the hell am I? It feels like I’ve been running in circles, deeper into the building instead of out of it. The air is thick, stale, pressing down on me, and every shadow seems to pulse with hidden threats.

A furious roar erupts from the stairwell, shaking me from my thoughts. Rhett’s frustration reverberates through the metal door, followed by a loud, brutal bang as he slams his fists against it. “Aubrey!” he bellows, the door rattling under his assault. He’s fumbling with the handle, then a crash sounds as the chair I wedged there topples to the ground.

Shit.

Bianca’s voice joins the cacophony, her tone dripping with venom. “You idiot! How could you let her escape?”

“Me? She ran straight fucking past you!” Rhett snarls, punctuating his words with another bang on the door, each one sending tremors through the frame. The sound is close, too close. I don’t have long.

I dart down the corridor, which opens into another vast, open space—a sprawling storage area filled with rows of rusted metal shelves, stacked with dusty boxes, forgotten junk, and old equipment. The lights here flicker weakly, casting a dim, sickly yellow glow that barely reaches the far corners of the room. Shadows pool in the alcoves between the shelves, creating dark nooks and crannies that seem to press in on me.

To my left, stacks of broken furniture create shadowy alcoves, piles of old armchairs and splintered tables arranged haphazardly, as if abandoned in a hurry. The air is thick with the smell of mold and rot, tinged with the faint metallic scent of rust. I force myself to stay calm, to think clearly despite the terror clawing at my mind. If I can just stay hidden, if I can stay quiet long enough, maybe they’ll give up. Maybe I’ll have a chance to slip away.

Footsteps echo down the corridor, growing louder, closer, each one sending a jolt of fear through me. I duck behind a moldy armchair, pressing myself into the shadows, my back against the damp concrete wall. My chest heaves, but I clamp a hand over my mouth, desperate to quiet my breathing, to still the ragged gasps that feel too loud in the suffocating silence.

“When I find you, Aubrey,” Rhett’s voice booms through the room, closer now, thick with anger and a dark, possessive edge, “you’ll wish you’d never tried to run.”

I press myself harder against the wall, willing myself to become invisible, to blend into the shadows. My heart beats loud in my ears, and my skin prickles with cold sweat. Their footsteps, steady and slow, methodical, as if they’re savoring the hunt, knowing there’s nowhere for me to go.

“She’s here somewhere,” Bianca hisses, her voice low but sharp, filled with venom. “Find her, Rhett. We can’t let her ruin everything we’ve worked for.”

Everything they’ve worked for? The thought sends a chill down my spine. Whatever Rhett and Bianca are planning, it’s bigger than just me. The realization only strengthens my resolve. I won’t let them win.

Rhett’s footsteps grow louder, echoing off the walls as he moves deeper into the storage room. He shifts boxes, the scrape of metal against concrete as he checks behind each row, methodically closing in on my hiding spot. Every sound makes me flinch, every step drawing him closer, and I have to fight the urge to run, to flee without a plan.