Mark’s POV
The wind howled outside the small, isolated house, rattling the wooden panels like they were barely holding together. My wrists still burned from the rough rope Alice had tied me with, but I kept working at the knots, slowly loosening them while she watched from across the room.
She sat in a chair, legs crossed, twirling a knife between her fingers like she had all the time in the world. Like she knew I wasn’t going anywhere.
I kept my expression neutral, but inside, my mind raced, calculating every possible move. The moment I got free, I’d take her down and find a way back to Sage. I just needed one opening.
Alice tilted her head, smirking. “I can hear you thinking, Mark.”
I didn’t answer. I kept my eyes on the floor, pretending to be defeated. It was what she wanted—she w
