[Celeste]
My mouth fell open, and for a moment, I was frozen in place. My body trembled, though not from fear. It was anger—deep, aching anger. How cruel could a person be? How twisted must a mind become to craft such a tormenting game?
My heart pounded against my ribs as I struggled to make sense of it all. What had befallen the real Elijah? What horrors had he endured before this... thing took his place? And why, oh why, was Ryder so infuriatingly silent?
I turned my head slightly, glancing at him. His jaw was stiff, his lips pressed into a grim line. He was holding himself together by sheer will, I could see that much. Ryder was a man who rarely let his emotions show, but his body betrayed him now. He looked like he wanted to do something, to lash out, but he held himself back. Why?
