Just as I shifted my weight, ready to force my way through, a sharp, commanding voice echoed from inside.
“Let him in.”
The guards froze. Their eyes flicked to each other, uncertainty written in their stiff posture. Then, with reluctant movements, they stepped aside.
I didn’t hesitate. I shoved past them, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.
The moment I stepped inside, the stench hit me—thick and metallic. Blood. Sweat. Something rotten clung to the walls and seeped into my lungs, making my stomach churn. The room was bare except for a single overhead light, its bulb flickering, casting restless shadows that danced along the cracked concrete walls.
And then I saw him.
Darren.
My brother sat tied to a chair in the center of the room like some broken offering. His wrists we
