NATALIA
My body aches as awareness finds me. I flutter my eyes open, expecting to be in the car wrapped in Max’s arms. Instead, I am flat on my back, one ankle warped and cuffed; chained to the bed I thought I got away from.
No! No! No!
Was that all a dream?!
I lift my shaking fingers to my neck, finding the collar secured firmly against my skin. I whimper as I sit up. I am bruised and bleeding, my stomach painfully tight.
My door groans as it is opened wide; a thin beam of light flooding into my dark room. Heavy footsteps thud across the ground, and my breath picks up; fear engulfing my chest. I don’t want to go through this anymore. I can't. I am just too tired.
Matthew walks into view, his smile stretching further across his face than physically possible. His unnerving energy
