Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 73

NADINE’S P.O.V

I stared at him for a long moment, hoping I’d actually misheard him, but from his annoyed expression, it was clear I hadn’t. He made to leave and if I was smarter, I’d have let him go, instead, I stepped in front of him, hands crossed over my chest.

"I don’t think I heard you properly. Did you just say that your decision about my body is final?"

He rolled his eyes like I was merely an inconvenience. "Nadine, I understand that pregnancy can make you feel a certain way and that is the only reason I will give you a pass for this disrespect. If you do it again, there will be consequences."

"You don’t get to make choices for me. I am not a child or your prisoner."

"You live in my bunker."

"Then I’ll fucking leave!" I exclaimed. "I will get the fuck out of your bunker right now."

He seemed to realize that I wasn’t joking because he suddenly went from bored and uninterested to smiling. He stepped closer to me, reaching out to stroke my cheek but I evaded his touch. The last thing I wanted was to feel his hand on my skin.

"Nadine, I think you’re tired and stressed out. You should rest. Come, I’ll help you-"

"Don’t touch me!" I hissed out, slapping his hand out of my face. "Stay the hell away from me and Rowan."

"I just want what’s best for you."

"Fuck you!"

His face contorted, his eyes narrowing into slits and his jaw clenching. I didn’t give him the chance to speak though, I just ran. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I needed to get away from him fast. I couldn’t stay in this place, I should’ve realized it from the very beginning.

Rowan was outside, but if I could just get to the room and hide, I could wait for him to return and we’d leave together... at least, that’s what I told myself as I ran.

I heard Trent behind me, but it was easy to lose him. He’d spent so much of his time hiding behind steel walled bunkers that he couldn’t even chase after me properly.

I kept running though, went down unfamiliar hallways hoping that I’d see something I recognized but the further I went, the more confused I got. The halls were darker here, I could barely see in front of me, but I kept moving blindly until I heard a noise.

It sounded like a groan.

I moved towards it, hoping it was some guards training and they could help me find my way. I kept my hands on the walls and the closer I got to the sounds, the more I realized that something was terribly wrong. It didn’t sound like groans from fighting, it sounded like groans of pain.

Each sound tore at something inside of me but I kept going, until I reached a hallway. There was only one door there and it was slightly ajar. I knew I should run, but my curiosity got the better of me and I peeked.

What I saw floored me.

One of the monsters was in a huge tank, filled with water. It was unnerving to see something that had terrified me for months looking so helpless in the tank. There were patches of its fur missing and its mouth was wide open. It looked skinny and malnourished, its eyes wide open and bloodshot red.

Wires were attached to its body and head. A man stood behind a bunch of machines and each time he pushed something, the monster would spasm and let out the sounds. I’d never heard something so wretched before. It broke me.

I blinked twice, hoping I was hallucinating. It was a much better theory than the reality which was that they were experimenting. My legs were frozen in place, unable to move as my stomach churned. It was inhumane, barbaric, and they were putting everyone’s lives at risk by keeping the monster here.

"You shouldn’t be here."

Trent’s voice behind me had me jumping. My heart was pounding rapidly in my chest. I looked around, trying to see if there was any way to avoid him, but there was none. He was blocking the only way out.

"Let me go," I kept my voice clear. "Now."

"I can’t do that, Nadine. You should’ve gone back to your room."

I swallowed deeply. "if you let me go right now, I’ll leave with Rowan and we will never come back. I swear it. No one will ever know what I saw."

He smiled cruelly. "What did you see, Nadine?"

"Please, let me go."

When he didn’t respond, I knew, so I tried my luck and I ran. I tried to brush past him but he was quick, his hands wrapped around me, slamming me against the wall harshly. My face hit the rough concrete and he pressed himself into my back.

The noise must have interrupted the man inside the torture chamber because he stepped out, staring at the two of us with confused eyes. I didn’t recognize him, but I pleaded with my eyes, begging him to do anything and help me.

Our eyes locked and for a moment, I could have sworn I saw sympathy in them, but he turned away and shut the door to the room.

"NO!" I screamed but it was too late.

Something was pressed over my mouth. I tried to shut my mouth, tried to hold back the scream but I’d already inhaled whatever it was. I fought against Trent’s hold, hoping and praying that I’d get myself out of this.

"I hate to do this, because I really like you." His voice was teasing. "We could’ve been friends."

I slammed my head back into his face as hard as I could, effectively dislodging him from me and I ran. My movements felt sluggish, my legs felt like lead but I forced myself to keep moving.

Behind me, I could hear Trent laughing. I couldn’t tell if he was close or far, but the sound of his laughter echoed off the walls, mocking me. My vision was blurry, but I tried my best to keep moving until my legs gave out.

A scream left my lips as I fell to the ground. I could feel Trent getting closer. I tried to pull myself forward, tried to drag my limp body off the ground, but nothing worked. I heard him next, heard his cruel mocking laugh and saw his shiny feet in my vision.

"You’re a fighter, I’ll give you that," he mused. "Such a shame though, you had so much potential."

I had no fight left in me, whatever he’d given me was taking its toll, so I did the next best thing, the only thing I could. I spat on his shoes.

"If anything happens to me, Rowan will kill you."

"I’m counting on that."