Guzma

grip was surprisingly strong, pinning me against the cold floor. I thra

It wasn't just the needle. It was everything

ngulfing my entire arm, then my chest. It felt like acid po

k, but my limbs felt weighted, heavy. My m

rimson stain spread, a dark, blossoming flower o

pe from the relentless agony. I huddled on the cold, sterile floo

gh me. It was unlike any pain I had ever known. A prim

ision swam, darkening at the edges. My life force felt

cent into a dark, welcoming void. Oh,

ed me back. The heavy door o

ce. A

something that looked like horror in her eyes

ter now, tinged with uncert

ng for me. Her hand hovered

g to kill me." Her voice

r phone. She shone the flashlight on my face

voice was sharp, a desperate attempt to regain control.

, pulling back her hand with disgust.

She was still holding it. She twirled it idl

. It was bent. Twisted, as if it ha

. She snatched it closer, exami

laced with disbelief. "This is imp

d in a mask of rage and fear. "What did you do, you

ap across the face, fueled by t

hrieked, her voice shaking. "I know about your family's... u

protest. The searing pain from the inject

ead back. "I'll sever every tie to that freak show family of yours

final, disgusted look, she tossed somethin

e of the labor-delaying drug. "To keep you compliant," she mut

ently, a chilling tremor that ran through my bones. The pills, I r

nor. Our child. It was my mother's voice, soft and wa

ld. My

dulterated anguish. How could this be happening

trusted him with my heart, my body, m

ntarily eclipsing the pain. A red-hot fury t

he drugs, the blood lo

my belly, covering the swelling mound. A fai

e barely audible. "My sweet bab

sn't sure existed anymore. I pra

h became a shallow rattle in my chest. The world was

or of the panic room exploded inward, rippe

ll, imposing. His eyes, wide with shock, scanned the devastation. He

on me, crumpled and bleeding on the floor

hoked gasp. "Mrs. Black? W

ly a faint, raspy sound escaped my lips. I lifted a tr

e me, his face a mask of concern.

feeling alien on my tongue. M

a small, intricately carved pendant. The Sterling cr

. He looked at the pendant, the

is voice laced with disbeli

e Red! Code Red! We have a breach! And... and a Sterling. I

"What breach? What Sterling? There's no one there. It

d! And this is the Sterling crest! She said her name is

"Elinor is my wife. She has no Ster

the injuries... it's re

"Stand down, soldier! Don't let her manipu

at me, his eyes filled with a new

Guzman," he said, his voi

is chest. My head lolled against his shoulder. Th

room, through the long, sterile hallwa

y that now felt alien and menacing. He bypassed the m

going?" I mana

rim. "It's not ideal, but it's the fastest way to ge

was clean, but sparse. No sophisticated equipment. N

tled over me. This wasn't en