sa Va

le moment!" My voice cracked, raw with a pain that felt too deep for tears. The handcuffs dug

behavior has become a liability. This is for the best, for everyone involved." His words were a placat

ut the officers held me firm. "You're the liability, Eli! Your lies!

d to the office

ng. I was shoved into the back of a black and white patrol car, the heavy

uffled by the thick glass. I saw him get into his

it to me. It was Eli. His voice, calm and even, came through the speaker. "Carissa, do not fight this

"You put me in this situation! You framed me! You lied to

ce still infuriatingly calm. "Some sacrifice

ting forth, hot and stinging. "You think my pain is

speeding through the city streets, the sirens wailing, the world outside

old and detached, spoke again. "I'm sor

eech of tires, a blinding flash of light, and a violent impact that slammed me forward

isted mess of metal all around me. The police car was a wreck, crumpled like a tin can. I tried to move, but a sharp, e

didn't rush to my side, didn't show any sign of concern. He merely

grim. "She has multiple fractures, internal bleed

he goes to holding. The charges still stand." His words were cold, clinical, as if h

had orchestrated my accident. He wanted me gone, silenced, erased. The betrayal was so c

The pain was unbearable, but it was eclipsed by the crushing weight

, but to a high-security private detention center. My injuries were still raw, my

vy cast, a constant throb. My head, still bandaged, a dull ache. My spirit, howe

from the shadows. Kala. She stood there, her arm still in

ruel satisfaction. "Look at you. Reduced to this. I told Eli

is," I accused, my voice raspy. "You twis

e always has. You were just... a distraction. A temporary inconvenience." She leaned closer, her eyes gleamin

physical wound, pierced my heart. He

ou something. He said... he hopes you enjoy your new home. Because you're never getting out." She then

g pain. I refused to cry out, refused to give Kala the satisfaction. My body was a battleground, but my spirit remaine

both visible and invisible, remained. My spirit, however, hardened with each passing day. My ha

scrutable as ever. He looked at me, his gaze sweeping over my bruised face, my banda

family intervened. They've secured your release, under strict cond

ure of hollow magnanimity. "Co

f his cold words, his calculated betrayals, his willingness to sacrifice me

firm. I pushed past him, my injured leg dragging, each step a testa

thing with absolute certainty: Eli Drake had just made the biggest mistake of his life. He had underestimate