Valen

ant, muffled thump of something heavy. My head thr

alive.

r in the main compartment, but shunted into a smaller, cramped utility space, like a discarded tool

en. They were above me, in what remained of the control room,

heatrical, sliced through the claustrophobic space. "S

ok me roughly, ignoring my fractured wrist.

am for help. But my throat was raw, my vocal cords paralyzed by t

ants, peered down at me. "Looks like she's fa

ntempt. "Don't think you can manipulate me, Elaina. N

ould... check on her, Jeffery? Just in case?" Her eyes, howeve

aden gently away. "She' ll be fine. She

against metal filled the air. With a grunt, he shoved me, unceremoniously, into an even tighter crevice,

insulated gloves, a gestur

urge for survival surged through me. My hand shot out, a last, f

m against the cold metal. "Pathetic," he sneered,

to me. "She just wasn't strong enough, darlin

ir footsteps, swallowed by the groaning

And this time, it was cl

warmth from my core. My body, already battered, began to shut down. Each breath was a painful effo

where Jaden had "accidentally" brushed against me. It wasn

momentarily cut through the hypothermia. No. Not like this. I was E

n. Destroyed by Jeffery. M

nger, built into the lining of my glove. A failsafe for a fails

designed for discreet activation. But my hands were numb, clumsy. Panic threatened

al scream. I wouldn't give up.

ering uncontrollably, clamped down on the fabric, tearing at the seam. It hurt, a dull ac

inst my palm, a desperate,

was active. A weak, desperate signal, screaming into the silen

drag me into unconsciousness. My body went limp, the las

w fell

was back. She stood over me, he

r voice a cruel whisper. "Jeffery sai

tal. It shimmered faintly in the dim light. It was a shard

yes fixed on the makeshift knife. "He said you were always try

the last vestiges of my heart. He hated me.

"He wanted to prove he could make it without you. He wanted to prove I could make it with him." She

ly beside my head. It clattered against the f

voice barely audible. "No one will

t to die, but to drown in the bitter, icy tru