vender and pale gold. The crisp morning air was a stark contrast to the warmth I had been wrapped in al

zr

feeling. I had been sent to distract him, nothing more. A job. A means to an end. And yet, my treacherous heart ha

lt heavier than the last, my heels clicking too loudly in the hush of the early morning. The memor

Jo. Get

he strange ache in my chest. What was I expecting? Th

ination in the eyes of b

ist

don't get h

ng something unintelligible before pulling into the empty road. I forced my thoughts away from Ezra

ca

r what he wanted. Now it was time fo

s of the city, dread coiled tight in my stomach. The place reeked of o

reath and

vy iron doors to let me through. I walked in, my heels clicking against the concrete floor. The air insi

was wa

ette dangling from his fingers, his gaze sharp and calculatin

king ash onto the floor. "Look

. "I did what you as

aling the smoke in lazy swirls before answ

is tone made my

, my voice cutting through

me, "I have to admit, I underestimated you. When I sent you to distract Ezra, I didn't think you'd actually go

t you asked," I repeated, my voice bare

he thing," he said, circling me like a predator playing with its pre

ithered dow

ked, my voice coming out

vanished. His

oice laced with mockery, "you wer

o me like a physical b

No, n

clawed at my throat. "That

shrugged. "D

. But before I could get close, something hard struck the back of my head. Pai

Voices.

dark

em. A dim, flickering light buzzed overhead, casting eerie shadows

chains rattled, cruelly re

s in

like bile. My breath came in short gasps, m

g had I

e was

I swallowed hard as a shadow appe

ip

ng," he said, his voice

embling with suppressed fury

s head. "You really d

ing to give him the satis

e continued. "More speci

t the hell are y

e with mine through the bars. "Your

and sharp slithe

do yo

in was slow

ind out so

shut was the last thing I heard

the last. I had lost count of how long I had been locked away

rom the unforgiving concrete floor, my muscles weak from lack of mov

ndfol

oth was pulled over my eyes, plunging me into darkness. Hands grabbed my arms

Mo

ach reluctant step, my bare feet scuffing against the cold floor. The air was he

truggling to map out the turns and inclines, the

the air

cleaner, sterile. The sharp tang of disinfectant curled in my no

pen. The guards

, sil

the sudden flood of light stinging my eyes. I blinked

wasn't

n't a d

a doctor

als, syringes, and neatly labeled bottles. The air was unnatur

ing before

. L

lab coat. No, she was young-mid-thirties, maybe-with auburn curls neatly tucked behind

ng close

, like we were old friend

ll flanked me, their faces impassive. One of them nudg

ts still sore from the

sighed. "T

rds shifted. "S

. "She's a prisoner, not

pping forward to unlock the restraints. The metal fell away with a dull clink, leavi

es, her expression calm but assess

ser, but her movements were

ide of my wrist. Her touch was warm-a stark contr

," she said, more a st

d, unwillin

as if feeling for more than just

t on the wall. "Why do you care?" My voice

stead, she let go of my wrist and

lly, "because Viper does

id it, like I was some thing to be prese

to kill me?" I

slowly, lowering h

ace for deception

want with me, t

ew, she wasn't ready to tell me. Instead, she tur

tiff

," she assured me. "I ne

my arm, her fingers brushing my skin with practiced ease. The sharp prick o

with dark crimson, before pla

e stretched

ly-she said, "Jo... do

s on my a

cy slithering down my spine.

ent, then-almost regretfully-s

settled i

n her eyes

sec

I wasn't

atever

ut to chang