Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
The smell was…overwhelming.
Rotten eggs…diesel fuel…and something oddly metallic, like blood and battery acid all met his sensitive nose and made his stomach turn.
Across the table, Cookie bustled in and slapped down another bowl of something wet and sludgy in front of each of them. The mixture shifted as it landed, revealing what looked suspiciously like a floating eyeball—which promptly sank out of sight again.
Bright swallowed hard. The food was definitely getting worse…it was like the alien chef was channeling his master’s sadism into his cooking.
Please don’t make us eat this. Just once, can’t the torture be optional?
“Eat up, piggy-wigs,” Cookie grunted cheerfully. “Need you full of strength for tonight. Old Thune’s got big plans for you!”
Bright’s appetite—what little remained of it—died a swift and merciful death.
Across from him, Noelle gave him a shaky smile, then poked at the gray lump on her plate with the side of her spoon.
“It’s, uh…so colorful,” she said faintly.
Bright smiled back, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Gods, she’s brave. I don’t know how she’s still smiling after everything she’s been put through.
He looked over at Burn again. The Dark Twin hadn’t touched his food. His hands were clenched in his lap, and his gaze was locked on the far wall.
He’s breaking, Bright thought, heart clenching. Piece by piece. And if I don’t do something soon, he won’t be able to come back from it.
He reached under the table, laying his hand gently on Burn’s knee.
Burn flinched but didn’t pull away.
Bright squeezed once, offering silent reassurance.
You’re not alone. You’re not the monster you think you are. And we’re getting out of this godsdamned nightmare if it’s the last thing we do.
“So,” he said aloud, careful to keep his tone casual. “Any idea how we’re supposed to chew the eyeballs, or are they just a slurping situation?”
Noelle gave a startled little laugh. It wasn’t much, but it was real.
Burn didn’t respond, but his jaw unclenched slightly.
Bright leaned back, giving the floating eyeball soup a distrustful glance. His mind was racing.
We can’t stay here another night. We can’t let that bastard make us hurt Noelle. Gods, I’ll kill him before I let him hurt her. I’ll tear his fucking heads off—each and every one!
But murderous rage wouldn’t help them escape—they needed a plan.
He thought again of the key they’d seen last night.
A fat, metallic cylinder on a thick ring, looped into the front pocket of Thune’s overalls.
The shuttle key. Our ticket out of here.
But how the hell were they supposed to get it? Thune carried that godsdamned remote on him everywhere—it was clipped to his belt like some kind of grotesque fashion accessory.
And with one press of those buttons…
Bright’s fingers twitched involuntarily at the memory of the last shock. The pain had ripped through him like lightning dipped in fire. He hadn’t felt like himself afterwards—it was like the pain had burned away a layer of his soul.
Burn might not survive another one. Noelle sure as hell won’t.
“Bright?” Noelle’s voice was soft.
He turned to her quickly.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, though her voice was weary. “I just…we need to think of something. We can’t let him keep doing this to us.”
Her eyes—brown and gold and so full of feeling—met his, and for a moment, everything else faded.
She trusts me. Even after everything. She still trusts me.
“We’ll figure something out,” Bright said quietly. “We’re not staying another night.”
Burn finally looked up at that.
His expression was unreadable, but Bright saw the faintest flicker of something behind his eyes.
Hope. Or maybe desperation wearing hope’s mask.
“We just have to figure out how to get that key,” Bright murmured. “And how to keep him from pressing that damned button while we do it.”
A moment of silence passed.
Then Cookie walked back in with a tray full of steaming mugs.
“Drink up,” the alien cook said. “Special blend for extra energy.”
Bright stared down at the mug set before him.
The liquid inside was hot pink and bubbling. It smelled like candied bacon and something sour.
Oh hell no.
He pushed it away, gently but firmly.
Burn didn’t touch his.
Noelle took a cautious sip, grimaced, and then slid hers to the side as well.
Cookie narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything.
The silence that followed was thick and heavy.
Bright leaned back, scanning the room. There had to be a way out. There had to be a moment when Thune let his guard down—when they could make a move.
We just need one chance, he thought. One opening. And if I get it, I’m not letting go. Because I swear on the Goddess Herself…I won’t let Thune force us to hurt Noelle again.
Even if it means dying to stop him.
64
NOELLE
Noelle winced as she bent over to pick up a piece of crumpled food wrapper from the floor of Thune’s bedroom. Her entire body ached—particularly between her legs—and not in a good way.
Burn had wanted her last night. Needed her. But not like that.