Thirty Eight

I had been locked in this dark room for what felt like hours, maybe even days. The walls were cold and damp, the air heavy and thick with silence. I could hear nothing from the outside, no sound of cars or people, just my own heartbeat drumming in my ears. I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that Vladimir had me, and Arthur wasn’t here to protect me.

The fear gnawed at my chest, but I fought against it. I had to stay strong, had to believe that Arthur would come for me. He always did. But right now, that felt so far away.

The door creaked open, and my heart raced. I saw Vladimir standing there, his eyes cold and calculating as he stepped into the room. His presence made the air feel even heavier. I backed up until I was pressed against the wall, every instinct telling me to run, even though there was nowhere to go.

Vladimir smirked at me, that same sick grin I’d seen before. “You look so scared, Morgan,” he said softly, almost mockingly. “You didn’t think it would come to