Whispered Promises

Brie cried out when she unexpectedly stubbed her toe on the first step of a flight of stairs. She ignored the pain as Venom forced her up the remaining steps and she heard the creak of a door as it opened.

The instant she walked inside, Brie was enveloped by warmth as the sound of burning logs crackled nearby her.

She was shocked to hear people casually talking to each other in what seemed a party setting. They took no notice of her and their conversations continued uninterrupted while she was led past them.

It was as if seeing a naked girl with a hood over her head was a common occurrence for these people.

Her heart skipped a beat when she was suddenly reminded of the night in Russia when a slaver had brought Stephanie to the sadists’ dungeon. He’d offered to sell her to anyone interested in buying the girl. The man had treated Stephanie as if she were simply property, abusing her in front of everyone to show how obedient she was.

But that night, the slaver paid the ultimate price for his mistake when Rytsar exacted his justice and rescued Stephanie from the man.

By the sound of the party atmosphere going on around Brie, she got the distinct impression that no one here was concerned about her or her fate—it was horrifying to feel invisible when she was desperate for help.

After being led down a flight of stairs and dragged down a long hallway, Brie could no longer hear the people above her. The air was much colder in the basement, causing goosebumps to rise on her naked skin.

Venom stopped to open a door and ordered her inside. When she didn’t immediately comply, he pushed her inside and ripped the hood off her head.

She had expected to see a dungeon cell, and it certainly had that feeling when she saw the chains with metal cuffs on the far wall and the large cage in the corner. However, the room also had a luxurious king-sized bed, along with a roaring fire.

As inviting as the fire was, Brie felt a cold chill run down her spine. She was certain terrible things had taken place in the room, and every cell in her body was telling her to run.

Glancing at the open door behind her, she was severely tempted to bolt.

Venom made no move to stop her. Instead, he asked one simple question, “How much do you want Mary Wilson to suffer?”

Brie shuddered, closing her eyes as she let out a defeated sigh. If she wanted Mary to survive, she must wait to be rescued.

Slowly turning to Venom, she answered, “I do not want Mary to suffer.”

Brie shivered in fear when he said with a cruel glint in his eye, “Let the breaking begin, then.”

Venom pointed to the large cage. Brie’s gaze darted to the strange metal structure styled like a birdcage.

He walked to it and opened the door.

Dread filled her heart. The idea of willingly giving up her freedom to Holloway went against everything she believed in. But, she understood the role she must play and stepped inside.

Venom slammed the door shut and pulled out a key, locking her inside the cage. He scowled at her through the bars, stating in contempt, “You are less than nothing.”

Dousing the fire, he turned off the light in the room before walking out. The moment the door shut, Brie was enshrouded in inky darkness.

Without the fire, the room quickly became cold.

Ever since she was a child, Brie had been afraid of dark, confined places and she was unable to stop the suffocating fear that gripped her heart now. Out of desperation, she grabbed the bars and started shaking the door of the cage, needing to get out.

Brie suddenly stopped herself, realizing that Holloway had probably installed cameras in the room to document her every move. She was certain he was taking great pleasure in seeing how terrified she was right now.

Taking several deep breaths, Brie let go of the bars and slid down onto the cold floor. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. It took a long time, but she eventually felt the warmth of Tono’s calming spirit as it began to flood her soul.

Alone in the dark, Brie had no sense of time. Being constantly cold did not allow her the escape of falling asleep. Instead, she wrapped her arms around herself and forced herself to think about Hope and Antony. She missed them so deeply that it was difficult for her to hold back the tears.

But Brie held onto the knowledge that Sir was doing everything possible to find her, and she was certain that Rytsar had already mobilized his men in the US to aid Sir in those efforts.

Try as she might, however, the utter silence in the pitch-black room began to mess with her head. It sickened her to think of the foul things that must have taken place in this room.

It felt as if the evil of this place was swirling around her, waiting to consume her.

Brie wondered if Mary was close by, sitting alone in the dark, thinking she had been abandoned by the world.