Whispered Promises

He watched with indifference as she collapsed to the floor. The disdain he felt for her was palpable. “Get up. It’s time to meet your maker.”

She felt like a prisoner being led to her own execution.

No!Brie would not allow his words to worm their way into her heart.

This man knew how to incite fear because he fed off it. But she would not let him steal her power. Struggling to her feet, she took a deep breath, drawing her strength.

This is not the end.

With more courage than she knew she possessed, Brie held up her head and walked out of the room to face the dark unknown.

Venom said nothing as he took her to visit the twins again.

Although she was angry at the girls for snitching on her, Brie understood why they’d done it. She suspected there were hidden cameras documenting their every move. If the girls hadn’t reported that she had spoken to them multiple times, Mary would still have been punished.

However, the twins would also have paid the price. The only way to survive in this environment was to obey.

Knowing that, Brie kept silent and lowered her head the entire time they meticulously cleaned her body. She was determined not to be the reason anyone was punished today.

Unlike before, the twins took considerable time styling her hair and applying makeup. She was not given a garment to wear. Instead, they left her naked but placed a strange collar around her neck.

The collar was blood-red and covered in black lettering Brie couldn’t read. The weight of it around her throat filled Brie with a sense of foreboding.

When the twins presented her to Venom, the girl held up her fist to indicate zero infractions. Venom glanced at Brie with disappointment, roughly pushing her forward.

She shivered, realizing the man was upset that he would not get to punish Mary further.

Brie faced the stairs, her scalp tingling as an overwhelming sense of dread coursed through her.

She couldn’t move.

She made a silent, fervent cry to Sir, begging him to rescue her.

Her bottom lip trembled as Venom forced her up the stairs and she silently made a promise to herself.

No matter what happens, I will not break. Holloway will never own my soul.

When Brie reached the top of the stairs, she was surprised to see the place was empty of people. But it was far from silent.

A violent storm swirled outside. The whole place echoed with the sound of the large raindrops pelting the glass panes. The lightning hit so close that the thunder shook the windows.

Brie’s heart dropped because it dashed any hope of rescue.

Venom shoved her forward, leading her to the large room. When they entered, Brie instantly noticed Mary wore the same blood-red collar that she wore.

Mary was tied to a chair in the center of the room. Her hands were bound behind her back and her ankles secured tightly to the legs of the chair.

Mary’s chin rested on her chest, her whole body radiating defeat. Brie had never seen anything more terrifying.

Glancing around the room, Brie noticed numerous film cameras stationed strategically to catch various angles, all pointing to the center of the room.

When she heard Holloway’s voice, she turned to see him speaking to five men dressed in expensive suits. They were seated comfortably in a row of overstuffed leather chairs.

Holloway smiled when he saw her. Brie didn’t miss the malicious glint in his eye when he stated, “Now, for an evening we will not forget.”

The five men nodded. All of them looked hungrily at Brie’s naked body as though they were predators ready for a feast.

Holloway folded his arms and asked with a cruel smile, “Songbird, are you ready to become famous?”