Page 31 of Shattered Souls

Something firm touches my stomach and I look down. I snap my eyes back up immediately and see Hyde’s cheeks turn crimson. I spin and head out of the shower, leaving him and his arousal under the water, snagging the towel from the foot of his bed and walking out of his room.

I fell asleep so fast last night due to the way his bed cradled my body like a warm hug that I’m not even sure if he shared the bed with me or found other arrangements.

I enter the living room and pause when I meet Seek’s eyes as he’s mid bite of toast.

“I have to admit,” I roll my eyes and go to sit beside him. “It’s very annoying to leave one of you and immediately find the other.” He laughs around his food before shoving his half eaten plate my way.

“You need the food for later.” Ugh, later.

I had forgotten in my haze of debilitating pain that I was due to be chased and manhandled throughout the scare park. I was supposed to sleep in Hyde’s room to escape the fitful night of sleep I get in that small concrete prison. It was supposed to energize me, but I feel worse than any of my nights in said concrete room.

“Can we strike a deal?” I wrap the towel tighter around my dripping shoulders. My clothes weigh me down and bring a chill to my confused skin.

“Sounds exciting.” He deadpans.

“Hyde told me that you were going to move me into a different room after the weekend was over.” He nods once but his eyes are glued to the pink collar fashioned on my neck. “If I listen to everything you say for the first night—can you move me tonight?”

“Aw, you didn’t sleep well with Hyde?” He fakes a pity face and tilts his head to the side. I push off the table and make my way towards the concrete room I’d rather be in than face this dickwad right now.

“If you can make it through The Dollmaker tonight without getting caught, you can move into a different room.” I freeze.

“What does that even mean?”

“Tonight we don’t have to perform in the cage of death. So, I’ll place you at the entrance of The Dollmaker and give you a specific amount of time to make it out.”

“And if I don’t?”

“You stay in that room until I deem you fit to leave.” I peer over my shoulder at him.

“How long will I have?” I ask just above a whisper. I need this more than anything. I don’t even care if they lock the door to this new room as well—I just need to get into a room that has a handle on the inside. An exit I can see.

“That would spoil all of the fun.”

“Fine.” I push forward and enter the dungeon for hopefully the last time.

“Say anything and you’ll be in that room until your eight weeks are up.” Seek growls in my ear as he leads me through the fear park and towards a hidden area behind the food trucks labeled actors only.

We exited the house through the secret opening in the maze. I tried desperately to learn my way out once more, but my mind is racing too fast to retain anything of use.

He pushes through a gate and I’m assaulted with the sound of people laughing and talking about their plans for the day. A girl in a clown costume screams at a fellow cast member and I shrink into Seek involuntarily.

He plops me down in a chair in front of a mirror that stretches the full length of the wall. Other chairs sit about four feet from each other, many currently occupied with actors readying themselves for the night.

“You’re going to put that little scarecrow paint on that you had the night we found you. Then, you’ll change into a costume I’ve picked out.” He leans down, half whispering in my ear.

“I didn’t do the face paint.” I look at him in the mirror and finally catch a glimpse of the sign of ownership locked around my slender neck. My eyes look as haunted as my mind feels, but if I’m honest with myself, I look just the same as I did before I came here.

“Do your best.” He stands at the sight of another actor coming up to us. He reaches over me and grabs a pallet of face paint and some brushes for me.

“Well, well, well,” The man clasps Seek on the back. “Who is this pretty lady?” Seek shoots me a look that tells me to mind my manners.

“Tonight’s her first night at Shattered Souls. Just showing her the ropes.” Seek’s voice doesn’t have a hint of amusement, but the man also doesn’t seem to care.

“Well,” He extends a hand to me. “Name’s Maverick.” I look between Maverick’s outstretched hand and Seek. He gives me a nod and I place my hand in his.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be shy. I have to know what pretty name goes with a pretty face like this.” My mind goes blank and my mouth moves on its own.