Page 29 of Vicious Deception

My hands are trembling as I sit in my dark room. I abandoned the mattress a couple minutes ago, hoping that the hardness of the wood floor would ground me some.

It hasn’t worked.

Wrapping my arms around my legs, I rest my chin on my knees and slowly rock myself back and forth. I’m not sure how long it’s been since Elliot left. Hours, maybe? At this point, I’m worried he’s not coming back.

I do my best to take a deep breath.Calm yourself down. You can do it.

But my heart continues to race, and my thoughts only take a darker turn. What if Ludo has already killed Elliot? What if he’s dead?

No.No.Ludo said he needed him alive and in “perfect condition” for something. But what if that’s done? Or what if Elliot failed?

My breaths come in short, tearful gasps as my mind conjures an image of Elliot, bloody and still, his eyes open yet lifeless.

And what about Rhett? I saw him again this evening while he played catch in the yard with Benny. Rhett doesn’t always look up at me—he has to be careful not to draw Benny’s attention—but he managed to tonight. The little bit of hope that’s usually in his expression was gone.

Does that mean there’s no chance of us getting out of here? Out of the three of us, I’m the least likely to be able to come up with an escape plan. Both Rhett and Ell have some semblance of freedom, although I’m sure it doesn’t feel like it to them.

As for me, I’m stuck—until Ludo comes for me, that is. His threat hasn’t left my mind since those words drifted through the walls.

What’s he going to do to me?

It feels like I sit on the ground for hours until footsteps sound in the hallway. At first, I’m worried it’s Ludo, but then they pass my room, and the door next to mine opens and closes.

Ell.

With a suppressed sob of relief, I crawl to the wall in between us and tap on it gently.

There’s no reply.

My heart sinks. Was that not him? Is someone else in his room? What’s going on?

I tap again, and this time, it’s answered, but not on the other side of the wall. It comes from my window.

Springing to my feet, I tiptoe to the window and open it carefully. Elliot looks tired, but he’s alive and seems to be unharmed.

“Ol,” he whispers when he sees my face. He climbs into my room carefully, entering my open arms the second his feet hit the floor.

This time, I’m not as worried. No one comes into our rooms at night except for when Axel has come to get Elliot. Since that’s already happened, no one will come in—as long as we stay quiet.

“I found a way out,” he whispers as his arms lock around my waist. “I’m not sure when, but it’ll be as quickly as we can manage.”

“How?” I whisper back, clutching his arms and peering at him through the darkness.

“Axel,” Elliot says. “He’s not who we thought he was. At least, I’m pretty sure. He’s our best option, and it’s better than ending up dead.”

“You’re positive?”

“As much as I can be.” Framing my face in his hands, Elliot leans his forehead against mine. “I can’t handle hearing you crying during the day and not being able to do anything to help you. I have to try, Oliver.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“No,” he says softly. “No, don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault—not in the slightest.”

He fits his mouth to mine then, I think in an attempt of reassurance or comfort. It only makes me feel worse.

“I don’t want you to endanger yourself because of me,” I murmur. “What if something happens to you?”

“If I don’t do something, we’ll all end up dead,” he replies quietly.