“What is this room used for?” I jingle one of the chains. “To lock people up after you stab them in the neck with a needle.”

He walks around the edge of the room, touching the chains as he passes them. “I already told you, I didn’t stab you in the neck with a needle.”

I touch the spot on my neck where the needle sunk in. “Yeah, you never did explain what happened. Or why I blacked out.” I pause. “You didn’t dope me up with that radier, did you?”

He shakes his head, fiddling with the chain. “We don’t dope people up with radier here.”

“You say it like you use something else.” I set the cup on the ground, spouts of lightheadedness rushing through me. “Do you dope them up with some else?” I inch toward him, not even sure what I’m doing “Tell me what you’re hiding,” I whisper in his ear, running my hands through his hair. “What’d you stab me in the neck with?”

His heart rate speeds up and shortly after, his breath matches it. He’s scared of losing me, scared that I’ll stop touching him, but at the same time is scared that I am.

I start to pull away, but he catches my hands. “Don’t,” he breathes in my ear, the sound of his voice quivering down my spine. His eyes are a blur, his lips melting. Then he brushes them against my neck and I shiver, understanding what Nina was talking about. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I melt my body into his, wanting to be closer to him.

“Juniper.” His voice is hoarse and I love that it is. His lips touch my cheek.

I stop breathing. Or was I even breathing to being with. Who am I really? Then the walls start to bleed and that’s when I know, none of this is real.

“What’s happening to me?” My voice droops.

“I’m sorry.” His voice fades like my mind.  I try to move back, but he stops me.

“You put something in that drink,” I murmur. “Didn’t you?” His silence is the only answer I need. “You told me I could trust you.” My voice falls away from my lips as my limbs grow heavy.

He catches me, preventing me from slamming into the floor. “I’m sorry,” he says again as the lanterns flickers in and out of focus. “But we have to know. We just have to.”

Chapter 20

When I open my eyes again, I see the same brick floor and rock walls that enclosed around me. But now I’m alone. And I’m chained up. Again.

“Dammit,” I curse, rolling on my back. That’s twice in a day’s time. I stumble to my feet, woozy and disoriented, stabbing pains piercing in my muscles.  “What was in that drink,” I mumble, pressing my hand to my head.