My breathing is erratic. I can feel my chest moving too fast.

Breathe slow. You can do whatever this is, too.

Caleb slams Evan down on the chair opposite me, our knees an inch from touching. I keep my eyes on him, letting his calm wash over me. He watches me, too, using me as an anchor.

I’m okay. Evan is here.

I tear my gaze from him and stare up at Caleb standing behind him while Owen works on tying me to the seat with a thick rope.

“You two have been very bad,” Caleb says. His voice is strong and domineering.

I swallow bile, my stomach rolling at the excitement in his demeanor. He’s light on his feet, eyes shining with possibilities.

“We haven’t done anything, you sick freak!” I shout.

Caleb folds his arms after securing Evan to the seat. “That’s not very nice now, is it? I give you a place to stay, provide you with food and water, and you call me a freak.”

Owen finishes up with my restraints. The rope pinches my skin, causing a hot burning sensation, but I do my best to ignore it.

“Can you hear yourself?” Evan snaps. “We never asked for any of this.”

“Yet, somehow, you’re here.”

“Because you took us, idiot!” I yell.

I can tell from how controlled Caleb always seems to be that it takes a lot to irritate him, but he grinds his teeth at the word idiot.

He dips his head, his eyes pinning me to the seat better than the restraints. “I knew you were going to be feisty. That’s what attracted me to you when I saw you walking by the lake. Your lips were pursed, and you weren’t paying much attention to your surroundings. You weren’t looking because you didn’t think there was any danger.”

Matt laughs. “Poor Red Riding Hood.”

I look up Matt and glare. “I’m not poor anything.”

“You’re playing with the lions now, sweetheart.”

“You’re not as clever as you think you are,” I tell Matt.

“Time for you to shut up.” He raises his arm, and I struggle against the restraints to stop him.

“Don’t!” Evan shouts at the same time Matt’s free hand comes down hard and heavy across my cheek. My head whips to the side. “Piper?”

“I’m fine,” I reply, though my cheek feels like it’s on fire. Blinking away stars, I focus on Evan.

“Are you done?” I ask Matt.

But it’s Caleb who replies, “With you…”

My eyes flash to Evan, and my heart drops.

34

Tears roll down my cheeks, dripping onto my legs.

Evan is slumped over in the seat after the last blow from Owen. They’ve been taking turns hitting him for what seems like hours. I don’t know if he’s alive. Blood trickles steadily from his nose.

“Help him,” I cry. “Please help him.”