To Marry A Monster

t out cautiously, feeling for the next rung before I put my weight on it. My hea

floor, I pressed myself against the nearest wall, breathing heavily. A single, faint bulb flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows down the hall. Water dripped in slow, steady beats somewhere in the distance, breaking the silence.

st him. If I wa

saw the

bruised and sore. Some rolled up on the cold stone floors, as if in an attempt to sleep, and others crouched in corners, looking into empty space. I couldn't let the

rk, thick cloak thrown over a coat rack near the guard. It was my only chance. I

l as the bunch of keys hanging on the rack too, and wrapped

yly scanned the cells as I walked by, looking for Adrian. My heart was racing. The prisoners barely gave

he last cell

sed and his face pale, his head re

ri

ned with sweat. The metal jingled softly as I searched for the one th

oor creaked

. His bloodshot eyes wid

to sit up, swaying slightly. I moved to steady him

is voice was harsh and demanding, his

hispered back. "We need

gh his hair. "You shouldn't be here. You

e kidnapped me, told me I was going to

tensed.

stories about him back home," The name felt sour in my mouth. "He says my father owes

furrowed, suspicion flitting across his face like he was trying to work ou

, his face darkened, and his

You're n

" I snapped rolling my eye

get you out of here. ASAP. I knew there was somethin

d. "That's what

g our names, disappearing-and something in him shifted. The

enly, it

asn't for me. It

n't understand. Dante has so many resources. So many connections

ed. "You mean yo

le

o through it together. He was my best friend. My for-lifer. But now, when I was ready to thr

me. But I didn't let a

tepped aside and op

d. For a sp

sprinte

ike that,

ed hand came down on my shoulder. I barely had time to react before I had been spun aro

g voice snarl

think you're g

ragged me backward, my heels scraping on the stone. My vision blurred. A whis

ke over my vision, only one tho

n got

I di