Chapter 11

I drove past that rock formation, didn’t I? It looked awfully familiar, but maybe it was just some violent memory trying to nudge its way into my brain. I made a mental note of the landmark and kept going, a knot of worry tying itself tighter in my stomach.

I turned on the radio to drown out the silence, to try and get my mind off the fact that I had no idea where I was. The classical music was soothing, placating my nerves. I relaxed a little, letting my hands fall lax on the steering wheel as I hummed along to the violin. But the music was too soothing, and I was too tired, and the road too lonely. My eyelids began to droop. To keep myself alert, I turned the radio off and opened my windows. The cold blast of air smacked me in the face, full of the smell of pine and wet earth. It was cleansing. No, not cleansing. It was invigorating.

With each passing mile, the hum of the engine became a familiar soundtrack as I drove on, losing track of time. Every turn I took, every landmark I passed felt like a taunt. How could I be this lost? My fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter. I scolded my wallowing brain and told it to focus on something else. The knot in my stomach tightened even more.

What if I never found the cabin? What if Haides woke up, panicked, and thought I’d left him? What if he panicked and . . . and did something desperate? He could even be hurt! All because I couldn’t remember simple directions. I cursed, my eyes filling with tears. A lump formed in my throat.

Don’t cry, Cora. Don’t cry.

I fiercely blinked back the tears, squaring my shoulders. I would not cry over a fictional character. Especially one who, technically, I made up myself!

The road stretched out before me, illuminated by the gentle twilight light. A new worry rose to the front of my mind. What if I ran out of gas? Then I really would be screwed. I accelerated and prayed. Please, please, get me back to the cabin before Haides even noticed I was gone. And please don’t give me any more nightmares. My pleading eyes drifted to the rearview mirror. It was like looking at myself through a filter. My eyes were wide and panicked, my skin completely colorless.

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was dark, and I could only hear the sound of my own breathing. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, checking the time. It was much later than I had anticipated. I scrolled through my messages, my followers updating me on their findings. They were still searching for the truth behind Cora’s knowledge.

I stood up, stretching my long limbs that barely fit the twin bed I had crashed on. I had only meant to rest my eyes for a moment, but exhaustion from the night’s events had pulled me under. Now, as I walked to the room next to mine, my heartbeat quickened with anticipation of seeing Cora again. The door was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open, ready to drink in the sight of her bound to the bed, completely at my mercy.

But the bed was empty. The room was vacant of her presence as if she had never been there at all. That couldn’t be right. Panic began to rise in my throat as my eyes frantically scanned the small space, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But there was nothing. I tore through the rest of the cabin, searching every corner and crevice, calling her name. But the only response was a deafening silence. Cora was gone, vanished into the night like a phantom, and I had no idea where she could be.

My mind raced as I tried to piece together what had happened. How could she have escaped? It should have been impossible. I had secured her myself, ensuring there was no way she could slip free of her bonds. And where could she have gone? The cabin was in the middle of nowhere, miles from civilization. Even if she got out, she couldn’t get far on foot.

I checked the garage, and my heart sank as I saw that my car was missing. She had taken my fucking car. Cora had not only managed to free herself, but she had also stolen my vehicle. I slammed my fist against the wall, anger and disbelief warring inside me. How could I have underestimated her like this?

I walked back to the living room and sat down on the couch, trying to calm myself down. I needed to think logically. She couldn’t have gone far, not without any money or resources.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think about how this situation had spiraled out of control. I had never intended for things to get this far. But now, I was stuck in this twisted game, and I had no idea how to get out of it.

The sound of my phone buzzing on the table snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked down, expecting another message from my followers. But it was a notification from my car’s GPS system. Cora must have accidentally activated the GPS, and her location was being tracked. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I could now find her.

But as I looked at the map, my relief turned to fear and anger. She was on a winding highway, hours away from the cabin. I knew I had to act fast before she ran out of gas or worse.

I remember when I was looking for Cora, I spotted an old, rusted bicycle propped up against a wall in the basement. It was a pathetic method of transportation—I hated bicycles—but it was all I had. Physical exertion that didn’t involve lifting weights? A waste of energy. But I didn’t have a choice. I needed to get to Cora before she escaped somewhere where I couldn’t reach her.

The rusted bike groaned in protest as I hefted it out of the basement, its tires spitting up dust as I dragged it onto the dirt road. I straddled the seat, feeling the worn leather creak beneath me, and gripped the handlebars. The darkness pressed in around me, the only sound was the rhythmic crunch of tires on gravel and the heavy thud of my heart in my chest.

I pushed down on the pedals, my legs burning with unfamiliar exertion. I was used to the controlled burn of weights in the gym, not the raw, grinding fatigue of cycling. But I didn’t have time to dwell on my discomfort. I had to find Cora.

The air was thick with the smell of pine and damp earth, the moon a pale smudge in the cloudy sky. I pedaled harder, the wind whipping past my face, which felt amazing on my heated skin.

I knew I was pushing myself too hard, but I couldn’t stop. I would get my answers, even if it killed me.