Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
This situation could go on until I completely lose consciousness. And then I’ll die.
Tap water will keep Naomi alive for a few weeks before she’ll follow. That is, if it doesn’t give her some sort of infection beforehand.
The only other time I’ve felt so helpless was after my parents’ accident. But I was young back then. It’s not the same situation.
“Sebastian? Are you still there?”
“Yeah, baby…”
“Please stay with me…”
“Don’t…be…scared…”
“How can I not be? I think they’re trying to break me and you’re paying the price just because you know me. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you. I’ll just follow you to wherever you go.”
Don’t.
I want to say that, but even my tongue is heavy and unable to move.
The constant assault of pain from my wound and the pounding in my head don’t help in my attempts to stay conscious.
Even Naomi’s voice has turned into a low hum.
That’s when I know I’ll pass out again.
When her voice is clear and she’s calling my name, it means I’m back.
I keep slipping in and out of consciousness, and after a while, I think I’m going fucking insane.
The only thing that’s keeping me anchored is Naomi and her soft touches and soothing words.
It’s the brush of her lips against mine as she makes me drink water. It’s the feel of her body snuggled into me.
It’s even the low, haunting sound of her weeping when she thinks I’m unconscious.
She doesn’t cry when I’m lucid enough to speak a word or two of gibberish. She puts up a strong façade and tends to me, holding on to hope I don’t think I have anymore. But when she believes I’m out, she releases her hopeless side, too. She cries silently or sometimes loudly.
Then she bangs on the door and asks them to let us go. She says words in Japanese that I would normally understand, but I don’t have full access to my brain and, therefore, can only hear the fear and determination in her tone.
The fight.
Maybe she’s not as hopeless as I am, after all.
Because, at this point, I do believe they brought us here to kill us.
Or to kill one of us.
My grandparents couldn’t be involved in this. No matter how much they want to teach me a lesson, they wouldn’t put my life in jeopardy.
Does that mean I’ve been kidnapped? Did they request a ransom?
If they had, my grandparents would’ve paid it already. This isn’t a normal case of kidnapping. If it were, there wouldn’t be games of survival.
A hand softly touches my cheek as a cool cloth is placed on my forehead.
“I’ll get us out of here, Sebastian. I promise. So please…please hang in there.”
So many words form at the back of my throat, but the only thing that comes out is a pained moan.
Naomi strokes my cheek as if she knows exactly what I’m trying to say.
She’s so fucking strong, my Naomi. She’s all alone, and yet, she doesn’t break down or give up. She religiously cleans my wound and makes me drink water. She even whispers soothing words to keep me in the present.
If she weren’t here, I would’ve died a long time ago.
Static pierces through my ears, and for a second, I think it’s in my head, that all of this is a figment of my imaginary shadows.
But Naomi goes rigid, her chest grazing mine as she leans closer.
The voice I never wanted to hear again fills the room, “Time to resume our game, don’t you think, Hitori-san?”
“What do you want?” she snarls, but her voice is weak, weary.
I’m sure she hasn’t slept for some time now. Between taking care of me and banging on the walls, she’s always up to something.
The lack of food also contributes in altering the human mind. When the body doesn’t get its needs, the brain shuts down as well.
Whoever brought us here already planned to make us as weak and as desperate as possible.
Only then will they reveal what they want. Because they know we won’t have the chance to refuse whatever ludicrous demand they make.
“I assume you want a doctor to look at the quarterback’s wound?” Ren tsks. “It’d be a pity if he loses his arm altogether—or his life.”
“What the hell do you want?” she hisses.
“We’ll go with a dare again. I’ll get Quarterback a doctor. In return…” His voice drops and all humor disappears. “You’ll fuck me like you want it.”
A roar bubbles at the back of my throat and a loud growl spills out of my lips. “No.”
“Oh, you’re not unconscious yet.” Ren sounds bored. “This is a nice development. You get to watch.”
A low grunt spills out of me and my body jolts. Naomi places a shaky hand on my shoulder, steadying me, but when she speaks, her voice is trembling. “It’s okay.”
“Noooo,” I moan. “Don’t…”
“You’ll die, Sebastian.”