AVA P.O.VEverything ached.My back, my skull, and all ten fingers down to my feet pulsed like gorillas had trampled on them.But I was comfortable. I was so comfortable.I snuggled into the soft cloud cushioning my cheek and smoothed my palm over the soft material under me.Then I realized something wasn't right.I stiffened. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. The Tower never provided us with soft beds or pillows. I'd asked once and received a slap for an answer.An autonomous voice murmured something from a distance. I strained to listen."..In several reports made earlier, the storm is expected to be in the city for a couple of days, but it will not last the week...."A news reporter.Cautiously, I bent my wrists, twisted my arms, and shifted my feet. No binds. I clenched my thighs. I wasn't sore."You can wake up anytime now." A deep voice uttered from my side.My heart sprang to my throat. I hastily opened my eyes, already looking in the direction of where the voice came from.The second that amber gaze clashed with mine, everything came back.Andia.The plan.Leslie.Pashvik.The helicopter ride.The water.I knew it was a risky move, but I'd decided that if I were going to die, spiked water would be better than having my toenails ripped out.Tears temporarily blinded me as I stared at the ceiling.Medieval paintings -no doubt oil work- splattered across the high surface, complex designs weaving in and out of each other.I looked away from the distraction for a second. "Who are you?" I bit out. "What do you want?"The silence stretched for a while before he reached over to pluck a remote from the wooden desk beside him and pressed a white button. The bed steadily pushed up to a sitting position, then stopped.He got up, tossed his expensive-looking phone on the desk, and perched on the edge of the blanket. The mattress dipped under his weight, and my knee sunk, nearly touching his white slacks.He looked down at the bandages I was swathed in and intertwined his fingers. "How are you feeling?"My brows wrinkled. "What?""I said, how are you feeling? You're not daft, are you?"Excuse me?He continued to stare, a finger tapping against his thigh as if to say I was wasting time.Stifling a growl, I gave in and forced a fake smile, "I'm feeling much better than before. What's your name?"He wasn't fazed in the tiniest bit. "Rome. And if I'm not mistaken, you're Ava.""That's right," I forced out cheerily, batting my lashes, "but what am I doing here?"His reply was a slow, undisturbed drift of his eyes over my face. Nothing rattled this guy. That meant more effort.Before he could reply, a teary comment from the TV stole my attention."-my long lost niece, the only survivor from all the girls who went missing four years ago. My dear, would you like to say something?"My eyes rounded as the camera focused on my best friend, shakily walking up to the stage. She reached out to take the arms of the crying woman who'd invited her to speak. Her quivering fingers grasped onto the podium.Oh. My. God.Andia made it back.I glanced at the coiffed woman in the red pantsuit again. Her face felt eerily familiar, but I shoved the thought away, butterflies bursting in my stomach as Andia began to speak.She was going to tell the world the truth! I beamed at the screen, holding my breath. I'd been worried for nothing."I can't go into detail about what happened, and I hope you all understand." Her chest visibly expanded as she smoothed her hands over the chunky glass. "It was no walk in the park, surviving that place. We did all we could to follow the rules and survive the day, but sometimes, even that wasn't enough. But here I am, fortunate enough to have escaped that prison. I want to use this as a chance to support this movement to find and punish the monsters who sex-traffic girls and women worldwide. I lost my best friends in that place. I wish I didn't have to say this but-"She cut herself off, her hand covering her lips to muffle a sob.That...was fake.I frowned at the curved screen.We were alive, and I bet she knew that. There was no way they'd eliminate everyone for one person's mistake. So why wasn't she screaming bloody murder and arranging for help?She pretended to hold herself together with a swipe across her puckered brow and went on."-it is with great regret that I announce the death of my-" hiccup, "my best friend and sister, Andia Oakley."What?Was she pretending to be dead?"May she rest in peace like the other girls who lost their lives in that dungeon." She looked straight into the camera, "I announce my full support for our social coalition: Freedom from Binds," then she smiled at the teary woman next to her, "Thank you, Aunt Caren."The bright light from the cameras flashed nonstop as the two hugged and smiled to take cursory pictures. My thoughts ran wild.Aunt Caren.....Aunt Caren...A slip of recognition trickled in. Aunt Caren was mama's sister.Andia was pretending to be...me."Miss Saxon, could you tell us how you...""Miss Saxon, please tell us when you....""Miss Saxon, have you been able to....""Miss Saxon, what are your other plans now that...."Question after question was fired while she untangled herself from my aunt's arms. Her fake tears were still falling.It was complete rubbish.Abruptly, an unexpected silence settled in the conference room.The camera swiveled to the corner of the stage where a woman was wheeled up a slope for the disabled.As she drew closer and closer, my eyes widened. That heart-shaped face could be recognized anywhere.Mama!