As we reach the bottom of the stairs, dim lights flicker to life, casting eerie shadows on the rusted walls. "Motion-sensored lights," Seb mumbles as if reading my mind. "Aren't there other sensors? You know, to alert someone that we're here?"
"Mm, yeah, there are," he replies, a slight smirk creeping across his face. "But I disabled them. And the guard watching over them."
"I don't even want to know what that means," I mutter tersely, trying to shake off the chill creeping up my spine. He chuckles darkly, stepping ahead and pulling out the key card. He slides it through the card slot on the rusted metal gate. "You'd think they'd keep the place in better condition." I take in the rust, the leaks, the putrid smell wafting through the air. It's hard to fathom anyone could endure this hell. The walls glisten with a viscous slime.
"Come on, this way." His voice is urgent, and I follow him through the gate and down the narrow corridor. "Don't look in any of the other rooms, okay? I'm serious — we're here for Kai right now, and we can't risk anything not going to plan." I nod silently, dread pooling in my gut as I keep my focus on him.
We reach the last metal door, marred with dents and smeared with what looks disturbingly like blood. Bile rises in my throat, but I swallow it down. "He's in there?" I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He nods, his expression mirroring my horror. "We need to disable the cameras, then we can talk to him."
"Why can't we just take him now?" I ask, but uncertainty laces my tone.
"No, we can't. They can't know he's missing yet. We need more time." Urgency laces his voice as he reaches up to disable the cameras, his movements quick and careful, as if we're disarming a bomb. Each second feels like an eternity.
After a few frantic minutes, he steps back. "Okay, that should be fine… hopefully." He retrieves his key card, swiping it at Kai's door. With a loud beep, it unlocks and starts to creak open.
I move to enter, but Sebastian abruptly pushes me back. "What are you doing?" My voice is harsh, anxiety spilling over. "He might not realize it's you. He could hurt you!"
I shove past him before he even finishes the sentence. "Kai would never hurt me."
As I sprint into the room, the wind is knocked out of me as I'm slammed against the wall. Black spots dance in my vision, and darkness threatens to envelop me.
I feel the roughness of a bedsheet against my skin before I open my eyes, disoriented. Voices penetrate the fog of my consciousness.
"What were you thinking, bringing her here! I could have killed her!"
Hands touch my head and shoulders; soft lips brush against my wrists. "I'm so, so sorry, baby. I didn't know. I didn't know it was you…"
Another voice chimes in, "She's waking up. Kai, step back for a second. She's waking up!"
As my eyes flutter open, two sets of eyes stare back at me, worry and concern etched deeply in their features. "Kai," I croak, my heart racing. He cradles my head in his hands, his expression piercing.
"Yes, baby, I'm here. I'm so sorry."
"It's s—okay," I mumble, struggling to sit up. But before I can fully rise, Sebastian interjects, "Careful, sunshine, take it slow."
Kai's eyes harden when he sees Sebastian's hand resting gently on my shoulder. He stands abruptly, tension radiating off him like a thunderstorm. "I don't know what your plan is here, but I don't trust you one bit. You think you can just waltz in here after years and try to help me? Well, fuck you, Sebastian. After all the surgeries, after everything they took from me to put into you, and now you think you can just take my girl? Wasn't my fucking kidneys enough?!"
I try to stand, desperate to intervene as the unresolved tension ignites the air around us. But dizziness overwhelms me, and I slump against the brick wall. Sebastian attempts to reason with him, but Kai pulls away from his touch, fists clenched.
"I'm so sorry, Kai. I never wanted this. I hated what they did to you, I really did." Sebastian's voice is laden with regret. "But I've told her everything. I want to help. I know you don't trust me, I know you hate me—trust me, I hate myself—but right now, the only chance for you to make it out of here alive with Delilah is to trust me."
Emotions twine in the air, both men breathing heavy, locked in a standoff. Before I know it, Kai is back at my side, helping me stand. After a few seconds, I feel steadier. "So, is everyone caught up on the plan?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
Kai's face softens as he looks at me, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. I catch Sebastian's gaze lingering on us, and I know Kai is doing this deliberately.
"Oh, we're all on the same page, baby. Don't worry about that." Kai's arms wrap around me in a comforting embrace.
"We'll be back after rounds," Sebastian says, his voice rough with unspoken feelings. I raise my eyes to his, catching a glimpse of jealousy flickering across his features, but it vanishes as quickly as it appeared.
Kai leans in to me, kissing each of my fingers before brushing his lips against mine once more. "Go with him, baby, and I'll see you really soon."
With one last lingering kiss, we step out of his cell and prepare for the hellish night ahead. Silence engulfs Sebastian and me as we begin the treacherous ascent back up the cellar stairs.