lder. Winter settled over

r. The effort of just

ouse, but to a part of the estate I'd never seen. A sterile, w

traints. Wires.

od ran

Ella," Keller said. His voice was deceptively

e down, strapped my

te. "You've been here months. Enjoying my hospital

I know," I whisper

" He leaned closer, his eyes burning

y you think!" My voice cracked

gnor

ately carved wooden bird. A hummingbird, the symbol of my ancestors, a gift from

ath hi

r sneered. He tossed it in the air, caug

my eyes. "Pl

tell

you want to hear beca

atrical sound of

y we

a button on

y. I screamed, my body arching against the rest

sping, trembling. Black s

, his voice like fli

now..." Each wor

der this time. My vision blur

d, I was bar

eel table. He picked up my

ng," he mused. He pl

is heavy boot and

ring wood was louder

e pieces und

nothing

ith the sweat and grime. Not just tea

"Even if I die here, you'll never know th

ed. He raised t

looked at my shattered

rossed his face. Doubt

y sight," he snar

d, but they hauled me to my fe

d concrete, ever

t led to their deaths, felt like a stone in my ches

nymore. It was about the traitor still within m

ler was almost cer

tting everythi