Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Something warm and wet began trickling down my face. With a shaky hand, I reached up to touch it. The sight of red smeared across my fingertips sent a jolt of alarm through me. Moving unsteadily, I grasped the edges of a lone porcelain sink, my gaze lifting to the small, circular mirror directly above it. My reflection confirmed my fear-- a thin stream of blood was flowing from my nose, colliding with my lips, and forcing me to taste it.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, realization gripping me. This had to be another aftereffect of Helios. The knowledge wasn’t comforting. I had no idea what this drug was doing to my body, what horrors it might bring next. Would I be reduced to the same state those people being held at the asylum were in? With another deep, steadying breath, I turned on the sink and attempted to clean myself up, dabbing at the blood with tissue, thoroughly disgusted.
The bleeding eventually subsided, but the dizziness lingered along with a rushing sound in my ears. My hazel eyes seemed darker than usual; the pupils slightly dilated. I ran my fingers through my wavy hair and bowed my head, closing my eyes again, wishing it to pass. I couldn’t walk out of here like this. I wasn’t sure I should leave the room at all. If this happened in the middle of the Playground, I would be nothing but a burden on the others.
Lost in a chaotic limbo, I didn't hear the bathroom door open and close. It was his dominating presence that drew my attention as he filled the small space. He closed and locked the door before taking two long strides towards me. Slowly, I turned to face him. He didn't speak, but his hand firmly gripped the back of my neck. Before I could even form words, he pulled me closer.
Instinctively, my hand reached out to rest on his solid chest as he leaned down toward my ear.
"I believe it's time for you to admit you remember me."
I swallowed hard and leaned onto him for support. "I don't know what you mean."
He spoke in a low, husky voice that sent shivers down my spine. "You don't want to lie to me, Sunshine."
"I don't,” I replied, my words sincere.
His fingers gently glided up to weave into my hair, and he tilted my head back. I placed my other hand against him, taking advantage of the closeness between us to steady myself. This was a tame gesture compared to how he usually touched me when we were alone. He never hesitated or held back; instead, he pushed past any boundaries I had set, and there was no stopping him.
His actions were becoming increasingly hands-on, with no regard for restraining himself in front of others. He squeezed a little tighter, moving his face closer to mine. I knew he wasn't going in for a kiss - that would be too gentle and proper for him.
As I expected, his lips grazed over mine and brushed against my jawline. "That's all I needed to hear.”
Suddenly, there was a prick on the side of my neck that made me flinch. His grip on my hair prevented me from moving as I let out a small whimper, feeling a cold, burning sensation spread through my body. Despite the discomfort, Ky continued to speak calmly, providing a distraction.
"What did you just inject me with?" I demanded, trying to push against his chest. He wouldn't budge. A sudden sigh of relief escaped my lips as the symptoms from Helios slowly began to fade away.
The room stopped spinning and the buzzing in my ears quieted down. Then, with a tenderness I wasn’t expecting, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the spot, the tip of his tongue lightly soothing the sting before drawing back to look down at me.
My eyes drifted to the used syringe lying on the ground. "What did you just inject into me?"
"Just a temporary solution," he responded calmly.
I felt a different kind of relief wash over me. Whatever it was, it would help me last a little longer in my current state. "Where did you get it?"
"It doesn't matter.”
"With everything that's happened, I think it does.”
“No.” He tightened his hold on me, his grip becoming almost painful.
"It's always going to be me taking care of you and fulfilling your needs. You don't need to worry about anything else."
I struggled to speak, my voice barely above a whisper. "How did you know I remembered anything?"
"How could I not? I'm curious about how much you recall. I've been eagerly anticipating the chance to remind you of everything we did together, Sunshine.
"I'm not sure if Lana and Mel remember yet," I said, trying to shift the focus away from myself.
He leaned in closer, his face almost touching mine. "Why are you thinking about them when you're in my arms right now?" Despite the intensity of his gaze, there was a flicker of vulnerability that I hadn't seen before. It made me wonder what secrets he was hiding behind those calculating eyes.