The cold, damp room reeked of iron and fear. Anastasia and Patricia were tied to wooden chairs, ropes cutting into their wrists. The only light came from a flickering lantern above, making the shadows dance like hungry monsters.
Ellie paced slowly, her heels clicking against the floor, the knife in her hand gleaming. Her smile was twisted, her voice smooth and venomous.
"You thought you could stand by Davon's side. You thought you could laugh with Elise and act as if you belonged. But you're nothing. Just puppets waiting to be cut down."
Anastasia glared at her despite the tremor in her body. "You're sick, Ellie. This won't make Davon love you—"
"Silence!" Ellie roared, and in one swift motion, she dragged the knife across Anastasia's arm. Scarlet trickled down her pale skin. Anastasia gasped, biting back a scream, her face twisting in pain.
"Anastasia!" Patricia cried, thrashing in her bonds, but Ellie only smirked.
From the corner, Nikki whimpered, clutching her arms tightly. "Ellie… stop. Please. This isn't—this isn't right."
Ellie shot her a deathly glare. "Shut up, Nikki. You're lucky you're still breathing."
She turned back toward Patricia, knife raised high. "And you… always so loud, always so bold. Let's see how long that lasts when this blade finds your heart."
Patricia clenched her jaw, refusing to show fear. But as the knife descended, instinct took over—her legs snapped up, kicking with all her strength. The blade went flying from Ellie's grip, clattering across the floor.
Ellie froze, then her face twisted in rage. "You dare defy me?!" she hissed, snatching the weapon back. Her hand shook with fury as she lifted it again, aiming for Patricia's chest. "Then die screaming!"
Patricia squeezed her eyes shut—
—but before the steel could pierce her, a blur cut through the air.
A sickening thud.
Patricia opened her eyes to see Lucian standing in front of her, the knife buried in his side. His blood dripped hot and red onto the floor.
"Lucian!!" Patricia screamed, her heart breaking as tears poured from her eyes. "No! Why—you—you fool!" She struggled violently against her ropes, her voice cracking with every word.
Lucian's lips curved into the faintest smile, though his face was pale. "Better me… than you."
Ellie staggered back, her bravado shattered. "No… no, this—this wasn't supposed to happen!" She grabbed Nikki's wrist, dragging her toward the exit. Nikki sobbed, looking back one last time, guilt etched all over her face, but Ellie yanked her away.
Devin appeared in a flash, his fists clenched in fury, his eyes glowing with a predator's rage. He growled, "Run while you can."
Ellie didn't wait—she fled into the darkness with Nikki stumbling behind her.
Lucian collapsed to one knee, blood soaking through his shirt, but he forced himself to untie Patricia. She fell into his arms, her tears soaking his shoulder. "Why would you—why would you take that for me?" she whispered between sobs.
Lucian's voice was faint, but his eyes softened. "Because… you're worth it."
Devin had already untied Anastasia, who was shaking violently, her face pale from blood loss. "It's okay," he murmured firmly, holding her steady. "I've got you now."
But before either girl could speak, their eyes fluttered shut. Both Patricia and Anastasia went limp, unconscious in their rescuers' arms.
Lucian clenched his teeth, blood still dripping, while Patricia's tears slid down his chest. Devin's jaw tightened, rage and fear mixing in his expression.
And in that suffocating silence, the only sound left… was the steady drip of Lucian's blood hitting the cold floor.