Page 1 of Remnants
Chapter one
Raegan
Darknessengulfstheelevator.
Dane curses, drawing back from our embrace to check his phone. He strides to the panel, tapping each button as if one of them might work while the others do nothing.
The moment he walks away, Gordon’s voice whispers to me, rising unbidden from memories in the pitch-black water tank.
“You’re worthless.”
No. Not now.
“No one cares about you other than me.”His twisted voice fills my head, leaving no room for anything but him and the fear that always slipped past my defenses when it came to him. It spreads through my veins like poison, binding me in place.
My heart gallops, and my breathing shallows. Even though I can’t see anything, it feels like the world spins in tight circles around me. I clutch at my chest, dragging in air that seems empty of the oxygen I desperately need.
“Fuck, everything’s down. There’s no power running toanything, and I can’t get any calls out. Someone must be blocking our communications.”
“You’re a monster.”
I grab my head with shaking hands, my eyes screwed shut.
Stop! Get out of my head! You’re not here.
“It would be better for you to be alone.”
You’re dead. Thorne stabbed you in the back.
“You’ll never be rid of me. Just accept it and give yourself to me, my pet.”
“Rae?”
A wave of dizziness rolls through me, and I drop to my knees, gasping.
“Rae! Hey. Look at me.”
“You’re useless without me.”
“You’re safe. I’m right here.”
Something strokes my cheek. It’s warm and gentle, and I try to focus on it.
“Come back to me, Rae.”
Slow, comforting words. This time, when I breathe in, it feels like a full intake of oxygen. The panic eases.
“What can I do to help?”
I listen to his voice. His words. The care in his touch. Gordon’s voice begins to fade, and I lower my hands to latch on to his arm. As I open my eyes, a soft white glow illuminates the small space, fighting back the dark.
It’s the light from Dane’s gift, but even with his touch, I can feel my own power stirring, alive and ready, deep in my gut. I’m gratefulhe isn’t muting it, or that may have triggered a whole new spiral.
His forehead touches mine, his eyes closed. “Take whatever time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
I nod once against him, taking another long breath, while my heart rate eventually slows to its normal pace. I keep my eyes open. It helps to see the elevator walls, the floor, and especially Dane to remind myself that I’m not back with Gordon. I’m not in solitary or the water pod alone.
Frustration swells and burns in my chest. What a shitty time for me to have a freak out, although I can’t say if there’s ever agoodtime for it. Maybe when no one else is around to see me. But definitely not when we may be under attack, and there are other things I should be doing.
