Page 140 of Chasing Ruin
A few of them relax. Not fully. Never fully. But enough that confusion knots in my chest.
The passageway is dim. The weak bulbs only illuminate the cells where the women are caged. Everything beyond that remains swallowed in shadow.
So I don’t see her clearly. Not until she’s close.
A figure draped in red. Fabric clinging to her body—revealing, deliberate.
Her suede heels catch the light as she steps forward.
Theo stiffens, trying to tilt his head to get a better look.
She stops right in front of him.
And that’s when I see it.
The syringe in her hand.
“Theo,” I yelp softly, panic clawing up my throat.
His head snaps toward me immediately.
“It’s okay,” he murmurs, shaking his head even as his chest heaves. Even now—like this—he’s trying to steady me. “It’s okay, baby.”
The woman crouches in front of him. Her face is hidden behind a curtain of dirty blonde hair. I can’t see her expression. Can’t read her.
Theo jerks against the shackles, metal clanking harshly as he tries to pull away.
She just hums. Soft. Almost soothing. “Shhh… shh… shh…”
“No,” I whimper, the word tearing out of me. But it’s too late.
In one swift motion, she drives the needle into his neck.
My heart stops. “Theo—!”
“Charlotte,” he whispers, his voice already slipping. His eyes drooping, fighting to stay open. “I… I love you, okay? I love you.”
My chest caves in. “No—no, Theo, no.”
His head lolls forward. Resting against his chest. His entire body goes slack.
A silent scream rips through me as I slam my hands against the bars. Over and over. My throat too wrecked to let anything out.
The woman stands slowly, like she has all the time in the world. Then she gestures behind her.
Another figure steps forward.
A small girl. Petite. Quick. Efficient.
She moves straight to Theo—hands already tugging at the bloodied dressing on his abdomen.
“S-stop!” I rasp, my voice breaking apart. My body trembles violently as I watch.
But then I see it.
A kit.
Clean gauze. Fresh wraps.
