Page 42 of Straightjacket

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I ask her the only question that sits heavily on my mind. “I’m gonna assume that you’ve been here for a while, I don’t suppose you know of someone called Sophia Riggs... do you?”

There’s a silence in the room, then I hear muffled shuffling before the woman pops up at the hatch. Wrinkles cover her face, her hair matted and greasy. She looks at me, a heavy sadness in her eyes.

“You’re Silas Riggs, aren’t you?”

Her words have me stepping back slightly. “How do you know my name?”

“You’re the one who got away from my son, all those years ago and now you’re back. Why?” She says, her eyes roaming over my face. I can see her clocking all the scars that cover my flesh.

“It wasn’t by choice, I know that. Your son has the woman I love in here, and Sophia is my sister. Please tell me you know of her.” Desperation fills my voice and I can feel my sanity crumbling away with every second that passes.

Alice looks at me, her brows dropping then she shakes her head slowly. “I don’t. My son is a very dangerous and powerful man, but he’s also a deceitful bastard. Whatever he’s said about your sister, just know that he’s doing it for a reason. A reason that benefits him.”

I drop my head in defeat, and nod. As much as I want to hold onto that slither of hope that Sophia didn’t die that day, I have to realise that she did and there’s no bringing her back.

“I’m sorry,” Alice mumbles. “Sophia might not be here, but there’s someone else that needs you. Don’t let her get lost in all this chaos.”

“I guess I’m just trying to right all the wrongs that I made.” I say with honesty, then I slot the key into the lock and pull open the door. Alice stands before me, a harrowing image of years of abuse staring right back at me. She holds onto the door frame, using it for support to help herself out of the room. I step aside, giving her the space she needs.

“You can’t save everyone, Silas.” She says with a smile and places her weathered hand onto my shoulder. “Just save those that matter the most.”

I look at her hand then back to her, a pained smile on my face. “At least I saved you, and that’s good enough for me.”

“That you did.” Her words are full of contentment, the weight on my shoulders lifting slightly until everything comes crashing down when Alice rips the gun from my hand and shoves it into her mouth.

“No, no no!” I cry out but it’s too late, she presses the trigger down, firing a bullet straight through the back of her head. Blood splatters across the door and she falls backwards, her lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling.

“Oh... oh fuck... wh... what have you done?” Shock overthrows my body and I stumble backwards into the wall, then I slide down until I land in a heap on the floor. Alice lays lifeless before me, a steady stream of blood pooling underneath her and there’s nothing I can do but watch it trail away.

I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. I can feel myself falling apart, the very stitches that hold me together are starting to snap and fray, my broken soul threatening to bleed out in front of me.

I’m so fucking tired.

I lean my head against the wall and unzip my jumpsuit. Blood soaks the dressing but I daren’t rip it off, it’s the only thing right now that’s keeping me somewhat alive. Sleep weighs heavy on my mind and I can hear its soft call, beckoning me to close my eyes.

I only need a minute, that’s all. Just a few minutes to revive myself.

Just a few...

“Just save those that matter.” Alice’s parting words cause my eyes to fire open, forcing the muscle in my chest to hammer against my rib cage. Adrenaline shoots through my veins like an addictive drug and I use that to pull myself up from the floor. A stabbing pain rams into my stomach as I stand up and I grit my teeth, a fully-fledged anger coiling around my spine for what Thorne has done to me, to Iris, to Alice and every other person who has felt his wrath.

I might not be the hero in everyone else's story, but I will be in this one. Even if it kills me.

Astabbing pain courses through my head as I rise from the floor and I rub my neck, soothing the area where that wretched boy strangled me.

I should have known where his loyalty lies. I should have pushed him further but he’s a lot stronger than I thought. His time away from me has solidified him but I have something he doesn’t, and this time... he won’t be able to deny me.

Brushing the dirt off my jacket, I slip my hands into my pockets, searching for the keycard and the key to Alice’s cell. When I don’t find either of them, panic bubbles in my stomach and I race towards the door, hammering my fists on the glass. When no one arrives, I unclip the radio from the belt on my trousers.

“Where the fuck is everyone?!” I bellow down the radio, then one of my guard's answers, the sounds of screaming echoing in the background of his voice.

“It’s fucking chaos out here, sir. They’re all out, it’s a fucking bloodbath.”

My stomach sinks at his words and I press down on the radio again. “I’m in the projection room, get me the fuck out of here now or you’ll be part of that bloodbath.”

“Uh... yes, yes sir. On my way.” He stumbles over his words, and in a blinding rage of anger I smash the radio against the wall. It shatters into a thousand pieces, and I dig my hands into my hair, pulling at the roots tightly, doing anything to simmer this fury that’s coursing through my veins.

This is the last time Silas fucking Riggs plays me. I’ll be the last piece on the chess board, and he’ll be the one begging at my feet.