high up. I don’t see anyone, but I know he’s been taken.
I slip the jacket on and zip it up before I start shouting, like that is somehow going to help.
“Langston! Don’t you dare hurt him!”
I pound my fists into the wall. “Take me instead!”
There is no answer.
I look around the room for a door, or any other option to escape that may have appeared in the last five seconds. But of course, there isn’t another means of escaping.
My options are to break through a wall, dig out underneath the wall, or climb out.
I’m not strong enough to break or dig out. My only option to try and reach Langston is to climb out.
I grip my side. It was hard enough when Langston gave me a boost, I was uninjured, and Langston was below to catch me. This is going to be impossible.
I stare up at the wall, more determined than ever.
I don’t know what Langston is going through—torture, agony, rape. Is he hanging onto the edge of death? Or is he spilling secrets to stay alive and return home to his kids?
I have to get to Langston. I have to find a way to rescue him.
I grab onto the wall without another thought and begin to climb. I don’t think about failing. I don’t think about waiting until the light shines and makes it easier; there isn’t a moment to wait. I don’t think about falling and hurting myself. I just climb.
I’m completely focused on my task of inching myself higher and higher. My side aches and burns with each movement, but I don’t care. Langston won’t die, not this way. I can’t let him.
So I keep climbing.
I’ve made it two-thirds of the way up the wall when I hear the window open. I try to look up, but it’s hard to look without loosening my grip on the wall.
I consider speaking, but it’s still dark, and I’m not sure whoever is at the window can see me climbing the wall. So I freeze.
I watch as a blob is lowered down next to me—Langston.
I stop breathing as I watch his lifeless body lower. The rope holding him breaks halfway down, and he drops to the floor.
I shriek.
I look up, but whoever is at the window is gone. Now’s my chance to climb up and escape, but then I look back down at Langston.
There is no way I can leave him.
I start to climb back down quickly until I’m about four feet from the floor, then I drop.
“Langston!” I run to him.
He doesn’t move or make a sound as I approach.
“Langston!” I shout again as I try to look him over for any injuries. I find none on a quick inspection, which gives me enough courage to flip him over onto his back without worrying too much about injuring his head.
I hear his barely audible breaths and sigh in relief.
“Langston, wake up.”
He moans as I tap his cheek, but I know he won’t awaken until whatever drugs are in his system have worn off.
I look him over carefully, but I find no bruises, no blood, no new injuries. He even has a new T-shirt on, and his pants are intact.
All I can do is cradle him in my arms and wait.
The sun flickers in before Langston wakes up. I’ve been holding him in my arms for the last couple of hours, studying everything about his body. I have my suspicions about where he’s injured, but I won’t know for sure until he’s awake.
“Langston?” My heart clenches as his eyes open. I’ve been worried all night about what happened to him, but I also know that he’s going to be in pain now that he’s awake. He might even remember the torture he went through. And watching him go through that pain is going to hurt.
“There you are, beautiful.”
I run my hand through his locks as I smile down at him. “You must still be drugged up to call me beautiful.”
He shakes his head. “You’re always the most beautiful woman in any room, my huntress.”
I blush. I’m not used to compliments coming from him.
“How are you feeling?” My smile drops, and a look of concern crosses my face. I’m hoping that I’m wrong—that he’s not injured. That they just questioned him and then threw him back in this tower with me.
“Better, now that I’m in your arms.”
A flicker of a smile returns to my face as I stroke his face. He grabs my hand, and I can tell his intention is