Chapter 4

Solana's arms were the only thing keeping me from collapsing completely. My body, weakened from weeks of confinement and abuse, trembled uncontrollably as she guided me to her couch. The storm outside matched the chaos within me—violent, unrelenting, destructive.

"We need to get you to a hospital," she whispered, her fingers hovering over the bruises on my wrists, the raw marks where the zip ties had cut into my skin.

I shook my head violently. "No hospitals. He'll find me there."

"Faye, you need medical attention—"

"What I need is to disappear," I said, my voice hoarse from screaming. "He…