Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I feel as though she’s somehow connected with my brother. Maybe I saved her and he was angry about it.
Overwhelming dread crushes me into the chair. Do I even have any friends or allies or family who would want to help me?
Caius?
I wish I could remember his face—anything about him. The harder I try, the more shadowed my brain gets.
I need to get access to the internet somehow.
Seth’s phone.
Rising to my feet, I dry my wet cheeks with the heel of my hands and make my way back to the bedroom where my captor sleeps. His snoring is the same as before. As stealthily as a pregnant woman can be, I prowl over to his side of the bed where his phone is plugged into the charger. When I pick it up, it lights up the dark room but instantly denies me access.
It has a face scanner.
My heart hammers wildly in my chest as I come to terms with what I must do. Seth is on his side, facing the middle of the bed. To get to his face, I’ll need to lean over him while trying not to mash him with my big belly.
Carefully, I do just that, stretching my arm as far as I can while keeping my body from touching his, and line the phone up with his face.
Denied.
He snorts out a louder snore, briefly opening his eyes. I freeze, horrified at being caught. The phone unlocks. His eyes flutter closed again, not truly waking up. I snatch the phone back and step away from him, shuddering in fear.
I quickly look for the mysterious app. The one that strikes me as odd is a brain-shaped one that’s called Stem Lock. Once inside, I see two profiles. Subject R. Subject K.
Romy. Kaitlyn.
Bile rushes up my throat.
I’m going to be sick. Morning sickness has chosen the wrong time to make its appearance.
I open my profile. It’s a bunch of scientific jargon that is confusing to me, but I do my best to read every part, memorizing all the details. Then I do the same for Kaitlyn. There’s no way to disable it from what I can tell. Knowing it’s there, though, is enough for now.
Seth groans in his sleep, making me freeze. Even my heart ceases to beat. Then I let out a relieved breath when he continues to snore.
The internet browser is easy to access. I search up Seth Portman. There are tons of articles with him and Doc Junior. They’re touted as “up and coming brilliant psychiatrists.” And I learn Doc Junior is the president’s son.
Somehow, that’s not a surprise to me.
I knew this.
How?
There’s a plethora of information inside of me. I just need to figure out a way to release it all. Stem Lock or whatever it is Seth and Doc Junior are doing to me is what’s keeping it from coming out.
I do a search for Caius but can’t come up with anything. It’s too broad. There has to be more I can use to search for him.
Unfortunately, my mind remains blank where he’s concerned.
When I try to access my social media accounts, they’ve been password protected and apparently I don’t know the password.
What do I do now?
Contact the police?
For all I know, they’ll think I’m crazy. Seth and Doc Junior could probably prove it, too. Besides, will the police believe me or the president’s son?
It takes a minute to create a social media account through the browser rather than its app, but I manage to do so. Dawn’s light begins to illuminate the bedroom, reminding me of my dwindling time.
Once I’ve finally set up the account, I locate my stepmother’s social media account and send her a friend request. Then I start typing out a message, hoping it doesn’t drop into a junk folder so she’ll actually read it.
It’s me, Romy. I’m being held captive by
The snoring stops, as does my typing. I remain stiff like a deer in the middle of the road as headlights careen for me. Seth’s hand stretches out and he pats my side of the bed.
He’s awake.
I send the half-written message, close the browser, and do my best to delete my evidence—all within about three seconds worth of time. I’m setting the phone down, just as Seth rolls toward me.
“Morning,” I murmur, crawling onto the bed with him. “What do you want for breakfast?”
His eyebrows are furled as if he’s suspicious of my behavior. I don’t let him question it, forcing my mouth to his, kissing him deeply as if he’s the love of my life.
I want to puke down his throat.
He relaxes and starts pawing at my sleepwear. The last thing I want to do is have sex with this man. I know he’s a monster, but if I don’t, he might discover my awareness.
I’ll be forced back to the lab.