Phantom Rider - The Aftermath | Book 1

Breaking Chains

/ Note from author - this chapter might be triggering for sensitive readers. /

Mila stared at her reflection in the glass doors. The overhead lights were so harsh they made the dark circles under her eyes look even worse. She had lost track of how many days she'd been stuck here. Nobody bothered to tell her anything. They'd put her on a fancy private jet with all the medical gear, and she'd thought her dad was taking her home. Instead, she ended up here, in this hellhole. It was almost like a twisted version of home.

She was locked in, with a shower, a toilet, and meals delivered three times a day. They pumped medicine into her every day. Check-ups, pills, you name it. It was clear this kind of treatment was unique to her. Others in this facility were never this lucky.

Cameras were everywhere. Mila knew the rules: don't talk back, don't show emotions, don't move too fast. Just be as blank as possible. Don't give them any reason to come in and "fix" you. It was not her first time here.

Every movement was a struggle. Even something as simple as looking to the side made her eyes well up with tears. Looking down at her stomach made her legs shake. So she barely moved, not letting her emotions find a hole to leak out.

She looked completely calm, but inside, her mind was like a lucid dream. She lived in her head. Daydreaming took over, and she dissociated. She went to sleep in Bill's arms, talked to him all day. She finally told him everything she was scared to say, and he forgave her. Their baby was alive and growing. They had their dream house.

"Damn it!" The sound of nurse dropping something yanked Mila back to reality. It hurt. She didn't want to return to this place. Bill's face vanished from her mind.

She noticed the nurse seemed new - a little clumsy, maybe stressed. This could be her chance.

"How's your day?" Mila asked, surprising her.

"I'm fine! I'm not allowed to talk to patients," she said, turning her back.

"Well... who said I'm a patient?" Mila asked with a smirk.

"You look like a patient!" Nurse avoided eye contact.

"Let me help you with that." Mila grabbed the scissors from the nurse's hand and, in one quick motion, drove them into the woman's upper arm. Her eyes widened in pain, but Mila quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "If you don't scream, I won't kill you. If you make a sound, I'll snap your neck. Got it?"

The nurse trembled as Mila twisted the scissors slowly in her flesh.

"I know it hurts, but I can still hear your vocal cords tensing," Mila whispered. "My name is Mila Petrova. I'm your boss's daughter."

The woman froze, silent.

"Good girl. Now give me the door key," Mila said with a smile. Nurse slowly pulled out the chip and handed it over.

Knowing the cameras were watching her, Mila bolted, using every ounce of strength she had to run through the corridors. Her breathing was heavy as she passed room after room. Just as she was about to turn toward the exit to the next level, a sudden feeling made her stop.

She felt him. It was like he was right next to her. She could almost sense his body, his scent. That invisible connection pulled her in, her heartstrings attached to his.

She followed the feeling and ended up in a corridor full of rooms. She ran, peeking through the windows, searching for him. Empty. Nothing. No one. All the rooms were dark. "Bill, where are you?" Her silent plea broke into loud shouts. "Bill!"

Her voice echoed through the hallways, but there was no answer.

"Mila!" A distant, faint sound came from a door she was sure she'd already checked. She hurried toward it. The room was dark. "Bill! I'll get you out!" She tried to open the door, but the chip didn't work. In frustration, she struck the window with all her might, bruising her fists. The window didn't break.