Loyalty Divided

Chapter Sixteen

Throughout the night, Evangeline worked on freeing her wrists. Her skin was torn and bleeding and her thumb joints felt like they were going to break.

She gritted her teeth against the pain, determination driving her forward despite the agony. Each time she twisted and pulled, the shackles bit deeper into her flesh, but she refused to give up.

Memories of her past fueled her resolve. The first time she had been taken, she had felt helpless, but she had escaped. She had found the strength to fight back then, and she would find it again now. Every moment she spent struggling was a moment closer to freedom, a moment closer to reuniting with Arthur and the gang.

As the hours dragged on, exhaustion weighed heavily on her, but she kept going. She could feel the metal edges cutting into her skin, feel the warm trickle of blood down her arms, but she didn't stop. She couldn't afford to.

Just as dawn began to break, a sharp, searing pain shot through her left thumb. She gasped, tears springing to her eyes as she forced the joint to dislocate. With a final, desperate tug, her hand slipped free of the shackle. Her wrist was raw and bleeding, but she didn't waste a moment. She quickly worked on freeing her other hand, the pain almost unbearable but the taste of freedom driving her forward.

Finally, both hands were free. She popped her joints back into their places and bit her lip to stop from screaming in pain. She slumped against the wall, panting from the effort, her entire body trembling with exhaustion and pain. But she couldn't rest yet. She had to find a way out of the cellar, had to escape before Colten or the O'Driscolls returned.

Evangeline looked around the dimly lit room, searching for anything that could aid her escape. The sound of the lock clicked and her heart lurched in her chest. Colten was coming back. Panic gripped her, but she forced herself to stay calm, to think. She spotted a dark corner behind a stack of crates and quickly crawled over, positioning herself out of sight.

The door creaked open, and Colten stepped inside, a smug look on his face. He scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the empty shackles. "Where are you, Evangeline?" he called out, his voice dripping with malice.

Evangeline held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched as Colten walked further into the room, his back to her as he inspected the chains. This was her chance. She silently crept forward, her eyes locked on the key ring hanging from his belt.

With trembling fingers, she reached out and carefully lifted the keys from his pocket. She hesitated for a split second, then her gaze shifted to the knife sheathed at his side. She couldn't afford to leave him armed. Steeling herself, she slipped the knife from its sheath, the metal cool and reassuring in her hand.

Colten began to turn, sensing movement behind him, but Evangeline acted quickly. She plunged the knife into his stomach as he turned, the blade sinking in with a sickening crunch. Colten let out a strangled cry, his body stiffening as he fell to his knees.

"You...," he gasped, reaching out to her, but Evangeline twisted the knife, cutting off his words. She stood over him, breathing heavily, the reality of what she had done sinking in. She had to survive. She had to get back to Arthur, to the gang. "Y-you're a god damn fool... They're gonna come kill you now," he said through shaky breaths, blood bubbling at the corners of his mouth.

Evangeline glared down at him, her voice cold. "You're the fool, Colten. You betrayed everything, everyone. You think your O'Driscoll friends are going to protect you? They're as good as dead, just like you."

Colten tried to laugh, but it came out as a gurgle. "You don't... understand... They'll come for you. And they'll come for him. You think... you can save him? You can't even... save yourself."