The Sinner's Club [18+] Complete

chapter nineteen.

DRIFTING IN AND out of consciousness, it is almost impossible to formulate any kind of plan that would successfully free Gabi and I from this cage.

My shoulder throbs every now and again, reminding me of the untreated bullet wound, but it is the dehydration that makes my head cloud over.

At some point, I hear the sliding door open and close, the sound of footsteps, but I am unable to move.

"Viktor." Gabi's voice, sweet and delicate. A Godsend. "Viktor, here. Drink this. Come on."

The press of a water bottle to my dry lips, then...the blessed taste of water. I take the bottle from her and gulp down a few mouthfuls before forcing myself to stop, my eyes finally opening.

"How?" I ask, voice raspy.

"One of the men brought in some food and water. Whatever Dario is planning to do to us obviously involves us being alive. Here, you need to eat something."

It is nothing but some dry crackers and a sandwich—which we share—but it's enough to rejuvenate me somewhat.

"Have the rest," she holds out the water bottle toward me. It's dark in here, almost pitch black, but my eyes have adjusted over the past few days so I can generally make out the shape of her.

"We need to save it," I tell her, putting the cap back on the water bottle and carefully placing it in the corner of the cell. "Tell me what you know about the layout of the house."

She explains in a detached voice how the house is laid out and where the guards are usually stationed. There is no obvious exit strategy that I can formulate.

"...I made it out to the road but there was no one around," she says quietly. "And then..." Her voice cracks.

"Then what?" I demand, harsher than she deserves.

There is a moment of silence before she replies, "He took me to a clearing where...there were six graves. Six women he's abducted and killed–" A sob gets caught in her throat.

I immediately reach for her, wrapping my hands around her arms and drawing her close to me. She trembles, burying her head in my neck.

The anger slipping through my veins is trumped only by the grief I feel for Gabi. There is nothing I would not do to undo this entire situation and have her never meet Dario to begin with.

"Please tell me Nate is coming for us." Her voice is muffled.

A regretful sigh leaves me. "He doesn't know where we are," I admit. "I lost phone service before I could tell him. But I am sure he is looking."

I do not tell her that the chances of him finding us are slim to none because this house is so far off the beaten path; it will only compound her hopelessness.

"It is going to be ok–" My platitude dies in my throat when the door slides open, a sliver of light from the stairwell spilling in just enough for me to see Gabi's tear-streaked face.