THIRTY-THREE.

“No, I’m not lying, I promise you.”

The sound of a gun cocking next to my ears causes me to flinch and my body to go numb.

“A life for a life, you lying little witch!”

BANG!!

---

My body jolts upright, a scream caught in my throat as my skin glistens with perspiration. My breaths come in ragged gasps, my heart hammering against my chest with a force that threatens to break free.

The discomfort is almost unbearable, but I grit my teeth and endure it nonetheless.

The throbbing sensation of my protruding neck veins is accompanied by a pounding headache.

I feel hot. Then in a split second, I begin to shiver like a bucket of cold water has been thrown over me and my body begins to shake in silent tremors.

I feel like I'm suffocating.

Where is Alessandro?

He vowed he would be here, he said he would pull me out of my nightmares.

He lied.

Of course, he did. So why does the sudden feeling of doubt and being let down feel so new and raw?

With a sudden jolt, I heave myself out of bed a