Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             Despite the momentary disorientation, I spot Mae dodging past me.

                             Even with the warm liquid blurring my vision, my reflexes shoot to high alert. I steady my feet, clutching the wall for balance. I wipe at my forehead. The sight of my own blood springs the need to draw pain in return.

                             ‘She hurt you!’ Aunt’s voice freezes my veins. ‘Even by the cheesy voice’s rules, you can hurt her too.’

                             I smile, whirling towards the darkness of the dungeons.

                             Mae has to pay.





                             Chapter Eight

                             Mae



                             I did it.

                             I ran.

                             My bare feet hobble along the icy stone floor. Prickling shivers travel throughout my body.

                             The tight long corridor slumps in silence. Grey light gets darker the further my vision goes. A scream forms at the depth of my throat, tingling to carve its way out.

                             My pace weakens, and I clasp my eyes shut, so tight, they hurt. Breathe in. Breathe out.

                             It’s okay, Mae. You can do this.

                             Running in the dark is a better fate than dying at that psycho’s hands.

                             I open my eyes. Ahead of me is a sombre tunnel-like-corridor with no end in sight.

                             The sour taste of adrenaline floods my mouth. My mind clears. Renewed energy storms my limbs.

                             I can do this. I can escape.

                             Run. Run. Run.

                             Droplets of sweat sting my lids, blurring my vision. Hair sticks to the back of my neck. My frozen feet tingle. Pain shreds my leg and thigh muscles. My lungs burn, my breaths coming in gasps.

                             I don’t know how much I go at it, but I don’t stop. Can’t stop.

                             If the psycho finds me, I’ll be long dead.

                             I won’t die. Not now. And definitely not in this Godforsaken place.

                             Endless stone walls fly past, soon morphing into heinous grey phantoms. Their mouths so wide as if they plan to have me for supper. Unintelligible chants remind me of the frightened little seven-year-old girl I once were.

                             They’re not real, Mae.

                             I focus on the humming beat in my ears and my ragged breaths instead of the dreadful sounds.

                             Does this place have an exit?

                             I need out of here, I—

                             I fall to the ground with a thud, my hipbone stings from the impact. My chest heaves so prominently as if dislocating my heart.