GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 62: Lost And Alone

*Riley*

They say when life throws lemons at you, make lemonade, right? But at this moment, I couldn’t fathom how to turn this terrible situation into anything remotely positive. I was scared. Not only for myself but also for Nicolas.

I wished I could mind link with him. Tell him I was okay, and he didn’t have to come find me. But the truth is, even if I do say that Nicolas. would still do whatever he could to make sure I was okay.

How did I let myself get into this mess? Every move I made seemed like a mistake now. I should have been more careful, and more aware of my surroundings. But it was too late now.

As I sat here, trapped and helpless, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for dragging Nicolas into this dangerous situation with me. It pained me to know that he was out there risking everything to save me while I could do nothing but wait for this absolute disaster to unfold.

After enduring several agonizing days in a cramped and squalid cage, Malik finally moved me into what appeared to be his home. The room was suffocatingly small and enveloped in darkness. There was hardly. any furniture, Malik didn’t even have the decency to include a bed.

The only object in the room was a tiny bowl that served as both a water

Chapter 62 Lost And Alone

source and a makeshift chamber pot. I couldn’t help but feel disgusted by Malik’s lack of basic human decency.

Though my hands and feet were no longer bound, it made little difference. I still couldn’t escape.

I’d tried on multiple occasions to force the door open, but it was impossible. I knew that Malik was trying to break my spirit, trying to get me to give up. But I would keep fighting. I would keep glaring at him, keep fighting, and I would never stop.

The door suddenly clicked open. I rose to my feet, backing up against the wall. It was probably Malik, coming to taunt me again and fill me with more wolfsbane. I wasn’t going to tell him anything.

But instead of Malik’s menacing figure, a teenage boy entered the room carrying a tray of food. My stomach grumbled at the sight of so much food more than I had ever been served during my captivity.

Could this be my last meal? Was Malik trying to fatten me up like a cow right before the sla

u g h e r?

The boy carelessly dropped the tray on the floor in front of me. I fixed my eyes on him, trying to form a plan in my head to escape. Could I knock him out? Beg him to let me go? What could I even do?

“What’s your name?” I asked, hoping he would answer. If I could convince him that Malik w a s the true enemy, maybe he could help me

escape.

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But he didn’t even look at me. After dropping the food, he raced out of the room as if he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I sank to the floor, feeling utterly defeated. Who was I kidding? There was no way out of here.

Resigned to my fate, I reluctantly picked up the fork and shoveled small bites into my mouth. The food tasted overly salty as if it were. mixed with my tears. And maybe it was.

I couldn’t stop them from falling, a mixture of sadness and anger pouring out of me. How could I have been so foolish? So naive and trusting? I berated myself for being such a gullible fool.

But I had to eat. I needed to regain my strength. I shoved more food in my mouth, not caring about the taste. I had to find a way to reach Nicolas.

When I finished, I closed my eyes and concentrated on healing myself. I visualized the wounds on my body, willing them to heal with every ounce of energy left in me. A warm sensation spread through my body, and when I opened my eyes, I saw that my bruises had faded slightly.

Good.

“Nic… are you there?” My voice was small and shaky in the quiet. room. I strained my mind, hoping for even the slightest response. But there was nothing.

Chapter 62 Lost And Alone

“Nic? Nicolas!” I called out again, feeling a surge of panic rising in my chest. Still, there was no answer. I couldn’t reach him.

“F**k!” I cursed under my breath, my fear growing with each passing moment. Part of me wanted him to come to save me, but I knew it would be walking right into a trap.

Yet, at the same time, I feared that he wouldn’t come for me at all, then I’ll know that I was never truly in his heart.

And that thought hurt more than anything else. I hated myself for thinking it.

I wished Rain was around. It would have made this whole ordeal casier

to have my wolf with me. I was so alone, but what could I do? My wolf wasn’t with me, and I couldn’t even reach Nicolas.

I needed to try to escape. I couldn’t let Nicolas come here. But how? How could I make my way out of here?

The minutes seemed to tick by like hours as I sat in the dimly lit room, waiting for my opportunity to escape. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing and tried to calm my racing heart. The next time that door opened, I was determined to make my move and get out of this place.

Just as I had anticipated, the heavy door swung open a couple of hours later, revealing the same teenage boy who had brought me food earlier. His face showed no recognition as he walked in with another tray, this

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time smaller than before. Good. I had no appetite anyway.

My plan was set into motion as he approached me, bending down to set the tray on the ground. With all of my pent-up frustration and anger. I balled my hands into fists and delivered a powerful blow to his head. He let out a grunt before collapsing onto the cold. hard floor.

This was it, my chance to escape. Without wasting any time. I stepped around his unconscious body and made my way out of the room. I had to find a way out, and I had to find it now!