Elias

The world is tilting. That's the first thing I realize. My knees are already raw, having crawled the last twenty feet down this desolate hotel corridor, but I don't feel the carpet burn. I only feel the metallic, sickening taste in my mouth—the remnants of that kiss. His kiss. Not Elias's. Never Elias's. It was them. The Syndicate men. They drugged me, thinking it was funny to see the "ice queen" lose her composure. The way they touched me, the way they forced themselves—I can still feel it. I think I screamed, but all I remember is the haze clearing just enough to realize I needed to get away, and there was only one person who would despise them more than he despises me. My fingers, trembling and numb, finally find the cold metal of his door handle. I don't knock. I just push, my body sliding into his room and leaving a trail of disheveled clothes and broken pride. I hear the shower turn off. My breath is coming in ragged, shallow gasps. Get up, my brain screams. Don't let him see you like this. But my legs don't work. I'm stuck here, huddled in a corner of his entryway. The bedroom door opens, and Elias stands there, towel-wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his hair. He looks dangerous. He looks annoyed. He stops, his eyes narrowing as he spots me on the floor. "Why are you HERE?" he asks, his voice cold, commanding, utterly devoid of sympathy. I try to look up, but my head feels too heavy. I just stare at his feet, fighting the black spots dancing in my vision. He thinks I'm here to sabotage him. He thinks I'm playing a game. "You..." I choke out, the words tasting like poison. I take a shuddering breath. "You hate me enough not to try anything." I don't wait for his reaction. I don't see the confusion—or is it fury?—that flashes across his face. My strength vanishes completely, and I collapse, my forehead hitting the floor, plunging into darkness.