Chapter 119. Pay the Price

ARDEN

Finally.

The sound of the shower running through the walls was music to my ears. For once, I was grateful Mr. Winters was a narcissist who enjoyed long, indulgent showers with whatever weird soap he probably made himself. I didn’t waste a second.

I turned to Tessa, who was still slouched against the corner, pale and barely conscious.

“Stand up,” I said urgently. “We’re escaping.”

She blinked at me sluggishly, her lips cracked, eyes sunken. She looked awful, and I hated seeing her like this. My voice softened. “Come on, Tess. You can do this.”

She swallowed, groaning slightly as she pushed herself off the ground. Her knees wobbled, her frame trembling under the effort.

“How?” she rasped.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I moved quickly across the room, toward the back wall. Cade and I had found this hidden latch weeks ago when we were lost in this place.

I remembered the exact spot now. My fingers worked fast, pulling the edge of t