“Oh, God.” I brought my palm to my mouth, and I clenched my jaw so I wouldn’t start crying again. “She’s here?”
He nodded. “She’s here.”
I turned to Granite. “Why isn’t she in the hospital?”
“We couldn’t chance it. Being in a hospital would make her an easy target. So we brought her here—both of you.”
“Where is here?”
Granite wiped at his nose, and I could see he was getting agitated, frustrated. “Do you want to see her or not?” The sharp edge in his words sliced through my chest, but I ignored it and looked back at Onyx.
“What did they do to her?”
He shook his head. “No. No details. Come on.” He took my hand then opened the door.
The slow creak of the hinges resonated around us, my heart beating wildly. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to go in. Not knowing what waited for me inside that room was eating away my courage little by little. The grim looks on Onyx’s and Granite’s faces didn’t help either. I was scared.
And in that moment, I sought a little encouragement, and without thinking, I turned to look at Granite, searching for my strength in his face, his eyes. And when our gazes locked, I could see he didn’t want me to go in there either. He didn’t want me to do this. Then why was he allowing it?
Onyx tugged at my hand, urging me to walk, so I turned away from Granite, my eyes downcast as I took one step in front of the other. My feet stopped at the entrance, and I hesitated for a second.
Whatever you think you’re about to see, it’s far worse.
A shudder moved from my shoulders down my spine. But I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in a bid to prepare me for what I was about to see.
As I stepped into the room and opened my eyes, I saw Ink standing beside a bed with the frame of someone tucked underneath the sheets, back turned toward me.
A man I didn’t recognize stood to the side, wearing a stethoscope around his neck, busy arranging medical equipment on a tray. He looked up at me, his expression as grim as the rest.
The sharp smell of surgical antiseptic assaulted my senses, and the familiar sound of a beeping heart monitor resounded in the room. It was every bit like a hospital, but it wasn’t.
Ink bent down, whispering something, and the sheets moved. I held my breath as I slowly followed Onyx, rounding the bed.
I glanced up at Granite, who was now standing in the door, worried eyes set on me. A part of me wanted him to stand beside me. I wanted him to be the one to hold my hand, to carry me through whatever this was. But he kept his distance while he never took his eyes off me.
Ink stood to the side, making way for me, and when I glanced down, I saw her.
Neon.
“Oh, my God.” It was her. It was really her. It was really, really her.
“Neon?” I moved closer, but dear God, Onyx was right. I couldn’t have pictured the sight in front of me.
I gasped. “Neon?” The part of her face that wasn’t wrapped with bandages was a grotesque blue-black frame of bruises. Round, open sores with what looked like burnt flesh covered her cheek, all the way down her neck. “Jesus. Neon?”
Her one eye opened, swollen and bruised, while the other was covered with bandages. “Hey, Swan Lake.” Her voice was soft, like she was exhausted.
I placed my hand in front of my mouth. “Neon?”
“Yeah. I don’t look exactly myself, do I?”
“Oh, my God.” It was all I could say before I rushed to her side, my hands hovering over her, shaking, wanting to touch her, but not sure where. “It’s really you?”
“Yup.” She moved, then cringed, and the movement of her hand caught my eye. Bandages stained with blood were wrapped around her fingers, and it was obvious one was missing.
“Jesus.” I snapped my gaze to Granite. “What the hell did they do to her?”
He didn’t say a word. All he did was stand there, watching me while I soaked up the horror of the sight in front of me.