Chapter 3 Your Turn, Alina

Alina’s POV

“What in the world was that shout for?” Bella hissed, making Blair freeze.

“Shut the fuck up!” Blair and I chorused, though I immediately glared at Blair for good measure.

“Blair, I’ll give you five seconds. If your ass isn't out here, I’m gone.” Before I could even finish, she was already scrambling toward the stairs. 

My phone buzzed. I glanced at the caller ID and swiped to answer. “Yoo.”

“Why aren’t you here yet?” Josephine’s irritating voice shrieked through the speaker. This bitch fancied herself my boss, but let’s be real—she only had the upper hand inside the hotel. 

The second I stepped outside, her authority meant jack shit. I rolled my eyes. “I took a day off, yeah?”

“And who approved that? Get your ass down here, Alina,” she deadpanned. Honestly, someone needed to inform this woman that she didn't own me.

“Manager approved it. Excuse me.” I slammed my thumb down on the red end button just as Blair came bolting back towards the door.

“Oh, forgot about me? Ugh?” I hissed, walking toward the exit while Blair shot me a pair of stupid, wide puppy eyes.

“Where are you guys going? Leaving me alone?” Bella called out.

I checked the time on my phone. It was already 12:30 PM. “Stay here until we’re back, and don't touch a damn thing. Or just leave if you want,” I snapped, walking out and climbing into the car Blair had already started. The second I pulled the door shut, she hit the gas and tore down the street at a terrifying speed.

Normal people would have had a panic attack riding with her, but both of us knew what was at stake here. Who gives a shit about traffic laws when you're running for your life? She slammed on the brakes outside an abandoned mansion. I checked my phone again: 1:00 PM on the dot. Oh, Satan, please not today.

We dashed inside, pushing the heavy doors open and racing up the stairs until we reached a familiar reinforced door. We shoved it open together, and every single eye in the room snapped to us.

Struggling to catch our breath, we stepped inside and let the door click shut behind us. “Boss,” we greeted the man seated at the head of the table.

“Now, get on your fucking knees and explain why you’re late, or earn yourself a brand-new scar across your face,” he rasped. 

I checked the time again and glared right back at him. We were late by a single minute. For devil's sake. A hand gripped my wrist, and I looked down to find Blair frantically nudging me. Rolling my eyes, I dropped to my knees, still fighting to drag air into my lungs.

“Seems you’ve grown wings, huh? Glaring at me?” the demon purred.

“I apologize on behalf of both of us. Our car broke down on the way,” Blair lied smoothly. I forced myself to keep my mouth shut. I hated lying. Heaven and hell both knew how much I despised that toxic shit.

Lies had cost me the people I loved. They had cost me everything, stripping away my simple life and tangling me up in this miserable gang.

“What’s the punishment this time?” I asked, locking eyes with him.

“Get your ass over here,” he said, a sickening smirk playing on his lips. I knew exactly what game he was trying to play.

“I’ll take the standard punishment, boss. I refuse to suck your wrinkled dick.”

Without waiting for his permission, I stood up and marched over to the weapons table. I picked up a single bullet, popped it into the chamber of the gun, spun it, and raised the muzzle to my leg. I pressed my thumb against the trigger ready when a hand slammed into my wrist, knocking the gun aside.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Blair glared at me, snatching the weapon away.

“What a splendid little show you two put on. You know what? I’ve got something better in mind. The girl back at your house—she’s the punishment,” he said.

Blair and I froze, our eyes snapping up to his. How the fuck did he know about Bella?

“She’s innocent! Leave her out of this,” Blair gritted out, her jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack. Not that she hadn't nearly killed Bella herself before we left the house, but whatever. 

“We’ll take the usual. Just leave her alone,” I said, dipping my head. The bastard would actually do it. He’d hurt Bella if I didn't swallow my stupid, egoistic pride and bend the knee.

“Good girl. Now, both of you get down to the back room. Whatever you see sitting on that table—drink every last drop. The antidote will be delivered once you’ve suffered enough.”

We didn't say a word to each other as we turned and marched down the concrete corridor toward the punishment room, pulling the heavy steel door shut behind us.

My eyes instantly landed on the table. Resting on it was a single green glass bottle filled with a thick, colorless liquid.

“Why the fuck did I even save that bitch instead of saving us?” Blair groaned, stepping forward to pick up the bottle.

This shit hurt like hell. I don’t even know what chemical concoction was inside, but anyone unfortunate enough to swallow it rarely lived to tell the tale. 

We’d never been forced to drink it ourselves, but we had watched others take it. Unfortunately, those people had died horribly. The solution hadn't been used in months, which meant they were testing it again. And we were the lab rats.

A cracked, humorless chuckle escaped my lips as I looked back at Blair. Tears were already spilling down her face.

“Shit. Keep those thoughts out of your brain, fool,” I muttered, licking my lower lip. She stumbled forward, wrapping her arms around me as her sobs muffled against my shoulder.

Did I ever mention she’s a total crybaby? Well, you don’t know a damn thing about her, and you certainly don’t know a thing about me.

Wondering how we got this deeply screwed up? The details are messy, but it boils down to this: we crossed the wrong people, and now we pay the price by acting as living test subjects. 

We test their poisons. If we manage to survive until the antidote kicks in, the batch is deemed a success. If we die, well, the formula needs tweaking.

We were just lab rats in human skin, trapped in Romano’s sick playground. “What are you two fuckers waiting for?” a voice grated through the intercom speaker in the corner of the ceiling.

I raised my middle finger straight up at the camera lens, then shoved Blair gently away from me. “Let’s just get this over with. Whoever survives wins, right?” I flashed her a reassuring smile. Good for her—she had me. But who do I have? An answer I already knew too well.

I’m just a bitter girl who once watched her parents burn alive in a roaring fire while she walked away without a single scratch. If you ask me, luck doesn't exist. Because what the fuck is luck? 

Why hadn't I caught a single break since the day I was born? A harsh, choking groan snapped me out of my thoughts. My eyes widened in horror.

Blair’s eyes had rolled back until they were pitch black, thick streams of blood pouring down from her nose and eyes. The glass bottle slipped from her limp fingers, shattering on the floor as she gasped for air.

“Your turn, Alina.”