Chapter 24 – Breaking the Chains
Pain hummed through Adrian's skull like a distant echo. Not unbearable, not overwhelming—just present.
A reminder.
Lucien stood at the doorway, watching him like a scientist studying an experiment. His gaze was calm, assessing. Waiting.
Because this wasn't torture.
It was a test.
Adrian clenched his jaw. He wouldn't break.
Evelyn's breathing was sharp beside him. She was still restrained, but her focus was locked on Lucien. "Whatever you did to him, it won't work."
Lucien's lips twitched in amusement. "Won't it?"
He turned his gaze back to Adrian. "You feel it, don't you? That sliver of doubt? The question you're too afraid to ask?"
Adrian's muscles coiled. "I don't doubt anything."
Lucien took a slow step forward. "Then why haven't you pulled the trigger?"
The words sent a flicker of something dark and dangerous through Adrian's mind.
Because Lucien was right.
He should have killed him the moment he walked through that door.
No hesitation. No wasted words. Just a bullet between his eyes.
But something in him paused.
Why?
Evelyn noticed the flicker of tension in Adrian's hands, the way his breathing had slowed just slightly. She saw what Lucien was doing.
He was planting a seed.
A single thought that could unravel everything.
She acted before it could take root.
"You're stalling," she snapped, drawing Lucien's attention away. "Why? If you think Adrian belongs to you, why not prove it?"
Lucien glanced at her, expression unreadable.
Then, he smiled.
"Very well."
He pulled a small knife from his pocket and crouched in front of Adrian, gripping his wrist. Before Adrian could react, Lucien pressed the blade against his skin.
Adrian didn't flinch.
Lucien's smile deepened. "Tell me. Does this feel real?"
Then—he pressed down.
A thin line of red beaded across Adrian's forearm.
Evelyn's breath hitched. "You son of a—"
Lucien ignored her. His eyes never left Adrian's. "Pain. Memory. Identity. It's all tied together. But tell me, Adrian—how much of your pain is yours?"
Adrian gritted his teeth. "You think this little mind game is going to break me?"
Lucien leaned closer. "No. I think it already has."
Adrian's heartbeat pounded.
He's lying.
But then why did something deep in his mind twist at those words?
No. No, focus.
This was Lucien's game.
Adrian exhaled sharply, letting the pain ground him. Letting the cut remind him of something simple.
This was real.
Lucien was real.
And Adrian was still in control.
His fingers tensed, the restraints cutting into his wrists. He could feel them loosening. Almost there.
Lucien stood, wiping the blade with a handkerchief. "You'll understand soon enough."
He turned to the guards by the door. "Take him to the next phase."
The guards moved forward—
And Adrian struck.
---
The Escape Begins
One second.
Adrian yanked against his restraints hard enough to dislocate his wrist. The pain barely registered.
Two seconds.
He used the slack to twist free, lunging at the first guard. His elbow slammed into the man's throat, sending him choking to the ground.
Three seconds.
Evelyn dove forward, knocking the second guard off balance. She drove her knee into his ribs and snatched his gun from its holster.
Lucien stepped back, watching with calm amusement. "Good. You still fight on instinct."
Adrian turned toward him, chest heaving. "You should've killed me when you had the chance."
Lucien smiled. "Who says I didn't?"
Adrian didn't waste another second. He lunged.
But before he could reach Lucien—
The floor beneath them shook.
A distant explosion rumbled through the facility.
Lucien's expression flickered—the first sign of true surprise.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "That wasn't us."
Alarms blared. Red emergency lights flashed.
The entire facility was under attack.
Lucien's gaze sharpened. "It seems we have another guest."
Adrian's mind raced. Who the hell would attack Lucien Calloway?
Who else was hunting him?
And then—
Through the intercom, a voice crackled.
Cold. Female. Familiar.
"Let's make this interesting, shall we?"
Adrian froze.
Because he knew that voice.
Evelyn turned to him. "Who is that?"
Adrian's hands clenched.
"Selene."
Lucien exhaled slowly, adjusting his cuffs. "And here I thought tonight couldn't get any more entertaining."
Adrian shoved down his confusion. They didn't have time for this.
He grabbed a weapon from the fallen guard and turned to Evelyn.
"We're leaving."
Lucien smirked. "Are you sure? Or are you just following the script I wrote for you?"
Adrian didn't answer. Didn't hesitate.
He fired.
Lucien moved just in time—the bullet grazed his shoulder, sending a spray of red against the pristine walls.
Adrian didn't stay to watch. He grabbed Evelyn's hand and sprinted into the chaos, alarms blaring around them.
Lucien's voice followed them, calm even through the rising storm.
"Run all you like, Adrian. But in the end—"
"You'll always come home."
Adrian didn't look back.
Because for the first time, he wasn't just escaping.
He was going to end this.