Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (books to get back into reading TXT) 📕

few bullets, but there were henchmen and watchdogs everywhere with guns of their own. I would just get myself killed.

I had no control over what might happen to Betty Lou… and to see Caroline leaving for lascivious appointments disgusted me to my core. My poor, dear friend; how her parents must be grieving for her, not knowing where she was or what had happened to her. Stop thinking, Isabel Grace, and get to bed. You have to stay alert and strong if you want to have a fighting chance of getting out of here.

I fell into bed exhausted. I felt mentally and emotionally drained, yet I couldn’t sleep. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. How did I get into this mess? I laid in bed with Betty, listening to her breathe. I heard the magazine drop to the floor as Lilly rolled over. I thought about Caroline and the two girls that were in our room earlier. I thought about Samson and how he was shot. I thought about Josh… Joshua Eric Rockwall. I rolled over, grabbing the necklace he gave me. I missed Josh. I missed him so much at times it hurt.

I stared at the walls, wishing sleep would come, but my adrenaline was still on overdrive. I wondered what would happen if I decided to go to the kitchen and get something to drink? It would be the perfect excuse if I were secretly looking for the jammers. Did any of the other girls leave their room to go to the kitchen? Would Chang and his henchmen think I was up to no good? Would Debbie be up to catch me or were there night watchmen just for that purpose? I was so tempted to get up and try but the thought of Betty Lou suffering the consequences of my actions kept me in bed and the errant thought quickly disappeared.

I woke up to the sound of water. I stared at the clock, blinking a few times until my vision was clear enough for me to see the time. It was four in the morning. Lilly and Betty were still asleep. Once again, I had only slept a couple hours.

The water sound was rain. I got up and padded to the windows to see if by some miracle I’d be able to see the rain. No such luck. I wanted to, so desperately, break the shutters just so I could look out the window, but I couldn’t… I wouldn’t… not yet, at least. Instead, I stood there with my eyes closed, listening to the rain tapping lightly on the windows. It was November so that meant cold rain. Ew, I hated the rain when it was cold outside. I didn’t mind snow but rain… that was just too much wetness when it was cold out. I found a chair and pushed it closer to the window so I could sit and listen to the rain. I couldn’t sleep anymore and I didn’t have good light to read, so I decided to just sit and let the sound of the water soothe me.

Lilly’s alarm went off, startling me. I glanced at her clock—six thirty, time to get up and begin our chores. Lilly hit the snooze button, letting her arm fall back onto the bed. I looked over my shoulder to Betty; she wasn’t stirring at all. I didn’t think she even heard the alarm. I smiled at how blissful her sleep must be. I was glad for that at least. She was so young, still grade-school age and sold for money by her mother’s nefarious boyfriend. These were such critical years for her age. She needed to feel safe and loved. She needed to be in school. I had to at least get her some educational books to read. I wondered if any of the girls could help me with that? I wondered if Chang would help me with that? Should I ask?

“Hey, what time did you get up?” Lilly was sitting up in bed. Her long hair was barely messy. I guessed that was how your hair looked in the morning when you had board-straight hair. Lucky her.

“Around four, I think.”

“Jeez, Isabel, don’t you like to sleep?” Lilly croaked. She swung her legs over the bed and sat there for a few minutes, rubbing her eyes.

I snickered. “I guess lately I don’t. Or, rather, can’t.”

“By the way, I have something for you that Priscilla gave me to give you.” She opened her nightstand drawer and took out a cell phone charger. “I tried waiting up for you but Chang kept you late.”

“Lilly! Careful! Debbie or Chang could catch you!” I admonished, quickly snatching it out of her hand and hiding it in my pajama bottoms.

“Don’t worry, Debbie seems pretty preoccupied with Chang and whatever you two have going on. But make sure you don’t get caught or else it’ll go bad for all of us.”

Right. Don’t get caught. I rubbed my temples, trying to suppress the stress. I got up and hid the charger in a tampon box under the sink in the bathroom. Lilly was in the shower, getting ready for her day. I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth, staring at myself. My hair was short now, just above my shoulders and very wavy. The bruise on my face was looking more prominent and I was developing dark circles under my eyes, due to lack of sleep, no doubt. There’s no way we’re going to survive this, I thought. How were these girls able to do it for so long? Shake it off, Isabel Grace, you’re stronger than this.

I quickly finished brushing my teeth and brushed my hair. I didn’t have to change since I didn’t have any clothes other than cocktail dresses or evening dresses. I only had my booties so I put those on with no socks. I gently woke Betty up; she moaned