All The Pretty Ghosts (The Never Series Book 1) by Jamie Campbell (my miracle luna book free read .TXT) 📕

found it hilarious, holding his belly while he laughed at the poor kid. Jet seemed like a saint in comparison. And that was saying something.

If the gang were here to raid the place, all plans of bringing back supplies to the shelter were going to go up in flames. I didn’t want that to happen but I wasn’t sure how I could stop it either.

I had to find a way.

Oliver was looking at me when I glanced his way. I nodded toward the path we had followed in, silently asking him if we should get out now while we still could.

He nodded.

We started creeping back down the aisles again. This time I was extra careful not to trip over anything. We could not make any noise.

There were only about half a dozen boys in the place, they couldn’t carry everything. If we waited until they left, we could come back inside and take the rest. They’d never know we were here.

My ankle caught on a lever and tripped me. I bit my lip so I didn’t cry out, but my foot hit the ground hard. The noise sounded like a jet engine in the quiet of the factory.

Oliver and I both froze. If we could stay completely still, maybe they wouldn’t notice us. Maybe they never heard the sound or didn’t think it was worth investigating.

Maybe wishes were pennies.

And I’d be rich.

The sound of the feet rushing toward us echoed the beating of my heart. There were four of them standing in front of me before I could react.

Taz had to be at the front of them, of course. “It’s the princess!” He stepped closer, walking around me like I was the prized cow at the county fair. “I was hoping I’d see you again. Our time before was cut too short.”

My eyes followed his figure, not daring to leave him for a second. I didn’t trust Taz. Not by a million miles. The memory of his hands on me last time we had met was still painfully real in my mind. All I had to do was close my eyes and I was back there again.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” He purposefully rushed at me, expecting me to flinch or step backwards. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

“I just don’t wish to speak to you,” I replied, refusing to let my voice shake. I wished it sounded more confident than it did. The boys would be able to see right through my little act.

Taz spat at my shoes. I still refused to move. No matter how disgusting it was.

He turned away from me, addressing the others. “Tie her up, we’ll deal with her later. Then, get back to work.”

I didn’t have a chance of moving before the boys grabbed me. One on either side made sure I couldn’t go anywhere. They dragged me away, the entire time I cursed my stupid clumsy feet and awkward machinery.

As I was turning to go around a corner, I glanced back to look for Oliver. He was crouched behind some boxes, his eyes wide with the horror of what was happening.

For just a second, we locked eyes.

It was all we needed.

He told me he would find a way to get me out. He told me he would come to my rescue before the boys could hurt me in any way. He told me he was there for me.

Forever and always.

Chapter Sixteen

Behind all the boxes at the back of the factory was a set of stairs leading to a mezzanine level. There was no railing, just a sheer drop – a fact the boys liked to exploit by shoving me toward the side every chance they got.

They found my fear funny.

I found them repugnant.

The only consolation when we reached the top was that it was brighter up there. Large windows allowed the sunlight to come in, even through the winter weather. It was warmer, almost pleasant if that was at all possible.

One of the boys found a seat while another had picked up rope along the way. They wasted no time in throwing me on the chair and binding my hands, feet, and chest.

I couldn’t move.

Breathing was barely possible.

They left me, answering a call from Taz to hurry the hell up and get back to work. Like they were having fun with me or something.

Perhaps Taz wanted to get me alone again. Finish what he started before. Oliver wouldn’t let that happen, I knew he wouldn’t. We were a team and teams didn’t let each other down. We worked in unison, solving all the wrongs with the world.

But the more minutes that ticked by, the larger the panic grew. If they found him too, it was going to be all over. Neither of us would stand a chance against the six of them. Not when they played dirty. Not when they wanted to kill us.

I tried to focus, studying the room so I wasn’t completely drowned by the sheer fear coursing through my veins. The floor was covered in junk, another layer of dust covering it again. I doubted the room saw much traffic even before the Event.

The windows weren’t the kind that opened, so that would put a stop to any heroic ideas I had of jumping from the second floor and landing on my feet to run.

I could hide, but that would only buy me time. It wouldn’t guarantee my freedom. Nothing would.

Where was Oliver?

If I could somehow get out of the ropes I could try making a run for the stairs. If they didn’t immediately catch me, I could hide in the machinery. It was just dark enough down there to make searching for me difficult. I could get lucky.

Probably not.

Luck wasn’t my friend.