Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara couldn't believe how vicious these people were. They all came from the same village-why were they treating each other like enemies?

Clearly, Emily had held back when she warned Clara about the wellness center that morning. The people who worked there didn't value anyone's life but their

own.

They had to have some serious backing. No one would act this bold otherwise.

Clara tried to move toward Emily, wanting to help her up, but the men blocked her, their eyes filled with something ugly.

"Hey, pretty girl," one of them sneered. "Don't say we didn't warn you. In this village, you don't get to call the shots. Keep being stubborn, and the Bolton girl will die right in front of you tonight."

Emily was barely hanging on, struggling to get to her feet.

Clara's heart raced. She was terrified they'd start beating Emily again, so she blurted, "I'll go with you. Just leave her alone."

There was still an elderly member of the Bolton family-if Emily died, who would care for the sick old man?

Just as they started forcing her toward the door, a frail, cracked voice broke through the tension, full of regret.noveldrama

"Sins... all sins..."

Clara had never actually seen the old man since she arrived at the Boltons'-just heard him coughing from the back room. Now she finally saw him: thin as a skeleton, one leg dragging, limping toward Emily on unsteady feet. Halfway there, he fell, but instead of giving up, he crawled the rest of the way to reach her.

Clara's chest tightened with guilt. If she hadn't come here, none of this would've happened. Emily wouldn't be suffering now.

She was about to apologize when the men burst out laughing, as if watching the old man struggle on the floor was the most entertaining thing in the world.

A flash of cold anger passed through Clara's eyes just as the old man spoke, his voice trembling. "Clara, if you can run, then run. There's not a single decent soul in that place. If you go in, you won't come out whole. My wife died in there. Pan's parents... they didn't leave for work—they're buried in that place. I lied and told her they found jobs, but even her brother's gone. All dead. Every last one of them."

Clara felt like her heart stopped. She'd been thinking about going to the wellness center herself to see what was really going on, but hearing this, the place sounded more like a nightmare than a hospital.

She took a deep breath and, in one smooth motion, pulled out the gun she'd tucked behind her back. Without hesitation, she fired.

The men didn't even get a chance to react-they dropped where they stood.

The old man was frozen in shock, staring at Clara in disbelief.

mit. She never expecsét

She'd grabbed Dylan's gun when she ran a few nights ago, thinking shee

it

world come to this

Clara hurried over and gently helped the old man up. “I'm getting you and Pan out of here."

He was shaking all over-not with fear, but with emotion.

"Yes, yes.. You're not ordinary, are you?” His voice quivered. "I can't leave and honestly I don't want

ye lived here my whole life. Clara, listen to me..."

Death was written all over his face; only the herbs Emily brought him from the mountains were keeping him alive.

He squeezed her hand, desperate.

"Don't go to the wellness center. It's protected by people from the Capital-powerful ones. If you go in alone you'll never come back out. Most of the villagers have already been bought, and anyone with a conscience is long gone'm only still alive because I can't leave Pan behind. She doesn't know anything. Years ago, her parents tried to take her brother and leave. Her mother caught the eye of some men from the village and was dragged into the wellness center. Her father and brother tried to save her-they were killed right there. I was old,

useless couldn't get revenge. Now Pan's all I have left. She's taken such

good care of you-just give her a

place to stay, something to eat. She's got a real knack for alternative medicine. Clara, please. I'm begging you."

All this time, Clara had only heard his coughs, never imagining the weight he carried on his frail shoulders.

She opened her mouth to agree, but the old man closed his eyes, still clutching her hand, refusing to let go.

Clara took a shaky breath, her heart heavy with sorrow.

She gently pried his fingers loose, then helped Emily up, determined to get them both far away from here.

She knew they couldn't wait the wellness center's people might show up any minute. They had to escape tonight.

But after barely a hundred meters, she heard a quiet, choked sob.

Emily's crying grew louder and louder.

Clara realized Emily had heard every word the old man said. She hadn't fainted-

she'd been awake for all of it.