Marked By Pain (The Marked #2)(5)

I’m not sure what is real and what isn’t as I look around. I try to imagine my human body, try to return back to normal so I can fight, but nothing happens. As everything starts to go dark, I look up into the sky to see a hawk flying down towards me, its hazel eyes glowing with anger.





Chapter 3





Mackenzie





“If she dies, I will kill you. I don’t give a fuck if you’re my sister. I don’t give a fuck about any of it,” I hear Mr Daniels snarl out, his voice dripping with enough anger to make me shiver. I’m surprised he is talking to his sister like that. The anger in his voice can’t be faked, and I remember someone pushing the snake away from me before she could kill me. Did he save me?

“I told you already, I didn’t have control over my snake. She wouldn’t let me—” Verity whines back, and Mr Daniels interrupts. I’m glad he did, her voice sounds so fake and sweet, like she is pretending to be a child. A whiny one at that.

“I don’t believe the shit you told Alaric. Get out.” I hear the sound of a door opening and shutting, before the room goes silent. I don’t move, feeling groggy as I try to blink my eyes open.

“I know you hate me, I hate me for the things I’ve done. But if you ever felt anything, let me explain—” Mr Daniels begins, but the sound of the door opening again stops whatever he was going to tell me.

“What the fuck did Verity do to my sister?” Ryan’s voice demands, and the sound of the door slamming behind him makes me push my eyes open. I quickly shut them again, thankful I wasn’t facing the direction of the door. I want to know what Ryan has to say when he doesn’t think I’m listening.

“You heard the report, same as everyone else,” Mr Daniels growls in response.

“I want to know what really fucking happened, I know the report was all utter shit. Is Kennie okay?” Ryan asks as I hear him walking closer.

“She’ll be fine. She tried to escape, so Verity stopped her. That’s all there is to tell,” Mr Daniels says coldly.

“Get the fuck out,” Ryan barks, and I hear him step closer. He must be right up against Mr Daniels. I hear him stand.

“What did you just say?” Mr Daniels whispers in a low, deadly tone.

“I said, get the fuck out. Stop sitting there as if you give a shit about my sister, and get the hell out of here. I don’t want her to be stuck seeing your face when she wakes up,” Ryan replies.

I hear sounds of scuffling, and quickly sit up, opening my eyes. They both freeze, looking in my direction.

“Just go,” I say, staring at Mr Daniels.

“Miss Crowe—”

“I said go, I don’t want to hear whatever shit you’ve got to say!” I snap, cutting off his excuses before they can form.

“Fine,” he replies curtly, but his green eyes are blazing. He turns and leaves, banging the door shut behind him. I look around at my new prison. At least this one is nicer to look at. An actual bed with crisp white sheets, pale blue wallpaper, and a dresser with a TV on top. If it wasn’t for the steel-looking door, it would almost be a little homey. If minimalism is your idea of home décor anyway.

“Kennie,” Ryan begins, drawing my attention back to him.

“Ry, I don’t want you here either. Just go away,” I say quietly.

“I didn’t mean for you to get hurt, but we need you,” he replies, his voice sounds sincere. For some reason, the sincerity pisses me off even more. How could he be so stupid?

“Well I have been hurt, and you’ve caused that to happen, so live with it. Just freaking get out of here, and leave me alone.”

He turns to leave, but pauses. “I came to tell you about East,” he replies quietly without turning back. Shit.

I sigh, not wanting to continue this conversation, but needing the information about East. “What about him?” I ask.

“He’s here. They captured him, well, rather he let himself be captured when he saw you pass out,” Ryan answers.

“He just let himself be captured? I need to see him!”

“That’s not going to be possible, Kennie. You know they won’t let you near him,” he says carefully, turning back around to face me. I turn away, I can’t look at my brother’s face without feeling furious. “Look at me.”

“I don’t want to, I can’t.” I cross my arms over my chest stubbornly. I feel like we’re kids again, but this isn’t an argument over who ate the last cookie.

“I’ll see what I can do. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try and find a way for you to see him,” he says, and I turn to face him.

“You need to get us out of here, Ryan,” I reply bluntly. He doesn’t say anything, just looks at me blankly. “East is your best friend, and I’m your damn little sister. Doesn't that mean anything to you? You can’t be okay with us being kept prisoner here. Who even are you anymore? Help us escape, please, Ry,” I plead, hoping to get through to him.

“I can’t do that, Kennie. You’re still my sister and I’ll keep you safe here, but we need you for this rebellion to happen,” he answers with a sad smile.

“Then get out, I can’t look at you anymore,” I snap, feeling the rage already building up again.