Chapter 4 ICE FOUR: SOMETHING FOUL.

MADISON'S POV:

The cold crept in fast. It slithered against my skin, wrapping around my bones, making my breaths uneven. I backed up until I hit the wall, my fingers pressing into the freezing metal as if that would stop the rush of panic clawing up my throat.

I couldn't be here.

Not in a locked space.

Not again.

The storage room wasn't big-maybe the size of a small pantry-but to me, it might as well have been a coffin.

My breathing turned erratic as a memory crashed into me, dragging me under.

I pressed my forehead against the metal, my pulse a frantic drum against my skull. I wasn't here anymore. I was back there.

Back in that godforsaken orphanage to the box.

The one they stuffed me into when I "sinned."

The rough wood scraped my arms, and my legs twisted in an angle that left me in pain.

I tried to shift to get some relief, but the space was too tight. My knees dug into my chest, my ribs ached from being curled in too long, and my shoulders throbbed from pressing against the unyielding walls.

Hours passed.

Sometimes, it was just the box. Other times, they shoved me into a crate afterward, sealing it shut. The air inside was stale, and suffocating. Every breath I took was a struggle, every hour a test of endurance. If I cried, if I begged, the punishment only lasted longer.

At the Wallace house, Owen refined the technique.

He locked me in closets, basements, and storage rooms. Dark places with no way out.

And then he'd wait. Listening.

He liked hearing me panic and liked the way my voice broke when I begged.

A sob wrenched from my throat as I banged on the door.

"Let me out!" My voice shook. "Please-somebody!"

Nothing.

Only the echo of my own desperation.

I wiped my face with shaking hands and frantically searched my pockets. My phone-I had my phone.

Thank goodness.

I dug into my pocket, fingers closing around my phone as I pulled it out. The screen lit up as I tapped the screen, the time glaring at me. Only thirty minutes had passed, yet it felt like hours.

My stomach lurched.

I can't be trapped here for long.

Exhaling shakily, I searched for Maverick's contact. He was the only one I could call. My only real friend.

The phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

No answer.

I tried again.

Nothing.

He was on shift-probably busy.

My breath hitched as I checked my internet connection. There was no service. If I was unfortunate to get out of here before the game, I would miss it.

I sobbed harder.

Desperate for distraction, I put on an old game of his that I had saved on my phone, slumping to the floor.

Maybe seeing him-the one person who ever made me feel safe-would help.

Thane Slade.

I got engrossed in the game as quickly as my eyes found him.

There he was. Thane Slade. On the screen in all his maddening, impossible perfection. The way he moved, the focus in his eyes, the fire in his stride. It didn't matter how many times I'd watched him play, something in my chest always stuttered.

But then... the door creaked open.

The chill that slipped in wasn't from the hallway.

I straightened slowly, reluctantly, every muscle stiff with warning. My eyes trailed up from the pair of spotless black heels, stopping at the polished name tag that gleamed.

Dr. Helen Hall.

She was our Chief Resident and her presence was intimidating. Her hair, silver-blonde and pulled so tight it looked like it hurt, didn't move with the air. Neither did she. She wore a steel-gray suit, every inch tailored to precision. No warmth. No smile. Not even curiosity. Just judgment disguised in civility.

I scrambled to stand, avoiding her eyes, my hands damp from nerves.

"I told you that she hid herself here to waste time while everyone else worked hard," Ellie's voice rang out behind her, sugarcoated venom laced with glee.

I didn't even need to look to know the look on Ellie's face-a twisted mix of fake innocence and barely-contained satisfaction.

Dr. Hall didn't say a word at first. She walked toward me. Then, without warning, her hand was raised midair and then, a slap landed hard and fast across my face. The sting bloomed on my cheek and echoed in my chest. My breath caught. Not from pain-I'd felt worse-but from the way it stripped my dignity so publicly.

"You lazy, ungrateful child," she hissed. "You try to avoid your work, hiding away like a rat, while others sweat and work?"

Ellie's smile went wider, her arms folded smugly as she leaned slightly to the side, basking in the moment.

Dr. Hall stepped back, adjusting her suit like my existence had creased her perfection. "I'll revisit this later and decide what kind of punishment suits you best. But for now, congratulations. You two have been assigned to assist the medical team at Weststar Arenam"

My ears rang-but not from the slap.

Weststar Arena.

My heart leapt before my thoughts could catch it. That meant Thane. That meant the game. The players. The energy. Him.

Not just watching him.

Possibly seeing him.

Finally. Finally, something good. Something... real was happening to me today.

"Are you listening, Madison?!" Dr. Hall roared, inches from my face.

I jolted, breath hitching. "Y-Yes, ma'am."

Her eyes narrowed. "You'll be working with Ellie."

And just like that, my smile vanished.

Working with her was never a good thing. Not unless I wanted my life to be riddled with humiliation, rumors, and tasks conveniently designed to break me.

Ellie stepped forward, her voice syrupy and mocking. "Do you have a problem with that, Madison? You don't look thrilled."

I forced the lie out. "No. I'm fine."

I wasn't. And she knew it.

Dr. Hall's cold stare landed on me again. "Then get out. Now."

I hesitated.

"Um... Dr. Hall?" I began cautiously. "About the award night, are we allowed to miss it?"

Her head snapped toward me like I'd just spat on her shoes. "Are you the one running things here now? Asking me stupid questions instead of following a direct command?"

"I'm sorry," I muttered quickly, my voice trembling, but my fists clenched behind my back. "I didn't mean to-"

"Out!" she barked.

I turned and walked fast, my cheeks burning, eyes hot with anger I dared not show. I didn't care about the award night anyway. Fancy gowns and fake applause weren't made for people like me. What Dr. Hall didn't realize, was that she wasn't threatening me. She gave me the best gift all day.

The only downside?

Ellie.

Being in the same space as her was like walking barefoot on broken glass. Slow torture. But I could handle it. I'd handled worse.

I kept my head down as we exited the building, but inside, something electric started to stir.

Because soon... I'd be in the same arena as Thane Slade.

And I had a feeling life was about to change.