Arlo sat with them, nodding along as Thema continued her story. But before he could chime in again, Loisa suddenly stood up.
"Hey guys, I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom," she said, offering a small smile.
"Okay," Thema and Arlo replied in unison, then exchanged an awkward glance.
Loisa chuckled softly and walked away. But as she headed toward the hallway, she felt an uneasy presence behind her. She looked back and didn't see anyone.
Still, she picked up her pace.
Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth. Before she could scream, darkness swallowed her.
With Thema and Arlo remained unaware, sipping juice and chatting, completely unaware to what had just happened.
Elsewhere, a man dialed a number.
"It's done," he said coldly. "I'll text you the location."
He ended the call and sent the address.
In less than thirty minutes, Mason arrived, stepping out of a black SUV with a crooked smile.
"I gotta admit, Liam... I didn't think this plan would work so smoothly," he said.
Liam gave him a sharp look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Relax," Mason shrugged. "I'm just saying—let's move before they realize she's missing."
Together, they took Loisa to a secret compartment. Cold and Bare. Bones and skulls were scattered across the floor—a grim, eerie display.
They tossed her inside and locked the iron bars behind them.
~~~30 minutes later.
Loisa stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open. At first, the world around her was a blurry.
She gasped as she noticed the skulls on the floor, some shattered, others intact, all too real. Her heart pounded.
"No... this can't be real," she whispered, rubbing her eyes with trembling fingers. But nothing changed. The nightmare was real.
Panic surged through her, and she screamed—loud and sharp.
Footsteps echoed outside the bars.
Mason appeared, unlocking the cell with a chilling grin. He stepped inside.
Loisa scrambled backward, her eyes wide with fear. "Wh... who are you?" she stuttered, her voice shaky and hoarse.
Mason tilted his head, amused. "Wow… even prettier. I didn't realize Kim's mate would be this stunning."
She froze. Kim?
"But I'm afraid," Mason continued, voice darkening, "he won't get the chance to see you again."
Loisa couldn't process what he was saying. Her mind was covered with fear and confusion. She stared past him, trying to make sense of her surroundings—searching for a way out.
Mason crouched and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. His touch was rough, making her flinch.
"Scared," he said, voice low and threatening. "What's your name?"
But Loisa didn't answer.
She was too busy trying not to scream again.