The city lights of Seattle twinkled below like fallen stars as Callahan Reed bolted upright in his penthouse bed, a scream caught in his throat. Sweat soaked through his silk sheets, his heart hammering against his ribs as the nightmare retreated.

"Sienna," he whispered, the name falling from his lips like a prayer or a curse.

It was always the same dream—darkness, the smell of blood and fear, and Sienna's small hand reaching for his in that abandoned warehouse. Only this time, her fingers had slipped through his, and he'd watched helplessly as she disappeared into shadow.

The door to his bedroom opened silently, and Marcus Chen entered with the quiet efficiency that had earned him his position as Callahan's head of security.

"You're awake," Marcus observed, placing a folder on the bedside table. "The surveillance reports are in."

Callahan ran a hand through his damp hair, his eyes fixed on the Seattle skyline. "Anything unusual?"

"The Wagner heir is hosting a party in the Cascades," Marcus said, his tone carefully neutral. "Nothing suspicious about it. Just rich kids with too much time and money."

Something cold slithered down Callahan's spine. He turned to Marcus, his expression suddenly sharp. "Where in the Cascades?"

"The north ridge, about two hours from here." Marcus frowned slightly. "Is there a problem?"

Callahan was already reaching for his phone. "Prepare the helicopter. Now."

"Sir?" Marcus's eyebrow raised slightly. "May I ask—"

"Sienna Greene is there," Callahan interrupted, his fingers flying across his phone screen. "And she's in danger."

Marcus didn't question him further. Years of working for Callahan had taught him that his employer's instincts were rarely wrong—especially when it came to Sienna Greene.

---

The campfire had burned down to embers, casting eerie shadows across the clearing. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to make myself smaller as Juliana's eyes gleamed with malicious intent.

"Your turn, Sienna," she said, her voice carrying across the hushed gathering. "Truth or dare?"

I could feel Tommy watching me, his gaze heavy with something that wasn't quite concern. The others waited, their faces indistinct in the flickering light.

"Truth," I said quietly.

Juliana's smile widened. "What's the grossest part of your body?"

The question hit like a physical blow. I felt heat rise to my cheeks as whispers rippled through the group.

"My scars," I admitted, my fingers unconsciously tracing the ridged tissue along my jawline.

"No," Juliana corrected, leaning forward with predatory intensity. "The grossest part is your attitude. Acting all victim-y when Tommy's only with you out of pity."

The words hung in the air like poison. No one spoke. No one defended me.

"Your turn," Juliana continued, passing me the bottle. "Truth or dare?"

I clutched the bottle, feeling its weight like a weapon or a shield. Around us, the forest seemed to press closer, darkness beyond the firelight thick and impenetrable.

"Dare," I said finally, lifting my chin.

Juliana's eyes gleamed with triumph. "I dare you to show us all exactly how you'd survive if Tommy ever left you."

My stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

"Simple." Juliana stood up, her movements fluid and predatory. "Unbuckle your prosthetic leg and hop back to the cabin. Alone."

Panic surged through me. "Juliana, you know I can't—"

"That's the dare," she cut me off. "Unless you're too scared?"

The word 'scared' hung in the air between us. I looked to Tommy, silently pleading for intervention.

"Tommy," I whispered, "you know I can't be alone in the dark. Not since—"

"Not since the kidnapping," he finished for me, his voice flat. "You'll have to learn to get over it sometime, Sienna."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You're not seriously going along with this?"

"Maybe it's time you faced your fears," he said, but his eyes weren't on me—they were on Juliana, watching for her reaction.

"Tommy, please," I begged, my voice breaking. "You know what happens when I'm alone in the dark."

He stood up then, moving toward me with deliberate steps. "This ends now, Sienna."

Before I could react, he was beside me, his hands reaching for my prosthetic leg. I tried to push him away, but he was stronger than me.

"Tommy, don't!" I cried out as he unbuckled the straps holding my prosthetic in place.

"You need to learn," he muttered, his face set in hard lines I'd never seen before.

With a swift motion, he pulled the prosthetic free and stood up. I scrambled to my feet, balancing precariously on one leg, reaching for him.

"Give it back!" I screamed, panic rising in my throat as I hopped toward him.

Tommy turned away from me, his arm drawing back like a pitcher's windup. With all his strength, he hurled my prosthetic leg into the darkness beyond the firelight.

It disappeared into the shadows with a distant clatter, bouncing down the rocky slope of the mountain trail.

"Now hop back to the cabin," he said coldly. "If you can."

The laughter started as a trickle, then grew into a cascade of cruel mirth that echoed through the forest. Tommy's friends exchanged glances, their faces illuminated by the dying embers of the campfire as they packed up their flashlights.

"Come on, guys," Tommy said, his voice carrying easily in the night air. "Let's head back."

I remained frozen on the ground, my arms wrapped around my single leg, watching as they prepared to leave me behind.

"Tommy," I called out, my voice breaking. "You can't do this."

He paused, looking back at me with something that might have been regret—or maybe just annoyance at being questioned.

"Sienna, this is for your own good," he said, his words dripping with false concern. "You need to face your fears."

Juliana stepped up beside him, her hand sliding possessively around his waist. "Don't worry about her," she said, her voice sweet with malice. "She's tougher than she looks."

One by one, they switched on their flashlights and began walking away, the beams of light cutting through the darkness before disappearing into the trees. The sound of their laughter faded, replaced by the night sounds of the forest—crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and something larger moving in the distance.

I was alone.

The darkness pressed in around me like a physical weight. My breath came in short, panicked gasps as memories flooded back—the warehouse where I'd been held as a child, the beatings, the terror of being alone in the dark with no idea if Tommy was still alive.

"Tommy?" I whispered, though I knew he was gone.

The silence answered me.

I forced myself to move, my hands digging into the dirt as I began to crawl. Sharp rocks bit into my palms, and roots caught at my clothes, tearing the fabric and scraping my skin. My stump ached with phantom pain—a cruel reminder of what I'd lost.

"Please," I murmured to no one, "please let me find it."

I had to locate my prosthetic. Without it, I'd never make it back to the cabin. The mountain terrain was too rugged, the trail too steep for someone with one leg—especially at night.

My fingers brushed against something solid—a tree root, not my leg. I moved forward again, feeling blindly in the darkness. A thorny bush tore at my arm, leaving a stinging scratch. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

The darkness was absolute. No moonlight penetrated the canopy of trees overhead. I might as well have been crawling through a tunnel with no end in sight.

"Sienna?"

The voice startled me. I froze, listening intently.

"Sienna, is that you?"

Juliana's voice. I turned toward the sound, relief flooding through me.

"Juliana," I gasped. "Thank God. Please help me."

A beam of light cut through the darkness, blinding me momentarily. Then I heard footsteps approaching—quick, purposeful steps.

"I came back to help," Juliana said, her voice closer now.

I reached out blindly, my fingers searching for her. "Thank you. I can't find my leg."

A canister hissed in the darkness. Something wet and burning hit my eyes, and I screamed as liquid fire seemed to pour into my skull.

"Pepper spray," Juliana whispered, her voice right next to my ear. "Military grade."

I clawed at my eyes, but the pain only intensified. Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the burning chemicals. The world went from dark to completely blind.

"Why?" I choked out between sobs.

"Because you're in the way," Juliana replied calmly.

I heard her moving around me, the rustle of plastic bags and the thud of something heavy being set down.

"Tommy's parents are so obsessed with their precious family image," she continued conversationally. "They'd never let him break the engagement—not after what you did for him as a kid."

My eyes burned so badly I could barely think. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure there's nothing left to rescue," Juliana said.

I heard liquid splashing around me, the metallic scent of blood filling the air.

"The wolves will find you soon," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "They'll be drawn to the blood."

Panic surged through me as I realized what she was doing—creating a circle of bloody meat around me.

"Tommy will be free of you by morning," Juliana continued. "And I'll be there to comfort him."

Her fingers brushed my cheek in a mock caress. "Don't worry about dying alone, Sienna. The wolves will make sure nothing's left behind."

I heard her footsteps retreating, crunching on the forest floor until they faded into silence.

All that remained was the burning in my eyes, the blood surrounding me, and the distant howl of something large and hungry moving through the darkness.