A Mission Forged in Torment

f expensive perfume and champagne. I limped through the crowd, my leg screaming with ever

n, holding court by the massive floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. He had his arm wrapp

r, trying to make myself invi

iends, a man named Mark, called out. "I th

ckered. My face

He enjoyed seeing me squirm. "She's here," he said, his voice

e was calling a dog. I had no choice but to obey. I lim

t as well join the game," Et

s twist. It was an excuse for them to humiliate

the crowd: a ten-second kiss

g Brittany's name. "Brit

ldn't," she said, glancing at me with fak

thetic position. She was the cho

. He was waiting to see what I would do. He

said, my voice

his smile widening. "I have a better idea. Chloe, if you can drink this

trón. It was a punishment, not

is face. I was desperate. "And if

was unreadabl

ugh. It was

st my trembling hands. The crowd cheere

h down my throat, raw and searing. My stomach churned. I kept going,

Man, you really know how to train

Josh, looked a little uneasy. "Isn't thi

ith absolute certainty. "It

n' s voice, a distant, distorted sound. I felt a surge of nausea and

t!" a voi

back to my lips, spilling tequila down my c

crowd. I barely made it to the bathroom before my body gave out. I collapsed in

face, trying to clear my vision. I stared at my reflection in the mi

oor opened. It

the doorframe, a sm

aid, her voice dripping with con

's never going to take you back, you know. He told me you're j

l her to get out, but my

my hair, yanking my hea

ing to push her away. It w

f my hair and stumbled backward, letti

ou pus

n her face. It was a performance. And I knew, with a sinking