Free All the Pretty Ghosts (The Never Alone Series Book 1) by Jamie Campbell Page B

rags,” he whispered, nodding toward my wrists.
    “I can’t, they’re too tight.”
    “The tall one loosened them, I saw him do it. Just try.”
    I looked down at my arms, trying to ignore all the bruises. Oliver was right, there was some give to the rags now. I tried slipping my hands through them, squeezing my fingers together as tightly as they would go.
    The pain was excruciating. I clamped my lips together to stop myself crying out. Now was my only shot at escaping, I was not going to give up because of the pain. I continued to pull at my wrists, trying to get them through the rags.
    One hand popped out, the relief was instant. I used that hand to help the other one through. Both became free. I glanced at the boys, making sure they still weren’t paying me any attention. They weren’t. The food was a bigger draw card than I was.
    I leaned down and started on my feet, ignoring the pain groaning in my stomach. Taking the left one first, I hastily managed to loosen the knot enough to slip out of it. My right foot was a little trickier but I got there.
    I was free.
    Not really.
    I looked to Oliver for some guidance, hoping he had a plan to escape now I was actually mobile again. He gave me a thumbs up. “I’ll create a distraction while you run. Don’t stop until you’re out. For anything. Got it?”
    “What about if you-”
    “Don’t stop. I’ll follow you and we’ll meet up outside.” There was no point arguing, we didn’t have enough time. I nodded. “Good. Wait for my signal.”
    I didn’t get a chance to say anything further before Oliver melted into the shadows. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, trying not to give his presence or location away. It was difficult, I wanted to see his every movement to make sure he was okay.
    The boys in the room were all intent on their assigned task, none of them paying me any attention. I knew that would change the moment I made a sound. It would only take one little thing and they would shoot over to my seat and dish out whatever punishment they deemed appropriate.
    Oliver made his way closer to them – and further away from the door. My stomach was a bundle of knots as he entered further into the dragons’ den. My guilt at causing him to be in this situation was threatening to engulf me. I had to make sure he made it out alive.
    I could not leave him behind, no matter what I had agreed to.
    Suddenly a gust of wind helped Oliver knock a few crates over. The loud crash that followed bounced off the cavernous walls. He quickly looked at me, it was the cue I needed. As the boys were distracted by the noise, I stood.
    And ran like hell.
    I barreled toward the door, my only escape route out of the place. Every inch of my body protested against the haste. I was too starved of food, water, and peaceful sleep to move fast. Once, I used to be on the track team at school. Now, I could barely move without gasping air into my lungs.
    “Get her! She’s running!” Taz was the first one to notice my absence. The moment the words escaped his lips, several sets of feet starting pounding the floor between us.
    I forced myself forward. If I got caught again, they wouldn’t hesitate in killing me a second time. I was too much trouble to keep alive, they didn’t have the patience or desire to keep me around. Not when a few more blows to my head would turn off my lights forever.
    Stealing a glance over my shoulder, four of the guys were only a few yards away from me. I frantically tried to work out where Oliver was in the melee.
    I couldn’t see him.
    My head snapped around just in time to see the door. I hurried through it, feeling like my legs were made of jelly. How long would it take for them to give out on me? It would only take one little trip up and I would fall to the ground, all hope lost.
    But I had to keep going.
    Even if Oliver wasn’t following.
    He told me to keep going no matter what. Surely I had only just missed him when I turned to look? He said he