Chapter 79 Beatrice, You Finally Came for Me
Isabella had been locked inside the Blackthorn Compound for five long days, her wounds left to scab over without treatment. When Lester finally ordered her dragged out, he expected fear. Instead, he found only the hollow stare of a woman who refused to break.
It was absurd. She had been tortured here for days, and yet, the moment she was outside, she had dared to lash out and hurt someone. That alone had humiliated Lester in front of everyone. People who left this place and were brought back usually begged for mercy, sobbing and pleading. Isabella stood there as if none of it mattered.
"Tie her to the iron post," Lester ordered coldly. "We will take our time with her."
The midday sun blazed down, heat pressing against her skin until her vision swam. Pain tore through her body, sharp and relentless. She wanted to curl in on herself, but her arms were bound tight to the post, forcing her to stand exposed.
When the sun finally dropped, they shoved her back into the iron cage. Each day, she was given nothing but a single bowl of water. At night, the temperature plummeted. She curled into the corner, shivering until her bones ached.
Half-conscious, she opened her eyes to see a pale figure in the dark.
"Beatrice... is that you?"
Her voice was weak, trembling. "Beatrice, I am so cold... can you hold me?"
"Beatrice, I miss you."
She reached out, but the pale shadow vanished.
"Do not leave me... please..."
No answer came.
At dawn, frost had formed over the water's surface. Lester ordered them to throw her in. The icy shock tore through her skin and sank into her bones. Her body convulsed uncontrollably, lips turning blue.
Lester gripped her hair, forcing her head back. "Do you still dare to attack people?"
Her empty gaze did not waver. It was as if she could not even understand the question.
His eyes narrowed. "What about Juniper? Would you still raise a hand against her?"
The name was a trigger. Her gaze sharpened instantly, filled with pure hatred.
"I will kill her. I swear I will kill her."
Lester shoved her under the water. "Listen carefully. Mr. Spencer sent you here because you went after Ms. Miller. If you do not learn your place, you will stay here forever, suffering. Do you understand?"
She thrashed twice, then went still. She knew resistance was useless.
He yanked her head up. "Now tell me — do you still want to kill her?"
Her voice was weak but unwavering. "Yes. She has to die."
"Unrepentant," Lester muttered. He pushed her under again, holding her there until she went limp. Only then did he toss her onto the ground.
He could not fathom the depth of her hatred for Juniper. Even now, she would not bow.
"Put her in the black room. Loop the message 'Do not harm Juniper.'"
Isabella woke to deafening noise. The darkness pressed in, the sound drilling into her skull.
The entire room vibrated with the mechanical voice. Her hands flew to her ears. "Stop! Stop!"
She crouched low, pressing her palms hard against her head, but the words kept stabbing through.
"Please... stop... do not say it again."
Through the surveillance feed, Lester watched her flailing in the dark. He smiled.
She shook her head violently, slapping at her ears as if she could force the sound out. Desperation clawed at her mind. She hurled herself against the wall.
In her thoughts, she screamed for Beatrice. 'I cannot take it anymore... please... come get me.'
The voice was everywhere, clinging to her like a ghost that would not let go.
She slammed herself into the wall again, harder this time. For a moment, the world went blissfully silent.
But when she woke, she was still in hell. The voice was still there. The black room remained locked.
This was their method — to break her until she surrendered.
Isabella sat slumped in the corner, head tilted back, eyes unfocused. Her body did not move. She seemed deaf to the noise.
Lester ordered the volume higher. The walls shook, but she did not react.
"Boss... is she even human anymore?"
Lester stared at the monitor. If he failed to tame Isabella, William would never forgive him.
"Keep her in there for three more days."
He had never seen anyone last that long in this place. All she had to do was bow her head, and his job would be done.
Three days later, the door swung open. The stench was overwhelming, mixed with the sharp tang of blood.
They dragged her out. A gash split her forehead, hair matted with dried blood, streaks running down her neck. Her eyes were empty — eerily so.
"Do you still dare to go after Juniper?"
No reaction.
Lester leaned in. "Do you still want to kill her?"
Nothing. He smiled.
"Throw her in the water cell. Let her wake up, then we will ask again."
They tossed her into the water cell, washing the blood from her skin with a high-pressure hose.
"Have the doctor treat her forehead. No scars."
The doctor frowned. "The wound is deep. It was not treated in time. I have applied medicine, but if she stays in the water cell, it will be a problem."
Lester's gaze lingered on her face. If it scarred, William would not let it go.
"Put her back in the cage."
She was dragged inside like a puppet, limbs limp, face blank.
That night, she saw the pale figure again.
This time it was closer. A hand brushed her cheek. "Isabella... I have come to take you."
Her eyes lit up, a rare smile breaking through. "Beatrice... you finally came for me."
The cage door swung open. The pale shadow beckoned. "Isabella, come."
She followed into the woods behind the Blackthorn Compound.
Wolves howled in the distance. She did not seem to hear, still smiling as she trailed after Beatrice.
The forest was home to a wolf pack. Anyone who ventured in never came out alive.
"Beatrice... slow down."
The pale figure vanished. She froze. "Beatrice? Where are you?"
She ran through the trees, each step stirring the undergrowth.
A guard's voice cut through the compound. "Boss! Isabella is gone!"
Lester shot upright. "The cage was locked. How did she get out?"
"The lock was open. She is in the woods."
"Damn it. Get everyone. Bring weapons. We are going in."