Chapter 104 MAYBE IT'S GOODBYE.

Chapter 104 MAYBE IT'S GOODBYE.
MADISON'S POV:
Pain. That was the first thing I felt.
A deep, pulsing ache behind my eyes that made my head feel twice its size. My mouth tasted like metal and chemicals. Every breath scraped against my throat.
I tried to move. Couldn't. My wrists were bound behind me, rope cutting into skin. Ankles tied to chair legs. The chair itself bolted to concrete.
The room was small. Empty except for me and a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly, casting shadows that moved like living things. Concrete walls. Metal door. No windows. No sound except my own ragged breathing.
I tried to move, but the ropes dug deeper into my skin.
Where—
The door unlocked with a heavy clank.
Two men entered. The same ones from my apartment, still in their maintenance uniforms.
"What do you want?" I jerked against the restraints. "Money? I have money. Whatever you want—"
They didn't respond. Just positioned themselves on either side of the door.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Heels clicking against concrete.
A woman appeared in the doorway. Black dress. Black veil covering her face. She moved with grace, acting like she was walking a runway instead of entering a torture chamber.
She stopped right in front of me, her perfume faint and sickly sweet, and with one graceful hand, she lifted the veil.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I breathed out, my voice dripping with disbelief and anger. I gave a bitter huff, jerking my shoulder, even though the ropes burned my skin.
Harper West smiled. Red lipstick perfect. Hair styled like she was heading to a gala. Completely incongruous with the setting.
"Surprise," she said sweetly.
 “What the hell is this, Harper? Some kind of twisted joke?”
Her lips curled into a cold smile. “A joke? You think this is funny?” She tilted her head.
“What do you want?” I sneered.
“What you stole from me,” she snapped, laughter spilling sharp. “You waltzed into his life like you belonged there.”
I stared at her, exhaustion dulling my fear. “You’re delusional,” I muttered.
She crouched to my level, her eyes glinting beneath the weak light. “You took everything from me. Thane was supposed to be mine. My father needed him. Do you understand that? His fans, his name, his fame. It would have guaranteed the election win. But then you came along."
"Harper, this is insane." I kept my voice level despite my hammering heart. "You can't force someone to marry you for political gain."
"Can't I?" Her smile widened. "Watch me do it and Thane will benefit from it too. Endorsements, opportunities, make him bigger than he ever dreamed. All Thane has to do is choose me."
“Stop it,” I cut in sharply. “Just stop bluffing and put an end to this madness.”
She began pacing in front of me, her black dress swaying. “You think I’m bluffing? You think you can sit there, tied up, and still act like you’re above me?” Her laughter was fake, one could tell. “You stole my man, you wore my ring, and you planned to marry him in my dream country.”
I raised my chin, forcing my trembling lips to form a steady line. “You’re pathetic, Harper. You know that? Thane chose who he wanted. You can’t kidnap confidence into your own body. I’m not responsible for your low self-esteem.”
My words must have touched a nerve because her eyes flared. For a split second, I saw something snap behind them.
Her hand flew across my face so fast I didn't see it coming.
Pain bloomed instantly. My lip split, the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth. I spat it out onto the floor, lifting my eyes to hers, fury simmering through the fog of pain.
Harper's face was inches from mine now, all pretense of civility gone. She was heaving with anger.
“You hit me again,” I said hoarsely, “and you’d better untie me first. Let’s see how well you fight when your opponent isn’t bound to a chair.”
Instead of rising to the challenge, she straightened, smoothing her dress.  "I'm not up for long conversations with you." She wiped imaginary dust from her black dress. "I just wanted to see your face before it's over."
She turned to the men. "Chop her up in pieces. Dissolve the body in acid. Make sure there's nothing left to find."
My heart stopped. Started again, racing.
“What—”
"Have a nice death, Madison." Harper waved cheerfully, heading for the door. "I wore black because today's your funeral. How thoughtful of me."
Her laughter followed her out and the door closed behind her with finality, 
"NO!" I thrashed against the restraints. "HARPER, YOU COWARD! COME BACK HERE! I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR TO GOD—"
"Let's get this over with." The younger man grabbed the back of my chair. "I have another job tonight."
The chair tipped backward. I hit the ground hard, the air knocking out of my lungs, then was hauled up by the shoulders  still tied. I was carried through corridors that horribly smelled. My screams bounced off concrete, going nowhere, heard by no one.
They pushed through double doors into hell.
The stench hit first. I began to panic. This wasn’t just a warehouse. It was a butcher’s room. Meat hooks hung from ceiling rails, some empty, some holding dark shapes I didn't want to identify. Stainless steel tables stained with old blood. Drains on the floor. And in the corner an industrial machete machine used to process whole animals. The blade moved ceaselessly, mechanical. They set up a test with a watermelon sat on the conveyor belt, moving toward the blade.
The machine bit into it. Flesh exploded. Juice sprayed. The blade continued its relentless path, reducing the watermelon to chunks, then pulp, then liquid that ran red down the drain.
“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t do this.”
 The older man cursed under his breath, avoiding my eyes. "Let's make this quick."
 The younger guy increased the speed of the machine, the blade spinning faster, its whine piercing through the air.
They positioned my chair in front of the machine. One of them reached for the restraints.
This was it. This was how I died. Not from the Wallaces. Not from Dr. Hall. From a jealous woman and her political ambitions.
I'd never see Thane again. Never wear my wedding dress. Never have the life we'd planned.
The man cut the rope around my ankles. Grabbed my arm.
I squeezed my eyes shut. The sound swallowed everything.