𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Pressure builds in my chest sending painful twisted knots down my spine, making it hard to breathe. I can't feel like fingers, or my toes, and my throat feels raw. My eyes sting as they break open and we're no longer in the bathroom with Marie's sister...

We're back in The Woods. I shudder a gasp seeing myself. This time I'm on a metal table.

"Goldie?" Andre's voice sounds clear now and I remember that I'm not alone. My brows furrow as I look up at him staring at the scene in front of us in concern.

"What the fuck?" Jordan lets out.

I force myself to focus, oh fuck! Sharp stabs of pain sear through my head. I stare at myself unconscious on the table as Dr. Cardosa rushes into the room with Shetty and Brink. What the fuck?

"What's the problem?" Shetty asks a frantic Dr. Cardosa. I can literally see the heat wafting off my skin, like when you can the waves coming off asphalt on a hot day.

"We can't seem to penetrate her skin." Dr. Cardosa informs. "She burns you instantly at contact and-and-"

"And?" Shetty presses, clearly annoyed.

"Sh-she's, uh, already melted my assistant." Dr. Cardosa pushes his glasses up his nose. Mmm, good for m- ah- My face contorts at the pain in my head.

When was this?

Brink grins, ear to damn ear. "Her powers are working even when she's unconscious." He shakes his head in awe. "Amazing."

"So try something else." Shetty snips at Cardosa who pulls at the edge of his collar. Sweat slowly begins to roll down Shetty's forehead as my body starts glowing.

"What's happening?" Marie asks quietly and I shake my head, wish I fucking knew.

"We will have to do Golden Boy only." Cardosa states, wiping his forehead. "Golden Girl is too powerful to contain to run tests or draw her blood."

My fingers start twitching at my sides- I'm waking up. I wince at the pain of what feels like a thousand needles in my head. It's intensifying to the point I may actually hurl.

Brink chuckles as I shoot up right on the table, my eyes glowing a dark yellow.

Shetty hurries over to the door, holding it open as she waves her hand. My nails dig into my palms as I watch Cate enter the room hesitantly as blinding light starts radiating off me. Dr. Cardosa, Shetty, and Brink all shield their eyes away as Cate walks over.

"I'm sorry." She breathes out, just as she did with Luke, as she raises her hands up. "I'm-" My hand shoots up to her throat, cutting her off. She gasps. "Il-Illie." Her hand touches my arm but she quickly recoils. "Ah-" She seethes in pain.

I stare at myself, my eyes still glowing as I stare at Cate, completely out of it.

"Cate!" Shetty shouts.

She chokes as my fingers squeeze her neck. She struggles under my grasp. "Il, Il- it's me." She coughs. "Iliana!" She forces out and my eyes roll to the back of my head as my grip on her loosens and she gasps for air. My eyelids flutter as I release Cate and she stumbles back, leaning over while she hyperventilates.

My brows furrow together as my head shakes slightly, as if I just snapped out of a dream.

"Cate?" My own voice hits my ears as I look at my best friend confused, trying to pry the last thing I remember out of my brain. Were we studying in the library... going to get our nails done off campus, getting dressed for... something?

Cate's paled face snaps up at me looking terrified as the raw mark on her neck reveals herself... in the shape of fingers... I did that.

"Shit." Marie mutters, startling me once again as I'm reminded that they are all seeing this.

"Illie." Cate smiles weakly, her voice hoarse.

A cool- synical chill creeps up my spine and down my throat. My eyes leave hers to glance around the room... white walls, the smell of alcohol burning my nose... My gaze moves down to the metal surface I was on.

"Cate, what the fuck is-"

"It's fine." She quickly interupts me and I look at her like she's grown three heads. "It's fine." She repeats herself, nodding her head slowly, wincing at the pain as she moved her head and tried to swallow.

Her hand reached out, touching my leg before I can even blink.

"Go to sleep, okay?"

I shake my head, trying to fight it.

"What're you-

"Iliana." She presses. "Go to sleep." She says softly, her hand cupping the side of my head. "Now."

My eyelids grew heavy, but I could tell I was fighting it.

Cate rests both her hands on my temples. "Iliana." As I started leaning backwards she gently lay my head down.

"What was that?" She looks over at Dr. Shetty, eyes filled with worry.

Even Shetty looked concerned. I was fighting it. And she knew.

"Don't worry about it, you did great." Shetty smiles, strainedly, with a nod. "We will have to find something else do with her to keep an eye on her. Mhmm. I'm so proud of you."

'I'm so proud of you.'

'I'm so proud of you...'

'I'm so proud of you.....'

The words echo through my head as I feel like I'm falling, everything caving around me.

"What the fuck?" Jordan spit out.

"Goldie?" Andre asks.

"Mmm?" I blink, looking up at him as everything around us changed.

Oh, fuck.

My eyes dart around the room causing Andre's eyes to leave me as he does the same.

"The fuck are we doing back here?" He snaps his head over to Jordan who's face washes over with guilt.

But we weren't here for them. Not this time. I could feel it- no, I knew it.

"Golden Girl." Brink's voice came across my ears like screeching tires and the four of us spun around to find me standing in the doorway as Brink held the door open.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" I had a strained smile etched across my face, wreaking of uncomfortability to anyone who could peel the fifty layers of fake and drowning confidence.

"Yes." Brink nods. "Please." He opens the door wider and as I take a step in his hand glides down to the tip of my ass. "We have much to discuss." As the door closed behind him I felt sick- no. No, the word I feel is something so strong I can't even fathom how to describe it as his hand slides lower until it was grasping my ass.

Acid and the taste of blood coated my tongue which only then made me realize I was biting the inside of my cheek too hard.

"What. The. Fuck." Jordan's voice comes out so dangerously low I almost don't register it's them as my ears ring incessantly.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hey, heyyyy... Welcome back to Golden Facade & Golden Facade Sunday's <3333

Happy 1 year to episode 5!! One of the best eps & I remember it had me on the EDGEEE of my fucking seat, omg!!

We have officially made it to Illie's memories... & we're just getting started, dun, dun, dun...

So I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! We're about to go so much further & ofc I had to leave y'all on a cliffhanger ;)

ALSO... WE JUST HIT 17K READS THIS WTF?!!! Literally cannot thank y'all & tell y'all enough how much this book means to me & how much it means to me that y'all read, vote, & comment on it. This book is my heart & soul <3

Okay I'm done lol, until next time (where we'll continue Illie's personal hell... tehe) mwauh!!💋

(ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PROTECTIVE JORDAN CRUMBS FOR A FAT FUCKIN SEC?!?!)