The creature backed away and loped out the door. Anna could finally breathe.
She hurried over to Conrad and tried once again to free the man. “What was that? Not that I’m complaining, but why did Eugene take off?”
“I have no idea,” Conrad said, but Anna could tell the man was lying.
She let it go. For now they were safe, but Anna wasn’t sure for how long. Eugene could be back at any second, and Anna needed to get Conrad out of the chains.
But her fingers fumbled and wouldn’t work. They were still burnt and pulsing with pain as she jammed her fingers between Conrad's wrists and the iron.
“Stop,” Conrad said. “Don’t put yourself in any more pain.”
“But I have to get you out of this.” Anna tried once more to work the shackle free, but the skin on the tips of her fingers began to flak
