Jennifer Hartmann


When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side.

And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.

To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.

After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.

But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains. 

Still Beating

Sophia

I keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to see his face in this moment— I don’t want to witness his pleasure. And it’s not because I’m angry or blameful. I’m envious. I’m envious he’s able to find a pocket of happiness, of joy, of authentic bliss, in the midst of our shared nightmare. We’re in this together, yes, but for a moment—for a few blinding, potent seconds— we will be worlds apart.

I spit out the bite of sandwich as soon as it touches my tongue, dropping the plate and wiping at my mouth with the back of my hand. “This is turkey?”

I like Mandy this far but this is a bit disgusting... even though she doesn't know that he was raped as well, she knows he watched her sister so it should be clear that if someone should even initiate it, it should be him when he's ready

I grab her hand before it reaches its destination, trying not to crack under the weight of the rejection in her eyes.

“Dean… please. We haven’t been intimate in almost six weeks.” Mandy’s eyes begin to mist, her nails digging into my palm. “I miss you.”

I actually gasped - she did not just say that😦

Mandy scoots backwards, dropping her chin to her chest as the rejection manifests into anger.

“I figured after weeks of celibacy, you’d be all over me.”

Ok now I'm not sure if I want them together anymore😶

It’s been alleged that, based on the diaries discovered, Earl groomed his victims into developing feelings for one another— and when he felt like they had successfully fallen in love, he would murder them in cold blood. He got off on watching his victims mourn over their lover being tortured to death.

The call disconnects, and I’m left staring at my phone, my insides twisting into knots and my heart telling me that she is not okay.

Levi-Mae 

“What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness” - John Steinbeck 

“You can’t tiptoe around your heart in fear of pissing people off or hurting their feelings. Sometimes we need to be a little selfish in order to avoid a life of complacency.”

Still Beating quotes

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