Hunting Adeline

Men mingle in Francesca’s house, and Adeline considers escaping, noting that the collars the women wear contain tracking devices. Xavier approaches Adeline and taunts her, forcing her to say that she would forget Zade if Xavier were to buy her. He gropes Adeline, describing how he would abuse her, but Rio interrupts, calling Xavier to the “red room” and claiming that he needs to change Adeline’s bandages. Rio takes Adeline to a bathroom and changes her dressings. He says that the Society is threatening to sell his sister and that the “red room” is a torture chamber where the men are now torturing Phoebe and Bethany.

At the party, Jillian warns Adeline that things will get worse, and they suddenly hear Phoebe and Bethany screaming. Two men drag Bethany and Phoebe into the room; the women are both mutilated and bloody. The men are excited, and Francesca announces that the other women need to kill and bury Phoebe and Bethany.

The men carry Phoebe and Bethany outside to a bonfire. Francesca declares that this is a centuries-old tradition that allows the survivors to prove their worth. Sydney throws a rock at Phoebe’s wounds, and Adeline knocks Sydney out with a rock. Jillian and Gloria kill Bethany quickly, and Adeline uses a branch to slit Phoebe’s throat, telling Phoebe that she is her hero.

Two months go by. Adeline paints a smile on her face with lipstick and reflects that the last time she smiled was when she was with Zade at Satan’s Affair. Xavier now owns Adeline, even though she has not been auctioned to him. He takes pleasure in cutting her and sexually assaulting her, and tonight will be their fourth meeting. 

Xavier cuts Adeline while he sexually assaults her. He demands that she say she wants him, say his name, and enjoy the abuse, but she refuses. Adeline feels like Xavier has taken everything from her.

Later, Rio tends to Adeline’s wounds, saying that Xavier will not visit again until Adeline is auctioned. Adeline knows that Zade will be able to find her once she leaves the house; now, only she and Sydney are left. Gloria and Jillian have been sold. Punishments usually involve a night of abuse from Rocco and his friends. Francesca’s intense training is designed to break their spirits. Rio prays that Adeline will not live long, and she thanks him for the sentiment.

In January 2022, Adeline writes her reflections on Xavier’s act of assaulting her on New Year’s Eve. She resents the fact that he wants her to enjoy the abuse. Having an orgasm during the assault made her contemplate suicide.

The narrative shifts back in time one week prior to the events in Chapter 18.

Zade attends an auction, though he does not expect Adeline to be sold at a traceable location. Adeline has not surfaced in almost two months. Zade buys all the women on display, then tells Jay to lock the doors. The auctioneer confirms that Zade’s “winnings” are safe in his limo, and Zade strangles the man and reminds him that the “winnings” are human. Zade straps the man to a chair and covers him in lighter fluid, then does the same to the men in the other rooms. Michael sets up a camera, and Zade lights each man on fire.

Zade, Michael, and Ruby settle in the limo with the women. Jillian introduces herself and confirms that she met Adeline. She tells Zade that the house is about one hour away and is run by Francesca and her brother. Gloria adds that Xavier Delano is already slated to buy Adeline, and Jillian mentions Adeline and Sydney’s feud. Zade asks if the women want him to kill anyone else.

Rio tells Adeline that Claire is coming, which scares him. When Adeline sees Claire, she recognizes her as Mark Williams’s abused wife. Claire explains that Zade has burned down an auction house, but Adeline will not be auctioned because Xavier paid for Adeline directly. Claire explains that she is only using Adeline as a means to hurt Zade. Claire claims to run the underworld, and Adeline sees that Claire is no better than Mark. Adeline plans to escape.

Adeline wakes up to discover that Sydney has found her journal and knows that she wants to escape. They fight, and Adeline kills Sydney. Rio finds her straddling Sydney’s body. Adeline confesses that she is escaping, and Rio agrees to help her if Zade can also save his sister, Katerina. Adeline agrees, and Rio cuts out her tracking device. Adeline grabs knives and water, but a water bottle falls, alerting Jerry to her activity. Jerry approaches Adeline, intending to sexually assault her, but she slashes his throat with a knife. Escaping outside, Adeline sees two guards with their throats slashed and hopes that Rio escaped.

Zade watches as Daire tries to track down the grooming house matching Jillian’s description. So far, they have been unsuccessful at tracking Xavier Delano. Daire finds an abandoned train line that is still listed as an active route for trafficking. They find a building with a truck out front, which is registered to Rocco. Jillian confirms that Francesca’s brother is named Rocco. Zade vibrates with excitement. He plans to bring in a team: Jay, Michael, and Ruby. Daire says that Adeline might have been moved already, but Zade plans to kill everyone in the house.

Zade, Daya, Ruby, and Michael head to Francesca’s house. Satellite images show a massive search in progress around the house. They all suspect that Adeline has escaped, and Zade directs them to the abandoned train line. Daya ignores a call from Adeline’s mother, who has been panicking since Adeline’s disappearance, and Zade has a feeling that they will find Adeline. He orders Jay to keep people from leaving the area, as he plans to kill them.

Adeline runs alongside the train, and she hears Francesca’s men calling after her. She climbs up a train car, opens the hatch, and crawls inside.

Later, Adeline wakes up in a panic, believing that she is still at the house on top of Sydney. Adeline resolves to push forward, but she hears voices outside. One man notes the open hatch. Adeline panics, but she hears the man arguing with someone. Adeline hears a metallic sound. Someone else appears at the hatch, and Adeline recognizes Zade’s eyes. They embrace tearfully, and Adeline feels that they can now recover from this trauma together. Daya, Ruby, and Michael arrive. Even though she is safe, Adeline still feels like she is “in Hell.”