A few weeks later, I didn’t bleed. I didn’t know it was not normal; I didn’t know there was something growing inside me. Cole would visit when he was allowed; they’d been talking about moving to the upper side. It had been three months since the last time either Daddy or Jeff touched me. I didn’t tell Cole about what I had heard; he seemed too happy for once. He grabbed my hand, pulling me along to our spot.
Cole talked about running away with me. He was old enough to drive now, and I watched the freedom glow in his eyes.
“Let’s go far away and never look back,” he turned his head towards me as we lay in the mossy earth.
“Far enough that they don’t know where we are, and can never find us.” I whispered back to him.
“Next week, Midas will be hosting a party.” Cole told me, I visibly flinched. No.
“I don’t like the parties.” I shook with unspeakable nerves.
“We will sneak out then, when they are all too drunk to notice. Meet me here at midnight. You remember how to pick the lock right?”
I nodded.
My phone rang, and I straightened myself. I’m glad I never carried it to term. Swiping at the tear that slipped free. Lucas Avery flashed on the caller ID, and I watched it ring for a moment longer.
“What?” I snapped.
“Don’t rip your stitches,” he droned through the line. A heart rate monitor beeped in the background. The very sound of his voice coupled with the machine ripped nightmares to the surface. He’d been the doctor who cleaned me up after that night; he stitched me up in that hellhole of a training center. My first sexual education class complete with an ejaculation demonstration on the nurse who moved at the last second. The horror in both our eyes as he came on me. Of course I couldn’t do anything but take it; I was strapped to the table as my back healed from the whipping. It was the first time I’d seen the doctor kill someone. It was a ‘principle’ he’d told me after he wiped away his semen from my side. The nurse’s dead eyes stared up at me. ‘I’m not into kids and I hate blondes.’He confirmed as he turned away, stepping over the dead woman. A moment later he injected something into my arm. Birth control.
“Hello?” Lucas’s voice was bored.
“Since when do you care if I pop a few stitches?” I questioned, dragging the gasoline up to the front door.
“I don’t. If you rip your stitches you won’t like how I redo them.” He threatened.
“Fine. What about the appointment?” I asked to distract myself.
“Tuesday, at noon. Don’t be late.” He hung up before I could even ask for a location. I stared at the phone in disbelief, and then a text with a location pin came through. Pocketing the phone, I shoved open the mansion doors.
8
I’M NOT SO BAD…AM I?
My eyes were heavy and slow to open. I hadn’t remembered how long I was out this time, just that I was no longer in the hospital-styled room. The IV stand dripped clear liquid into my arm, and when I jerked my hand up to pull out the lead, my eyes caught on the handcuffs. The room smelled damp, like some old mildew, and the concretewalls only reinforced the cold that seeped into my bones. The sun shone through a barred window at the top of my bed. I tried to sit up, but strength left me as soon as I moved.
“Am I really that bad to you?” Her soft, feminine voice sounded familiar, and a surge of recognition made my heart flutter. Then she walked into the light, and that flutter died. Melody stood looking like a person I had never known. Her red hair tied back in a high ponytail, sharp features fixed on her face, whereas before there was a light, soft frame. I turned my head away. A part of me knew that I wouldn’t be able to escape here alive, so I did my part and tried to end it early. When I heard her voice, an inkling of hope surged that it might have been Summer, but I was mistaken. “Are you really not going to look at me?”
I said nothing. Just closed my eyes, wishing the drugs to stay in my system a little longer.
Her hand pinched my jaw hard, and my eyes flew open, seething at hers.
“I don’t expect you to love me, but we both have a role to play. It’s been weeks, the doctor says you are cleared medically. We can do this the easy way.” She put her hand on my arm, and I flinched back.
“I’d rather die than to have a child with you.” I spat.
“That can be arranged, you can die after the deed is done.” Shaw chuckled from the corner, and I sought him out as best I could despite the dim atmosphere.
“You were supposed to wait outside,” Melody said, annoyed.
“You don’t control meLa MiaRossa.I will do as I please.” He spoke, moving towards her backside and leaning over her shoulder to look at me. It was too familiar to be friendly, and yet it seemed so natural coming from them both. I heard a set of footsteps coming down the hall, and the two of them broke apart. The door opened, and in walked April, her fragileframe supported by the cane that clicked on the floor as she approached Melody and me. Shaw, having distanced himself to avoid proximity.
“My dear you are absolutely glowing,” April praised towards Melody.
I rolled my eyes at the statement. She looked like a demon dressed in black. I didn’t see the strike of the cane, but the force surprised me. The cane struck my left leg, and a muffled scream reverberated from my lungs. “You will respect her.” She hissed.
I didn’t say anything, just stared up at the two. Shaw chose that moment to approach, and I pinched my eyes shut. I was really regretting the peace over violence thing right now.
