I curl in a ball, beaten by the sorrow of the situation. I can’t begin to understand why… the words play over and over in my mind. Why me? Why is he doing this? Why does he get such a kick out of torturing me? Why, why, why?
The irrational thoughts swim through my festered mind. My own mind is becoming my worst enemy. It taunts me, making me question everything. But I know it’s the monotony of being isolated in this one room. You would think after the years of being with Dad I’d be used to this.
But I’m not.
This is different. So different and so much worse.
Dad always provided me with books, homeschooling me so that I didn’t completely miss out on the chance to gain an education. And I was thankful. Thankful that I had the time to focus on studying.
But here, there is nothing. Nothing to help pass the time. The thoughts in my head dominate me.
I can’t move. My body aches and the multiple cuts and bruises sting like a bitch. I want to shower but I’m not sure I can find the strength to move.
I roll over, wincing at the pain that surges through me. So many parts of my body hurt, it’s hard to locate the actual source. Part of me wants to remain wallowing in misery, and then another tells me that I should get up and showered in case he comes back.
Finding me this way will only anger him more.
I throw back the sheet, clamping my eyes shut as I try to move my leg out of the bed, my foot trying to locate the floor. I push myself to an upright position, ready to attempt to stand. As soon as I try to put weight on my legs, they give way beneath me.
I collapse onto the floor and instantly curl into a ball. I glance over at the door to the adjoining bathroom, wondering if I can make it over if I crawl across. I growl out in frustration as my body gives up on me. The lack of food and abuse is taking its toll on me.
My body is weak and broken, but I refuse to give up. Breathing raggedly, I start to crawl, shuffling my naked body across the cold floor. The sound of the door opening instills fear into me, causing me to freeze on the spot. I swallow down, hoping it will ease the tightening feeling around my throat. But it doesn’t. It feels like someone is choking me; the fear taking over my entire body.
“What are you doing on the floor?” Harlan gasps, racing over to me. I can hear my pulse thudding in my ears and a film of sweat breaks over my skin as he pushes his arms underneath me, lifting me from the floor.
“Put me down…” I screech, terrified that we will be seen on the security camera. “Someone will see.” I say, looking him deep in the eyes.
“He’s not here,” he soothes. “Do you think I would risk your safety?”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” I say, the embarrassment heating my skin as he walks me into the bathroom. I reach out, grabbing a towel to cover my bruised, naked body. “One minute you talk like you want to help me, the next it seems you are on his side. I have absolutely no idea whether I can trust you or not.”
He sucks in an exaggerated breath as his eyes rake over my body. He places me down, resting my ass on the side of the bathtub.
“I’m sorry for what he did to you. I tried to calm him down, but he was so damn angry that my words had little effect.”
“If he’s not here, why can’t you help me? Let me go,” I say, reaching up for his collar. “Please just let me out of here,” I beg of him, but instantly he starts to shake his head.
“You can,” I continue, “You can help me. I know you care about me, or why else would you be in here, right now.”
“I am helping you,” he says narrowing his eyes on me. “You just don’t understand, do you?” He blows out an exaggerated breath. “He’s powerful and rich. Without this job, I have nothing.”
“So, you sold your soul to the devil? Uh?” I push, getting more and more frustrated.
“It’s not like that,” he growls, pushing his hands through his already messy hair. “I never asked to be part of this. I had no idea what I was getting involved in until it was too late. And now I know too much. If I ever try to leave, he will have me killed. He has made that perfectly clear.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. You have the power to walk away and never come back.”
“No!” he roars. “He would find me. He will have me killed. You don’t seem to understand. This man is dangerous. So very dangerous.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” I say, dropping the towel just enough for him to see the scars on my chest, the initials he carved into my skin. I drop my chin, looking at the marks he left when he scratched repeatedly with the knife against my fair skin. The area red and sore.
“Scars will heal,” he whispers, his sad eyes fixed on mine. “Just don’t let him get in here,” he taps his finger against the side of my head.
“It’s too late,” I mumble, sniffing back the tears that force their way into my eyes. “He’s already gotten in my head.”
“It’s not too late. The only way to survive this, to come out the other side is to remain strong.”
“How?” I ask, “How can I when he’s broken me, not just physically but mentally. And you talk about coming out of the other side, but we both know there will be no escaping. I will never get out of this endless misery.”
“Don’t say that,” he reaches his hand toward me, swiping away a tear that rolls down my cheek. His warm but gentle touch causes me to shudder as it lingers against my skin. His warmth is such a stark contrast to that of Sir’s. I jolt back a little, because although it feels good, it also terrifies me.
“I would never hurt you, Isabelle,” he says. His eyes almost represent sadness. He looks as if I just slapped him across the face.
“I think you should leave,” I mumble, breaking the eye contact between us. My hands shake as I grip the side of the bath.
“But you are weak,” he says with a lift of his brow. “At least let me help you bathe, then I can go get you something to eat. Sir will be out for hours. He has back-to-back business meetings.”
My stomach grumbles at the mention of food. “I could kill for something to eat,” I say with a sad smile.
He smiles back at me, a wide smile that showcases his full set of shiny white teeth. “Good. Let me run you a bath. You’ll feel better once we have you cleaned up.”
He fills the bath, taking my ankles and swinging my legs around and dropping them in the warm water. I giggle a little as he wipes the water from his face.
“Can you lower yourself in?” He asks with concern.
“I’ll be fine,” I say with a flash of a smile, but it soon fades.
“Don’t do that.” He steps closer, his eyes fixed on my mouth. I trace my finger across my lips as I ponder his words.
“Do what?” I quiz with narrowed eyes.
“Look sad. I like it when you smile.”
I place one index finger at either side of my cheeks, pulling on them and forcing a smile.
“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” he says pointing his finger and raising one brow. “So, I, um, I’ll go make you some food,” he says a little nervously, tapping his hands on his thigh.
I nod, pulling my bottom, swollen lip between my teeth, biting down gently as I fight back the flutters in my stomach. I watch as he walks out of the bathroom before dropping the towel to the floor and lowering myself into the water. I suck in a breath, a hiss escaping as the warm water stings between my legs. Tears pool in my eyes at the intensity of the pain. I lay back into the water, splashing it precariously over the skin on my chest.
“Oh, God,” I mewl, the pain almost unbearable. I hate that he’s done this to me. I hate that I have his initials scribed into my skin. I want to get rid of it, scrub it until the letters are no longer recognizable. I don’t even know my captor’s name, so why he’s done this makes no sense. Despite the pain, the water is a surprising comfort to my skin. I relax into the warmth of the water, wincing every time it makes contact with an area of broken skin. I glance down at my body. It’s barely recognizable. Lumps, bruises, cuts and scars are all I can see. I no longer see the person beneath the evidence of what this monster has done to me. A stranger has touched me in a way no man should ever touch a woman and a sick feeling rises in my dry throat. I can’t shake the feeling of being violated, that ache that never quite leaves me, as I know this is only the start. He has stripped me of every bit of dignity I ever had.
I lean my head back, fighting the tears as the same lurid thoughts invade my mind. Would I ever make it out of here alive? What torture will I be subjected to next?
A gentle tap on the door startles me and I slide upward, my eyes darting over to the door, terrified at who I might see. I hold my hand to my chest, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat as I realize it’s Harlan.
“Jesus, you gave me a scare…”
“That was never my intention. Forgive me,” he says, dropping his head a little. “I thought you might like a drink. Your lips look very cracked and sore. You must be dehydrated.”
“But, I… I’m naked,” I say, blushing as I place my arm across my breasts and pull my leg up in an aim to cover myself.
“Oh, yeah, of course,” he bumbles, turning his back to me. “I’m not looking. I promise.” He slowly walks backwards, his face never turning from its fixed position against the wall. He stops just beside the bath tub, offering the glass to me.
“Thank you,” I murmur, taking it from his hand. I gulp down the orange juice, my stomach growls at the satisfaction of having something other than water.
“I’ll be, uh, out there if you need me,” he says, his voice a stutter.
I put down the glass and grab the washcloth, quickly finishing up. Part of me is excited to spend more time with the man who appears to want to take a chance on me. But I’m scared. Part of me doesn’t know whether I can truly trust him, whether his intentions are true. I reach over for the towel on the floor, using what little upper body strength I have to pull myself onto the side of the bath. I stop a little, trying to contain my erratic breathing. Frustration boils to the surface as I feel like a damn invalid. I’m weak, my body useless to me in a time when I need to find the strength. My whole life depends on it. Being hungry is a slow pain, eating away at my stomach, leaving me feeling drained and empty.
Letting out a growl, I wrap the towel around my upper body as I mentally prepare myself for the short walk ahead. I feel my legs tremble, but I can’t let it get to me. I have to try, even if it means falling.
“What?” his voice startles me for a second time. “Are you okay?” he asks, his eyes bugging out a little.
“I’m fine,” I snap, more than intended. “I’m sorry,” I drop my eyes, shaking my head a little. “I’m just annoyed, annoyed that my own body seems to have given up on me.”
“You need to eat. You need to rest. It’s all part of his plan. Weaken you until you are at his mercy.”
And the more the words whirl around in my mind, the more I know he is right. That evil monster is doing everything he can to break me, both physically and mentally.
Wrapping his arms around my waist and another behind my knees, he lifts me effortlessly from the side of the bath, walking and placing me gently onto the bed. I can’t pretend I didn’t like his warm and comforting arms around me, because I did. It’s such a contrast from the few days I’ve had here. For a guy with such a huge stature, he can sometimes appear gentle in nature.
A tray is laid out before me on the bed, and as soon as I’m close enough, the smell of the food hits me.
“This looks delicious,” I rush out, my stomach growling, and I squirm to try to silence it. “Mind if I dig in?” I say, eager to finally eat something.
“Of course,” he says with a smile, sitting down with the tray in between us. I hold it steady as the bed dips, pulling it toward me. I dig into the food with ravenous hunger. I barely chew properly before I swallow the food, desperate for the next mouthful.
“Slow down,” Harlan says sweetly, “You’ll make yourself sick.”
I nod, covering my mouth with my hand as the food threatens to spill out. I almost choke with the volume of eggs and bacon I’ve managed to put in my mouth. I gag, reaching for the glass of ice water on the tray. I gulp down the water to ease the pain as I force down the mass of food.
“Wait…” I say with a pause, resting the glass against my lips. “Who cooked this?” I look at him over the rim of my glass, my eyes narrowed and weary.
“Helena,” he answers, his voice practically a whisper.
“What? Why? How?” I spit out, the panic rising as I realize all of this is a huge mistake. How could I have been so stupid?
“It’s okay,” he says, his hand landing gently on my forearm. “Helena knows the score. She won’t say anything. I will get all of this taken back downstairs and cleaned up before he gets home. He will never suspect a thing.”
“But… but… how do I know I can trust her? How can I trust you?” I blurt out, almost not thinking how it sounds until the words roll off of my tongue.
“You don’t think you can trust me?” he asks with a tone of disappointment. “What have I done to give you that impression?”
“You all work for him. You have no loyalty to me,” I spit back.
“We are all in the same situation, Isabelle. We are all forced to be here.”
“Don’t you dare,” I shout loudly. “Don’t you dare compare your shitty ass job to what I’m going through right now. There is no damn comparison.” I glare at him, angry that he is trying to downplay what is happening here.
“You don’t understand…”
“You’re damn right I don’t,” I say with a shaky breath.
“She was the first,” he whispers, his face contorting as he winces. “Helena was his first captive. She has been where you are now.”
“What? No…”
“It’s the truth,” he says with a nod.
“But, I don’t understand. Why is she still here?”
“I dunno,” he says, lifting and dropping his shoulders. “I guess he outgrew her, but he will never let her go. From what I have heard, she didn’t want to leave, anyway. This life, and him, that’s all she’s ever known.”
I narrow my eyes as my mind swims with confusion. “Wait, so you’re telling me that she’s here through choice. Is she in love with him or something?” I take in a small, fast, unsteady breath as I feel my face flame. I fan it with my hand, worried that I might begin to hyperventilate.
“She’s free to leave anytime. I’m not convinced that she will ever want to, though. See, that’s where you are different, that’s where he sees you as a challenge. Getting you to that point. Where you want to be here where you are dependent on him.”
“This was a huge mistake,” I say standing on my shaky legs. “She will tell him, he will find out.”
“She won’t, I promise. You need to trust me.” He says, standing with his hands on my upper arms, towering over me.
“I want to,” I say in a hushed voice. “I want more than anything to believe that your intentions are honorable, but the evil I have endured makes me doubt everything. And everyone.”
I drop my head, my eyes focusing on the polished wooden floor. His firm forefinger hooks under my chin, forcing my head up. But I don’t look up. I keep my eyes focused down.
“Look at me, dammit,” he says, a small chuckle escaping him. I feel the pressure from my chest ease and I relax, letting out a controlled breath. My eyes slowly wander upward, meeting his. The piercing blue eyes that stare so intensely causing me to shudder.
“I’m nothing like him. You can trust me.”
I roll my lips between my teeth, allowing my gaze to fall once again. “Here,” he says, using his fingers to point toward his eyes. “Look just here,” he repeats, wrapping his arms around me and closing the space between us. I swallow down the lump of nerves stuck in my throat. I don’t breathe or speak. I just stand frozen with the feel of him holding me. I step back on my heel, hoping to put space between us and break his hold on me. As much as I like the feeling of being held, I also can’t help to compare it to the only other time I’ve felt anything like this before.
“Don’t,” he croaks.
“I can’t…” I say, trying harder to step back, but not really having the strength to make an impact. My attempts are pathetic at best.
“Why? Talk to me,” he says, staring down at me.
“I don’t have anything to say,” I mutter. “Please, just let me go.” I blink down, swallowing thickly as old memories flush to the surface of my mind.
“What did I say wrong?” He asks, stepping back a little and bending his head until it’s in my line of sight.
“Being so close to you, feeling something other than fear and anxiety, well, let’s just say it’s an unfamiliar emotion. I’m just not sure how I should react.”
“Don’t think about it,” he says, taking my hand in his, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. Dread washes over me, unsure how to counter his advances, his sensitive touch. Amongst the pain and chaos, I can’t understand the feelings I’m experiencing with this guy.
“Please… I just need a friend,” I say with a smile.
“I can do that,” he says with a wide smile. I realize in this moment just how much this guy is risking just being here with me.
I just hope that beyond anything else, I can trust him. A friend in this hellhole is something I need right now.