I decide to just come clean. Uncle Garrett will cut my balls off if he finds out I’ve been keeping something from him. “She caught me in an intimate position with a woman, and since then she’s been acting weird.” I suck in a quick breath and rush on before he can stop me, “And then she came up with this thing that Brad threatened her and I-”
“Hold it! Brad did what?”
I roll my eyes, of course he’d focus on that piece! “She said Brad threatened her, but I had a talk with Brad and he said he didn’t come near her.”
“I don’t give a fuck about what that bastard said!” Uncle Garrett screams, “my baby girl told you that your friend threatened her and you did nothing?”
For the first time since Amy told me that Brad had hurt her, I start to wonder if I was wrong to take Brad’s side. “I figured she was making it up to get to me,” I say, knowing Uncle Garrett is going to explode.
“I’m coming over. Don’t touch anything!” he snaps and then the line goes dead.
Now I’m really panicking. I dial Amy’s number and when it goes to voicemail, my blood runs cold through my veins. I dial Brad’s number and his, too, goes to voicemail. My heart just about stops.
Did Amy tell me the truth?
Oh fuck!
She practically put her trust in me for the first time ever and I threw it back at her!
I shove my hands through my hair and turn in a circle, looking for any sign of Amy when my eyes land on the shards of glass by the front door. I walk to it and kneel down. Picking up a piece, I can make out some words ‘dad and ang’. I pick up another piece with more letters on and piece them together.
An eerie feeling crawls up my spine as I read the complete words ‘Daddy’s Angel’.
~*~
Chapter Fourteen
Amy~
When I wake up, I feel groggy, as if I’m dragging my consciousness through sludge. My head is pounding something fierce
When I try to move, my eyes snap open and the grogginess vanishes. I’m tied face-down on a bed, my arms and legs spread wide and tied to the four corners of the bed. The room is filled with sunshine, and the light seems to spotlight my horror.
I drag harsh breaths into my lungs, trying to remember what happened but I can’t remember how I got here, or where here is!
I try to see as much of the room as possible. From what I can see the room is furnished nicely. I see a dresser from the corner of my eye. The windows are wide, and it’s even open, letting in a cool breeze.
I hear a door open somewhere and then it closes. I keep my eyes on the door, my heart beating harder with every second that drags by, and then the door opens.
I start to shake when Brad comes in, a sinister smile pulling at his lips.
“Where am I?” I croak the words out and every nerve in my body goes on high alert. I’m scared to death. I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life!
When Brad comes close to the bed, I start to yank on the restrains. When he gets on the bed, I start to scream. Every beat of my quivering heart, pumps a fresh flood of horror through my body. He straddles me from behind and I’m powerless to do something so I start to ramble, begging for my life. “Please! I didn’t mean to upset him! I’ll never do it again! I promise. Please …” Sobs wrack through my body as he starts to push my dress up, over my butt, up my back and bunching it by my shoulders. Except for my panty and bra strap, I’m exposed to him. “Please, Brad!” It comes out on a shrill scream as I feel something sharp pressing into my hip.
I feel him lean down on me, and then his hot breath is in my ear. I try to yank my head away, but that only makes him grab my hair, forcing me to stay in place.
“I love your screams. They are music to my ears,” he whispers.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I whimper. “If you let me go I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
He chuckles darkly and it makes my body start to tremble with panic and dread.
I feel his lips on my ear, as he continues, “You think you’re beautiful? You think you can please a man like Noah?” He yanks at my hair and I can only whimper in response. “You’ll never be able to satisfy a man like Noah!” He screams, making my whole body jerk with fright. He yanks my head up until it can’t go back any further. “I want to hear you say it!”
I don’t know what he wants to hear! I can only focus on the terror pulsing through me. I wish Daddy was here! Why didn’t I go to daddy?
“Say it!” he roars and I try to flinch away from him.
“What?” I croak out, willing to say anything if only he’ll let me go.
He presses his lips against my ear and sneers, “that you can’t satisfy Noah.”
My mouth and throat are dry and I lick at my lips. “I can’t satisfy Noah.” When he lets go of my hair and my head falls forward, I suck in huge gulps of air.
I feel pressure against my back and then a hot searing pain tears through me. I start to scream, thrashing as much as I can … and then I hear him say, “I researched how to break a person. They say a broken soul is the worst thing. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll kill yourself. It will be perfect, you taking your own life because you’re so pathetic. First I isolate you. You’ll get to see outside, but you’ll never be outside again. Then I’ll make you dependent on my for everything, even to take a piss. This is going to be so much fun!”
I feel the sharp point press against my skin again and then he cuts into my lower back again. “Stop!” I shriek, “Oh God, please stop! I promise to do anything!”
“We’re going to play a game. If you can guess what I’m writing on your back, I’ll let you go.”
Writing? He’s fucked up! He’s slicing me and he calls it writing!
I’m going to die!
~*~
Chapter Fifteen
Noah~
It’s been over twenty-four hours since Amy went missing. There no sign of her or Brad.
Dad and Uncle Garrett are out, looking for Amy. I wish there was something I could do!
I know Uncle Garrett blames me. Hell, I blame myself. I should’ve listened to Amy! If something happens to her Uncle Garrett will kill me!
I just want her safely back. I’ll never say a mean word to her again. I’ll spend my life making it up to her.
I just want Amy back.
I’ve been trying to think where Brad could have taken her.
My phone rings, and I’m expecting a call from Dad, so I just answer.
“You’re going to be so proud of me,” Brad’s voice comes over the line.
I freeze. I can’t believe he is actually phoning me.
“Brad?” My voice cracks with tension.
“I’ve taught her a lesson. She won’t dare to upset you again. She now understands that she’s not good enough for you.” I hear Brad moving and then a hoarse moan fills my ear, sending my heart into overdrive. I hear Brad talking in the background, “tell him!”
My heart stops and all I hear is an overwhelming silence, and then, “I … I’m …” I hear Amy take a shallow breath, “… not.” She stops talking and after a few agonizing seconds I hear Brad yelling, “I’ll bury this knife in your heart! Fucking tell him!”
I hear Amy take a ragged breath and then her voice comes over the line, “I’m … so sorry, Noah. I’ll … never upset you again. I’m not … good enough … for you.” Her voice cracks and sounds so small, gripping at my heart. “Please help me.”
“You bitch!” Brad screams and I hear Amy cry out in pain. I hear movement, as if the phone is being slammed against something.
“Brad!” I scream, my heart pounding with fear for Amy. “Bud, please stop!” I pray to God he can hear me.
“I’ll take care of her, just like you said,” Brad suddenly says.
“Wait!” I yell, scared to death that he’ll kill her. “Tell me where you are.” My mind races trying to come up with anything, so I can help Amy. “I want to be there. I want to kill her,” I force the words out.
&
nbsp; “Really?” Brad murmurs. “You want to kill her with me? Like a bonding thing?” I hear his voice get thick with emotion.
“Yes! Like a bonding thing. Just me and you.” I hope he falls for this!
“I’m at my parents’ cabin.”
“I’m coming. Wait for me!”
When I cut the call to Brad, I quickly phone Dad to let him know where I’m going. Brad has lost it and I’m going to need them to take him down.
~*~
Chapter Sixteen
Amy~
My back is on fire.
I couldn’t guess the word. All I could focus on was the intense pain.
Brad leaves me alone for most of the time. He only comes back for a few minutes to hurt me, and then he leaves again.
The sunlight is shining into the room, throwing a wide beam over me. It’s making the cuts hurt even more. I hate that I can see outside. I hate that I can feel the sun and the occasional breeze, but I’m trapped in here. I hate that I’m at Brad’s mercy.
At first I was terrified that he would rape me, but that fear soon faded to the background. Brad is a cruel monster with no boundaries.
Yesterday I realized that he doesn’t see me, the human, the girl.
I feel drained of life. I have no energy to try and fight back. My wrists and ankles are chafed badly, from struggling to get free. My back hurts so much, I can’t even think of the hunger I felt yesterday.
This morning he made me talk to Noah, and then I heard him and Noah, that Noah wanted to be here to kill me.
The hopelessness I’ve been sinking into gets deeper and darker by the second.
I’m going to die.
I know I’m going to die, and I’ve made some sort of peace with it. What scares me is how I will die. I know it’s going to be painful. It’s going to hurt so bad! I don’t think I can stand much more pain. I keep wishing that I’ll pass out, but I don’t. I dozed off a little a day ago, and was scared awake by Brad. I haven’t closed my eyes since then, scared that Brad will be there when I open them.
I’m terrified out of my mind.
~*~
Brad comes into the room, the usual sneer plastered on his face. This is it! I’m going to die!
I expected to see Noah, so when it’s only Brad, I don’t know if I should be relieved. My eyes dart to his hands and I immediately notice that the knife he’s been using to carve into me is missing. Some more relief washes over me.
But then Brad gets on the bed, straddling me once more. “You’re filthy!” he snaps. “Not so pretty anymore.”
He grabs hold of my hair again. My scalp is raw from all the yanking. Instead of yanking my head up, he presses my face into the pillow. Oh God! No! He’s going to suffocate me!
“You need to beg me for a breath of air, otherwise I’ll just keep going until you stop breathing the same air as me. You should count yourself lucky that I’m allowing you to be in my presence.”
He doesn’t give me a second to beg. He shoves my face so hard into the pillow, it hurts – and then my air is cut off.
I start to struggle, trying to find a gulp of air anywhere. Panic overrides my body and I don’t care about the pain, only surviving. I yank and pull, but nothing helps. Brad is so much stronger than me!
The seconds start to crawl by sluggishly, and it’s as if a switch is flipped deep inside of me.
I just stop.
Maybe this will be better. Suffocating must be better than being carved into pieces.
My mind drifts to Daddy and Momma. I wish I could feel one of Daddy’s bear-hugs just one more time.
I wish I could hear him call me angel … just one more time.
Just one more second.
Just one more breath.
But instead … there’s nothing.
~*~
Chapter Seventeen
Noah~
I met with Dad and Uncle Garrett close to the cabin. We decided it would be better for me to go in alone. They will follow by a few seconds, so Brad won’t see them coming. We left their car on the side of the road and Dad and Uncle Garrett are hiding in the back seat, keeping a low profile.
We have the element of surprise on our side.
When I park the car, I take in a deep breath. “This is it,” I whisper.
“We’re right behind you son,” Dad whispers back.
I get out and my legs feel like they’re being weighed down with concrete. I don’t bother knocking, that would make it obvious that I’m out of my element. I open the front door and listen. When I hear nothing, I call out, “Brad!”
Only silence greets me. My hearts starts to hammer hard in my chest, making my whole body vibrate with adrenaline. I rush into the cabin, frantically looking into every room.
I race up the stairs and I slam open the first door. My heart sputters to a halt. I can’t take it all in. The scene in front of me is horrific! At first my focus is on the bed where a bloodied body lies face down. My mind tells me to move, that it’s Amy, but my whole being repels against what I’m seeing.
“I killed her,” I hear Brad murmur and only then do I see him standing in the shadows on the other side of the room. His words register and they sink to the deepest, darkest part of me.
“W-what?” I ask dumbstruck. Before he can get another word out, I’m shoved hard from behind.
Everything explodes into action around me. I watch as Dad and Uncle Garrett grab hold of Brad. I stand and watch as they start to slam their fists into him.
I watch their faces. Pure hatred radiate from them. Anger has drawn their features tight. They are working perfectly together to take Brad down.
No … to kill him? Fuck, they’re killing him!
I take a step closer to them, not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do. Dad’s eyes meet mine for a second and he snaps, “Check on Amy!” He turns his attention back on beating the shit out of Brad.
Life returns to my body and I rush to the bed. The stench and sight is horrendous. I can’t believe Brad, the man I thought was my best friend did this to Amy.
I’m just about to reach for her when Uncle Garrett shoves me out of the way.
“Amy!” He roars as he grabs her. He yanks so hard at the bonds holding her down, they snap under his strength.
The heart I thought had stopped at the sight of Amy, breaks as I watch Uncle Garrett roar with agony. He turns her onto her back and starts CPR. I hear dad talking, calling 911.
I hear but I can’t take in any words or sounds, they bounce right off me.
All I can do is stare at the man I admired, the man I thought was unbreakable – break – wailing for his daughter whom he left in my protection.
~*~
I followed the ambulance to the hospital. Uncle Garrett rode with Amy, while Dad stayed behind waiting for the police.
I don’t know how I managed to drive. I’m sitting in the waiting room, my eyes glued to the floor. I can’t find the courage to look at Uncle Garrett. Aunt Kris got here a few minutes ago, and she’s sitting huddled against Uncle Garrett.
They look broken.
I did that, by not listening to Amy when she came to me for help.
Time just fades away in the shadows surrounding us. I don’t even notice the doctor until I hear Aunt Kris start to cry. It’s the saddest sound I’ve heard in my entire life. I’ll never forget the sound of a mother’s heart breaking.
I stare at the doctor’s mouth, seeing the words, but only hearing some of them. “She’s in a coma … No telling when she’ll wake up … Don’t know the extent of her injuries as we’re not sure how long she was without oxygen … brain damage…”
Each word is a nail into my heart.
~*~
Dad and Uncle Garrett beat Brad so bad, he’s been brought to the same hospital as Amy. I’m not sure which floor he’s on. I’m not sure I want to see him.
I run down to the cafeteria to get some coffee for everyone. Once I have the coffee, I take my time getting back to Amy’s room. I’m in n
o hurry to sit in that room only to be reminded of the part I played in this.
I step into an elevator and just before the doors close someone rushes in.
We recognize each other at the same time. I don’t know what to say to Brad’s older sister. This must be a shock to them as well.
“Louisa,” I can only get her name out.
Her face pulls with rage and she slams her hand into my chest. “Don’t you fucking Louisa me! You put my brother in hospital!” She slams her fist into my chest again and this time the coffee spills all over me.
I’m not sure how to react. If she was a guy I’d beat her ass!
The elevator doors ping open and I attempt to get away from her by quickly stepping off, but she follows me out, screeching, “You were like a brother to him! He trusted you!”
“What the fuck?” I turn on her, ready to have this fight right here. “He almost killed my cousin! She’s in a coma!” I gulp in some air in an attempt to calm down. “You need to get him some serious help, Louisa. He’s fucked in his head! What human being does what he did to Amy? He’s sick.”
Her fist comes swinging at me, and connects with the side of my neck, because she’s so much shorter than me. Security comes running our way and just before she can lunge at me again, they grab hold of her.
As they pull her away she keeps screaming, “He did it for you! You were like a brother to him! You betrayed him!”
I watch as she keeps fighting the security, and then the elevator doors close on them.
“Sir, are you okay?” One of the nurses asks, concern etched all over her face.
I wipe over my wet shirt and nod. “Yeah, just fucking fine.” I know she didn’t deserve me to snap at her, but this whole mess is just never-ending!
~*~
Chapter Eighteen
(Three weeks later…)
Amy~
Every time I try to open my eyes, I get dragged back under.
When I finally manage to pry my eyes open, a woman grabs my hand. “Angel? Can you hear me?”
Cruel Boundaries Page 4