by Melissa Jane
“I’m learning so much about you, Gem,” he murmured. “Wanna know what I’ve learned?” Mason didn’t wait for a response. “Almost sixteen and never so much as kissed a boy.” His finger traced my collarbone and drew a line down to my breasts. “You prefer lacy bras,” he taunted, catching glimpses of white lace. Humiliated, I bit down hard on my bottom lip to stop the sobs. “You wanna marry my brother…” Mason continued, “… but you’re too scared to tell him how you truly feel. And you’re curious. Curious about sex.”
“Enough,” I screamed. “Get off me.” I bucked and jerked, trying to shake him off. There was some give but not enough that he lost grip. In response, Mason pressed his groin against mine, the uncomfortable hardness igniting a fear for my life and everything I preserved.
“Not so fast, Little Wren.” He smirked with a perverse sense of victory, knowing he had, and always would have, the upper hand. “We’re not finished. Hell…” he laughed, “… we haven’t even started.”
Mason yanked me away from the tree, his heel coming in contact with the back of my foot. I fell to the ground, him landing on top. I struggled and squirmed underneath him, but there was little I could do when he pinned my wrists above my head with one hand.
“Lucas!” I screamed. I shrieked so loud, I thought my throat would tear. “Lucas, help!”
“Scream as loud as you want, Gemma. You’re too far from home for anyone to hear.” His smirk spread from ear to ear. He was enjoying every moment of this.
Tears slid from my eyes and ran down my temples. Using his thumb, Mason gently wiped them away.
“What will you do if Lucas sees you like this?” I seethed. “To see his brother attacking his best friend?”
“You chose the wrong brother, Gemma.” Mason’s eyes stormed. This wasn’t an opportunist seizing the moment. This had been a premeditated endeavor. All those times Mason had studied me so lewdly, made revolting remarks about my body and threatened me—they were all warnings leading up to the main event.
Using his knee, he pushed my legs apart and settled in between. Mason’s free hand traveled from my knee to my inner thigh, his fingers pulling my underwear to the side. I was crying, no longer concerned he’d see me as weak. The scent of damp dirt and decaying leaves beneath me mixed with Mason’s cologne. Earthiness versus sweet and spicy.
“Don’t do this, Mason,” I pleaded. “Please don’t.”
He studied me for a moment, caught in contemplation. “Are you saving it for Lucas?”
It being my virginity.
I turned away feeling my cheeks blaze. “Lucas wouldn’t even know what to do with a girl like you, Gem,” Mason spoke as if in a trance. “He wouldn’t know how to touch you, or how to kiss you.”
“Mason, you know this is wrong. So, please… please don’t hurt me.”
His fingers grazed under my panties, threatening penetration.
“Relax,” he cooed. “I’ll take what’s mine when the time’s right. I just wanted to give you a taste of things to come.” Using his thumb and forefinger, Mason gripped my jaw, turning my face until our eyes met. He saw the fear and in some sick perversion, it only encouraged him.
“But… Lucas can’t have everything.” Mason claimed my mouth, kissing me hard and fighting against my struggles. His fingers dug deep, holding me in place, my muffled pleas evaporating as the monster from next door became my first ever kiss. He was forceful and possessive, driving my skull into the ground as he took some more of what wasn’t his to take. When he finally managed to part my lips, and his tongue searched for mine, I seized the moment.
I bit hard, my teeth sinking deep until I could taste blood. He groaned and jolted from the pain until I finally released him. Mason sat up, one hand to his bloodied mouth, the hand already raised. His open palm connected with my cheek, the sharp slap echoing through the woods.
“Fucking bitch!” he fumed, struggling to form the words. My eyes were squeezed shut while I coped with the sting, and I started wishing to be anywhere else but trapped in the woods.
“Open,” he demanded, his tone chilling.
I obliged, fearing reprisal. Through damp lashes, I met his eyes. He smirked, his gaze dropping to something in his hand. My lip stopped quivering and instead, my fear took hold.
In a terrifying moment, I was met with Mason’s sadistic smiling face and his switchblade. Its blade glinted in the small stream of light which penetrated the forest canopy.
“You may not love me like you do him, Gem,” Mason started, dragging the blade down my cheek, catching the tears. “But I want to give you something that reminds you of me. Do you wanna know what that is?”
I was frozen in place, too scared to move in case the knife slipped. “No.”
He sneered.
“I want to show you. Make sure you keep your eyes open for this one. You don’t want to miss a single stroke.”
Pulling my arms back down to my side, Mason crawled high into a straddle, his knees pinning me down. My upper arms bore the full weight of him, knees squishing muscle and flesh. I screamed, but he didn’t ease the pain.
“It’s for your own good, Gem.” His eyes glistened with a sickening promise. “You’ll see.” Mason pulled the straps of my bra and dress over my shoulder, his forearm resting across my neck. I was pinned from the waist up, and now he seemed intent on choking me. I could only see his face, his expression unreadable, stormy eyes focused on his next task. The tip of the blade carved into my flesh.
The tender skin under my collarbone was on fire, each drag of the knife igniting more agonizing pain.
If I moved, he increased the pressure on my neck.
He tore at my skin like he owned it.
He carved into me, relishing the sight of blood he set free by his own doing.
I begged.
I pleaded.
Every word fell on deaf ears until finally, he sat straight, removing his arm from my neck. I coughed, gasped and sobbed simultaneously wanting nothing more than to curl in a ball and cry.
“Pretty neat for my standards,” Mason said, pleased with his efforts. I had no idea what he had branded on me. I was too scared to know. The smile dropped from his face, and his eyes narrowed.
“A little something from me to you. Something to remember me by.”
Chapter 17
“Owww…” I sobbed, tears dripping into the bowl of water I was hunched over.
I was alone in the cabin, dabbing at the fresh wound. Staring ahead, my pained eyes locked on the black knot in the woodgrain wall. I was trembling, which only added to the pain, the cloth pulling at torn flesh. Mason had escorted me back until we were twenty yards shy of the cabin, his fingers digging into the tender part above my elbow. When we came to a stop, he swung me to face him. Blood had dripped like a fountain from the wound and covered my breast, my yellow sundress was completely ruined.
He inched his face closer to mine, his teeth bared. “Breathe a word of this to Lucas, and I’ll do more than carve a few letters into your skin. Do you understand?”
Still in shock, I didn’t reply fast enough. Patience lost, Mason gripped my shoulders and shook me, spurring me into action. “Do you hear me? Do you understand, Gem?”
“Yes.” I was utterly defeated.
He released me, using his thumb to stroke my cheek. It was an endearing gesture but one that was filled with malevolence.
“Good girl,” Mason crooned. “Go clean yourself up.”
He stalked away, heading back to where Lucas would be waiting at the stream. For a long while, I waited, too numb and exhausted to move. When Mason had disappeared into the thick of trees, I staggered to the cabin and collapsed. At first, I hugged my legs to my chest, rocking back and forth, crying. Then fear of Lucas returning and finding me in that state propelled me into action.
The dress was a throw-away. Since there was no shower, I made use of water from our bottle collection. My limbs were covered in dirt, the rest, blood courtesy of Mason. Carefully applying gauze
from the first aid kit I brought on the second trip to the cabin, I changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, concealing the wound. Gathering my belongings, I made to leave. I couldn’t stay here. I needed to be as far away from Mason as possible.
With a sorrowful glance around the room, I said my goodbye. It would be my last visit. My fingertips barely touched the brass handle when the door flung open. The two brothers stood in the entry. Lucas eyed my backpack with confusion while Mason’s hard face spelled out the warning.
“Gem, where are you going?” Lucas asked, brows knitted together.
“I’m heading home,” I stumbled the words which only further piqued Lucas’s curiosity.
He crossed the threshold causing me to step further back into the cabin. “What? Why? We weren’t planning on going back until tomorrow.”
Mason’s brows raised in challenge. He was daring me to speak the truth.
I hated lying to my best friend, but what I detested even more was knowing Mason would come after me a second time. “I have a science exam next week, and I need extra help—”
“I know,” Lucas interjected. “I was going to help you with it tonight.”
“It’s too late,” Mason offered with false sincerity. “The sun’s going down, and it’s not safe in the woods at night.” A small smile twitched his lips. “You never know who or what’s lurking around.”
My eyes prickled. If I burst out crying Lucas would surely know I was lying. Already, I could see him questioning why my eyes were red and puffy.
“Gem, Mason’s right. Besides…” he stepped forward cupping my cheek. Over his shoulder, Mason carefully watched. “I need you here with me. I can’t go back home yet.” The desperation in his voice was heartbreaking. Of course, he didn’t want to go home. If I were in his situation, I wouldn’t want to either. “I’ll help you with whatever you need.” He continued, “Please, just don’t let it upset you.”
“Okay,” I whispered, stepping out of his touch. I turned away from them both, eager to escape their scrutiny. Letting the bag slip to the crook of my elbow, I tossed it onto the couch wincing as the tender flesh tore a little more from the movement.
Gauging my body language, Lucas approached from behind, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” I dismissed. “It’s nothing.”
“Okay.” Lucas studied me with concern, but I couldn’t fully meet his gaze. I would break down if I did. “Let me know when you want to start studying. I’ll help. I promise you’ll pass.”
“I will,” I responded quietly, pulling away. With my back still to the brothers, I sat on the sofa and flipped to a random page in the textbook. I didn’t care for the exam. I didn’t care for the words and formulas on the page that were nothing more than a blur.
“What do you mean you couldn’t find them?” Lucas asked in disbelief. “They’re right here!” He held up the packet of fishing sinkers from the small dining table and waved them at his brother.
Mason chuckled knowingly while shrugging his shoulders. “I guess I missed them.”
“Missed them or just didn’t look properly.”
“Had more important things on my mind, brother,” he said with a hint of sickening humor.
I visibly cringed. I needed to remove myself from this situation and get as far away from Mason Carter as possible. But I couldn’t. I was stuck in his presence until we made moves the next morning. Opposite me, Mason propped himself up on a rusty stool and juggled a shiny green apple. He held my gaze before taking a large crunchy bite, winking as he chewed, humiliation his goal.
It was going to be a long night.
~
The journey was the longest it had ever taken. Mason led the way, followed by Lucas then me tagging along. Infuriatingly, Mason was in an unusually cheery mood. He whistled the same obnoxious tune, Itsy bitsy Spider, the entire distance, completely indifferent to what he’d done to me the day before.
He seemed proud of his efforts.
Lucas was more reflective, quiet as he contemplated the volatile week ahead. I didn’t envy his position. And I too was lost in my own thoughts. The night before had ended without incident, and I’d excused myself early to bed opting to be closest to the wall, keeping a greater divide from Mason. That didn’t stop the nightmares. I slept lightly, frightened by every noise, worried I was being watched and terrified he was close. The carved area of flesh throbbed throughout the night, and I feared infection. Eventually, however, with both boys lightly snoring, I fell into a late morning slumber.
We reached the edge of the woods where our bikes were chained to the trees, and the boys pushed away the concealing shrubbery. Lucas wheeled over mine, and I took the handlebars. He wore a look of pensive sadness, and my heart broke a little more for him. I hated seeing him like this. A part of his soul was dying, and I could do nothing but watch.
“You can always stay with me, Luc,” I said out of earshot from Mason. “You’ll be safe there.”
He shook his head, linking his pinkie finger through mine. “He’d find me. And when he did, he’d hurt you, too.” Side by side and in silence, we wheeled our bikes until we entered the clearing that would take us down the hill and into Little Valley. The three of us hopped on our bikes and continued the rest of the journey, each lost in individual contemplation.
Mason rode ahead, always wanting to be first. Lucas on the other hand pulled up by my side.
“Truth or dare?” he asked, flicking me a shy smile.
“Truth.”
“Could you see yourself marrying anyone else but me?”
Despite everything that’d happened, I returned his smile loaded with warmth and affection. “No. Only you.”
His turn.
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Do you promise to always be in my life no matter what?”
“That’s not a true-false, Gem,” he teased. “But the answer is yes. I’ll always be in your life.”
~
Pushing in the bathroom door lock, I stared at my tarnished reflection, too terrified to remove my shirt. Mason’s face sneered before me, haunting my thoughts. I could feel the weight of his body on mine while he carved into my skin. I could hear the satisfaction in his voice when he claimed me as his. They played over and over. Exhaling sharply, I pinched the hem of the shirt and lifted it over my head. Tears slipped down my cheeks, my broken skin stinging with each movement. I groaned, gripping the basin until the pain subsided.
A gentle knock sounded at the door. “Gem darling, is everything all right?”
“Yes, Mom,” I replied staring at feet. “I’m just going for a shower.”
“Dinner will be ready in fifteen. Do you want to invite Lucas and Mason over?”
My heart moved from thudding to a slow, agonizing pound. “N-No,” I stammered. “They have other stuff going on.”
“Fine, darling. Don’t be long.”
“All right, Mom.”
I waited barely breathing until I heard her voice talking to Dad downstairs.
I peeled the bloodied gauze from my skin, seething in agony. By the time it was fully removed, I was weak and defeated.
For the first time, I stared at Mason’s engraving.
His branding.
It was a mess, the writing crude. But it summed it up perfectly. The nightmare that was Mason Carter was etched into my skin reminding me he had claimed ownership. And all it took was four letters.
Mine.
Chapter 18
NOW
Lazing on the porch’s white sun chair, I soaked up the last rays of the summer sun before returning home the next day. The smell of fresh cut grass accented with the sweet fragrance of blooming wisteria drifted by. Beside me on the cane coffee table, my cell buzzed. It was Charlie.
Expecting his call, I answered, “Good morning, Charlie.”
“Is there three of you there to make my Charlie’s Angel’s posse?”
“You couldn’t handle three.”
“You’re absolutely right. And that’s precisely why I’m calling, I can’t handle women! Bernise Thornton is…” Voices on the other end of the line came into earshot, and Charlie hesitated.
“Lovely?”
“Is…”
“Not lovely?”
“Well…”
“Bernise Thornton is an asshole?”
“Bingo!”
“Is she there?”
“Yes.”
“Is she standing in the same room as you?”
“Oh, yes…” He laughed casually so as to not draw attention to his negative spin.
“Damn, she sounded so pleasant and organized on the phone.”
“Well, that is definitely not the case. Anywho, the canvases are too heavy for the wall hangers. We’re both a little concerned for the safety of the artwork and anyone who happens to be standing in front of them when they fall.”
“Call Brian from Form Fitters. He will install the reinforcements. And then pass the invoice for Carleen to pay. He likes all monies to be transferred by the end of the day. Otherwise, he won’t come back.”
“Speaking of not coming back?”
“I am coming back. Just waiting for a few things to blow over first.”
“Well…” there was pause while Charlie left the room, “… David has been like an angry bear in heat who hasn’t been able to get laid, ever since you left. He couldn’t make his feelings any more obvious.”
“Yeah, mmm…” Feeling indifferent. “I don’t want to add his issues to my list. The man is married and needs to back off. Anyway, give me a call if you need anything else.”
“Sure will.” I was about to end the call when I heard his urgent voice. “Oh, wa-wa-wait!”
“Yep.”
“A package came for you yesterday afternoon.”
This piqued a nervous interest. I never received packages. “Who’s it from?”