Seduced By Him (The Drowned Series Book 1)

by Caitlin Sharratt

  “Some where you won’t be able to find her.” Fuck! No! Emily! My angel!

  I push my boss away from me, my breath shortening with every breath I take, my body felt numb, cold and powerless. I need my light in my life. I need my Emily.

  “So I guess you have only just realised it huh? You fucking love her, and you’re an idiot for that.” I look up, watching Johnathan raising his arm towards me. A thick, metal gun sat in his hand perfectly, his other hand clutching the bottom.

  “Sorry about this, but it’s either got to be my blood or yours that has to be spilled and I’m choosing yours.” I could not move away in time. He fired and all I could feel is the loud ringing in my ears, piercing it through my ear drums. I could not feel anything. No pain, no fire. Nothing.

  I fall to the ground, thudding as I go, the smell of burnt metal and blood filled my senses.

  “I missed your heart. Good, I want you to feel the misery seeping into your wound.” I look at Johnathan, a smallish grin across his face as he walks away, leaving me to die, to rot, to wither away.

  “Good luck in Finding her, Henry. Just don’t be surprised to find her in tiny little pieces.” He spat over his shoulder and all I could do is watch his walk away. I grab my chest, feeling the wetness drenching my shirt. Blood coated my hand and finally, I felt the pain. It was like a hot poker burning deep inside me but I couldn’t scream.

  I had to save Emily, I can’t die.

  I have to save her…to..protect..her.

  “E-Emily…” The darkest part of my soul took over me, shutting down my body and closing my eyes like a fog came over me. This can’t be it for me…I cannot die like this…

  The last thing I remember, was Emily’s words whispering to me as she slept.

  “…I...love you…”

  Me too baby, I love you too.

  Chapter Ten.

  Emily.

  Fourteen years ago.

  I had to get closer to the edge, closer so I can grab onto it and be able to rest. But all I could do was move my arms around me and kick my legs out.

  “Come on baby girl, you can do this. Come towards me.” I glance up at my father, seeing his arms spread wide open for me to swim towards too.

  “I can’t daddy, it’s too hard.” I breathed, getting tired already.

  “Don’t panic Hunnie. Just try on concentrate.” I did what my dad said, I relaxed my breathing, stared ahead of me and moved my legs and arms like I practise. I was moving! It was working!

  “I’m moving daddy!” I said with joy as I move towards him before finally swimming to the edge of the pool. He pulls me out of the pool, swinging me around as we both laugh with excitement.

  “Mommy! Mommy!” I moved out of my dad’s arms while walking towards my mother who was launching in a chair under the bleachers. She wore a summer dress along with a swimsuit underneath but to me, she was my angel.

  “Oh sweet pea! Did daddy teach you how to swim dear?” She sat up, letting me sit next to her even though I was soaked to the bone.

  “It was amazing! I think I am even better than dad.” I smiled up at her as she brushed my hair away from my face, letting her see my bright green eyes.

  “Oh really? Well I think the tickle monster disagrees with you!” I scream with laughter as my father and mother begins to tickle me until I could not breath. We all lounge together as the sun begins to get lower and lower.

  “I think we need to head back onto the yacht, don’t you think so too?” My Mother asked as she began to stand to still on her sandals. I wrap a towel around me and slip onto my own shoes as I walk hand in hand with them both.

  The yacht was close by and it moved softly with the waves, the sun began to hide behind the clouds as we set sail and get everything ready. I changed into my pyjamas as dad set out a meal for both of them.

  “You ready for bedtime?”

  “yeah, sit with me for a bit Mommy?”

  “Sure.” She tucks me into the single bed, making sure I stay warm.

  “This has been the best holiday ever. I wish we could stay another week.” I yawned while peering up at my mother, her long, brown locks curled perfectly.

  “You know it doesn’t work that way baby girl but I’m happy that you have enjoyed your time here.” Her delicate fingers tuck my own hair behind my ear, smiling down at me before pressing a soft kiss on my forehead.

  “Good night sweat heart. Love you.”

  “Night mama. Ditto.” I curl the pillow beside me, tucking it underneath my pillow as I cuddle it. My mother smiles at me again before leaving to go outside, she leaves a little gap outside, enough for me to see the dark sky and stars twinkling at me as I hear their voices lulling me.

  “The wine is fantastic here. You want a taste?” I hear my father say and I had to take a peak. My father sat by the side, pouring my mother a glass as she smiles at the sea.

  “Thank you but I will stick to the water.” She smiled while sipping her clear drink.

  “Well I hope our honeymoon was better when I had to put up with all of your bluntness.” He teased me.

  “Well I don’t know how you put up with me.” She giggled and all I could do was frown. Adults are confusing.

  “I think tonight is a beautiful night. The stars. The wine-well I’m the one drinking.”

  “Well..about that, I have been wanting to tell you something.” She sets her drink down before standing to go by his side, her hand sliding into him.

  “I-‘m pre-“

  “Mommy? Daddy?” I open the door, rubbing my eyes as I do. They both look up, concern in their eyes as they check on me.

  “What’s up princess?”

  “I-I can’t sleep.” I walk over to them, seeing their own little plates with half eaten food.

  “Let me tuck you in.” Dad comes towards me, making sure I get back inside, he smiles down at me before pulling the covers back so I can climb in.

  “In you go.” I climb in before feeling him tuck me in like mother did.

  “If you have any bad dreams, me and mother will be in the other room, okay?”

  “Okay papa.”

  “Good night.” He kisses my forehead like mother does every night and with a simple sign, I close my eyes and dream the night away.

  I wake with a startle, my body freezing cold and caused by the draft from outside, the yacht rocked roughly and I called out to my parents but I got no answer. The door to outside was open, and I get out of my bed to check to out. The sky was dark, cloudy and grey. I gasp to see rain pouring down and I wrap my arms around myself, I glance around, checking if they were out here but all I found was a loose rope that needed to be tied up. I walk outside until I had to go to the very edge, I try to grab the rope, but it was too far away so I lean over the side my hand reach out, the wind whipping around my body as the rain poured down me.

  I grab it and tug but only pulled in by the sea. The waves were heavy, clogging my throat until I couldn’t breath and my instincts kicked in from swimming earlier on that day. I kick my legs, reaching to the surface until I could breath. My head is the only thing that could keep up, the rain and the waves began to get worse, curling before rocking me slightly. I glance around, helpless as I look at the yacht, sailing far away from me.

  “No...Mommy! Daddy!” I cried out but all I could hear is the ocean, clashing with each other. The stars and the moon were the only thing giving me light. I kicked and swam, trying to calm my breathing when all I could do is scream for help as my tears washed into the sea.

  Hours went by, the sun rising then setting as another day went by, time seem to go too slow for me but all I could do was kick and swim. Later on in the day, I found a wooden board, easy for me to grab and just enough for me to float on a little.

  Night had fallen again and my lungs ached until it was hard for me to breath. I could hear my breath wheezing out of me, my toes had become numb and I didn’t feel a damn thing. I open my eyes, hearing a slight churning of machinery. My vison was blurry but I cou
ld just make out where the lights ahead of me were coming from.

  “Ahoy there!” A heavy accent filled my ears as the lights got closer and closer. Water splashed around me and I had to sit my head up to breath properly.

  “You alive?” I raise my hand, having enough energy so I could reach them. Rough hands grab me out of the water, my body was numb, frozen and unmoving.

  “Shit! Ollie! Get the blankets!” I heard the deep voice say close to me, heat radiated off of him and it cooled down my frozen skin. I kept my eyes closed, my body soon wrapped up in mountains of blankets as I shivered on a cushioned seat.

  “Hey kid. Open your eyes for me if you can.” I try to, I will my body to at least peak up at them.

  “There we go. Listen kiddo, I need you to tell me why fuck you was in the sea stranded like that?” He swore, the guy actually swore.

  “Y-You said a naughty word.” I shivered while clinging to the blankets.

  “Ollie, make sure you try and get some answers from her, I can only handle one kid at a time.” He stressed while heading inside the boat, it was larger than my parents yacht, big wooden boxes littering the inside from what I could see.

  “Yes Papa.” I flinch and look around, seeing boy beside me. He wore soft clothes and his hair was a little long and pulled behind a baseball cap.

  “H-Hi.” I breathed, breathing hard against my hands to warm them up.

  “Hello. I’m Ollie, short for Oliver. What’s your name?”

  “Emily. Do you know where we are?”

  “We are in Greece, where else would we be?”

  “I-I got stranded from my family yacht..the sea caught me and pulled me in.” My teeth began to clatter together, watching his dark brown eyes covered with thick eyelashes. He had a soft baby face and a boyish smile. He was cute.

  “Crap. Unlucky for you. You should be glad that you haven’t died. Let me look at your feet.”

  “What? Why?” He pulled the covered back to touch my feet and I flinch hat his sudden touch.

  “I have to check if you haven’t got frost bite.”

  “Isn’t that with ice and snow?”

  “The sea can be just as cold. Do you know how long you have been out there?”

  “I-I don’t know…I counted how many times the sun and moon shined. So I’m guessing about three days.”

  “Damn. You must be thirsty. take my water.” His hand reach beside us, a half empty plate of a sandwich and water bottle.

  “Won’t your Papa get mad?” He seemed scary as it is.

  “Not if he doesn’t find out. It can be our secret.” He smiled before passing me his bottle. I shakenly open it, and began to gulp it down.

  “Don’t rush drinking, it can upset your stomach when your body hasn’t had food or water for a couple of days.” He made it sound like he knew from experience.

  “So you said your name was Ollie?”

  “Yeah. I prefer than over my real name. I’m a cool kid so I need a cool name right?” He smiled, trying to cheer me up a little.

  “Are we close to the lands? I would really like to get back to my parents.” I asked, keeping the blankets around me and starting to feel a little warmer.

  “Not yet. We can’t get close to the main lands for a week or two yet, girl.” His father said as he left the little cabin part of the boat, his hands carried a box, nodding over Oliver to go with him.

  I was left alone to think, the chatter on the boat making me curious and I try and stand up but my body fails me, my legs were weak from kicking them for so long but I pushed my body until I rounded the corner. Both of them huddled over the boxes and I watched closely as they moved each crate away. I frowned to find the boy holding a gun in his hands and I shivered, not from the cold but from fear.

  “Looks like someone is being nosey.” Oliver’s father turns around, facing me while holding a white see through package, a dark look on his face.

  “She’s seen the packages Ollie.”

  “But Papa, she is just a kid. Like me.”

  “She won’t understand.” I wrap the blanket around me, hoping it would be a protective barrier.

  “You know what happens when people see the merchandise.” His father gripped onto his shoulder, almost making him gulp.

  “We have to kill them.” What were they saying? What do they mean? Is the nice boy going to hurt me? I thought he was nice.

  “Please Papa. Let her live, I will do as you ask just let the girl live.” They spoke as if I wasn’t there, watching them, scared out of my mind.

  “Fine. I will let her live as long as you do as I say from now on.”

  “Okay Papa. I promise.” Oliver glanced at me, a soft smile against his lips as he walks over to me.

  “She can sleep with me Papa; I promise that she won’t say a word to anyone.”

  “She better not.” He growled, Grabbing the gun Oliver was holding.

  “You see this Kiddo, if you try anything, even for a second, I will press this Gun right across your head hear and blow your fucking brains out. This isn’t some sort of game anymore; you should be grateful that I am letting you live.” I nod my head out of fear, my lower lip quivering as I do.

  “Good, now then, I think its bed time for both of you. Ollie, show her to bed and I will wake you both in the morning for some work to do.”

  “Yes Papa. Good night.” There was no hug, no kisses good night or tender smiles, only a hard stare and a nod.

  “This way. You can have my blanket tonight; I get too warm anyways.” He climbs into bed, no brushing his teeth and bed time stories, the single bed was old but it was useable. I climb in beside him, feeling a little warmer than before.

  “Do you miss them? Your parents?” He whispered as he tucked the covers over me and under my chin.

  “Yes. Very much.” I whispered back while watching the lights on the ceiling dance.

  “Sleep tight Emily. We have a big day ahead of us.” The boy smiled before closing his eyes. I do the same, hoping my dreams are letting me be in a better place than reality.

  “hey! Brats! Wake up!” I wake up with a start, my heart hammering hard as I was shaken awake, Oliver grumbles beside me before sitting up, He glances around us, finding his father moving stuff around as he does.

  “We need to anchor close by the bay, we have a couple of investors. Get your shit ready and hide her.” The middle aged man points at me, his old clothes disappeared and he was wearing smart ones. I was rushed out of bed and tugged underneath it, a seal covering underneath it so no one could see underneath the bed.

  “Stay with her.” His father ordered while crawling underneath with me.

  My back was cold against the flooring and kept quiet, Oliver stayed mobile, his breathing calm and not saying anything. He glances at me, pressing his fingers to his lips to make sure I don’t say anything. I closed my eyes, wishing I was someplace else, wishing I could be with my mother and father.

  “Were is the shipment?”

  “In here, there are a few other crates if your wanting to look at them?” Oliver’s father said, footsteps echoing inside of the room and all I could do was feel myself shrink a little.

  “No. I want to look at the guns. Are these the new supply?”

  “Yeah, none of the boarders realise that we can send these shipments overseas instead on land, sometimes the police are fucking clueless.” There goes another swear word. What is it about adults swearing?

  “They will never know what is going to hit them.” They all laughed before moving crates around and leaving the room. I open my eyes, Oliver glancing through the seal and gave me the thumbs up.

  “They’re gone.”

  “What was that about?”

  “It’s what my Papa does for a living.”

  “Is he a bad man?” I sit on the bed, staring at the small boy.

  “Yes.” He played with the piece of paper on the table, his eyes distant.

  “Are you bad?” He glances up at me, his soft brown eyes the colour of
milk chocolate and hazel nuts.

  “No.” And I believed him. I believed that he is the good guy and his father, was very bad so I had to do what Oliver says just so I can stay alive.

  Two weeks went by and every day investors came over to pick up the crates, I soon found out my Oliver that he not only sells guns which is something my mother had warned me about not to play with but he also sells drugs. Which is a word haven’t heard before but all I know is that is wrong and dangerous and I should never touch it.

  My body began to gain its strength, along with the food rations Oliver had been sharing with me, my throat no longer burned and my muscles no longer ached, but I was still afraid to look out at the sea. Sometimes I would watch them both pushing and stacking the crates as well as steering the boat. Oliver is kind to me, even when his father shows his mean side, Ollie is there to back me up and help me.

  They sometimes let me move things about with them, letting me get active and engage. Today, the sun was hot in the sky, sweat on our backs as we pulled the roped in when the sea began to settle.

  “I hope the net has not fallen apart this time. Or else we have no food for the next few days.” I had started getting bored of fish but it is the only thing that we could eat. I had become more observant, listening to every word they said so I could follow the directions of the boat. I had learnt so many things that a Nine-year-old should never learn, I shouldn’t have to cast on and cast off, I shouldn’t have to be scared of a bad man and I shouldn’t feel sorry for a boy who is just like me.

  “I need a word with you two when we sort this net out, grab that fish there.” He points at the slippery shiny fish by my feet and I grab it by the tail and head, just like he taught me before placing it on the ice box. A few minutes later, our hands were cold and wet from grabbing the fish and we all washed them inside.

  “We are going out to the main land’s today.” My ear perked up, my head snapping towards the man.

  “We are?”

  “Yes. I need to speak with another investor but while I do that, you can go back to your parents. I cannot handle another kid on this boat, yes I rescued you but I only did that for Ollie here. Do you have any idea how much he pestered me because he saw you?” He did? I give a sideway glance to the boy, a slight blush on his cheeks and all I could do was smile.