“You’re crazy! I’m not attracted to you. You think I’m going to worship the ground you walk on like the rest of your stupid women. Where do you find them, in some phone book? some backwards uneducated… I’m American and I won’t take that. You’re a complete chauvinist! I’m sure you wouldn’t let any of them have more than one man! I saw you hit Vilna… you probably hit them too! And on top of that, I would never agree to share a man with any other woman. Never!” Michelle might have been young but in no way had she been brought up to expect anything less than a man’s full attention. “You kidnapped me, you drugged me, and you play games with my mind.”
Haden laughed so hard that he bent over holding his stomach, and Michelle pushed her way around him and ran down the hallway, straight into his arms. He pressed her against the wall with his body and brought his face to hers, their lips almost touching, just like he did that time in his car. Michelle’s heart began beating faster. Why wasn’t her body behaving like she wanted it to? Haden ran the backs of his fingers down her bare arms till he reached her hands and her skin got goosebumps where he touched her. She was almost panting with frustration. If she couldn’t outrun him she would have to outsmart him. “I thought I was here because of Elliot. I don’t know what you want from me.” She exhaled and he kissed her lightly.
“I want a son.” Michelle couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her mouth dropped. “You can give me that. But I can’t force you, and I can’t use any of my tricks to get you to do it, don’t you understand? I can’t drug you and put your health at risk. It has to be natural, and you have to want it too.” Haden turned Michelle’s face to his, eyes intent. “You give me that, and I swear I will let you go.”
“But why me when you have all these other women?” Her tears were those of fear. “I’m too young and I have parents and I have to go back to school. This is not my home. And I don’t want to be pregnant. I just don’t.” Michelle’s voice broke as she shuddered, thinking about how Elliot would react to her being pregnant by another man.
“Why do you think Elliot picked you out of all the women he can have. Think about it. He could be with actresses, princesses, super-models! He can sense the same thing I do.” Haden told Michelle that she was strong and had special blood running through her veins. She could carry a male baby to full term without any problem. He would take care of everything else. He’d take care of her parents, and if she wanted, he’d hire the best tutors so she could continue studying. And he would make sure that she was taken care of for the rest of her life. What more could any woman want??
“You’re not too young. You’re a woman. Look at you,” he said, taking her hands so he could step back to look at her. “You’re beautiful and healthy. I’ll be gentle, you know I can be. And when it’s all done it will be like it never even happened. Just one year, that’s all I ask.” Michelle considered Haden’s offer. If all the man wanted was a child, and she was the only one that could give him that, could she blame him for trying to keep her there. Was he really that bad? Wouldn’t she do the same if the roles were reversed? And she’d get a lot of money. She could help her parents so they’d never have to worry about bills again. Could she see herself pregnant? Michelle’s hand instinctively went to her belly. Could she imagine being in that home for a year? And what then? Would she be able to leave the baby with him and return home at that point? Wouldn’t that be her child too? Haden took Michelle’s hand and led her back to the living room. “We’ll set it up however you want. New furniture, everything. Just not my room, ok? I like it the way it is?”
“What about Vilna? Isn’t this where she grew up? Didn’t she live here with her…?”
“Vilna likes you a lot. She told me so herself. She can keep you company so you won’t be lonely or bored. She’ll help me raise the baby. We’ll all be family.” Michelle sighed. Haden gathered her in his arms while she asked him why she would be lonely, where would he be? “I’ll come around, of course.” He kissed her and lay his forehead against hers, “I travel a lot for business, and I’m not always close enough to come sleep here.” He looked into her eyes and she read his expression perfectly; it said don’t provoke me. Haden had other homes with other women waiting for him, and that was not going to change. “It’s just one year, not a lifetime. Unless you find that just maybe I’m worthy of your love, in which case you’ll stay here and help me raise our son. Haden ran his fingers on the outlines of her lips and flashed a beautiful smile. There was a knock on the front door and the intimate moment was broken. Haden straightened up and looked at his watch.
“I’m hungry,” Michelle said, and Haden took her hand and led her to the kitchen. He called for whoever it was at the door to come in, and showed Michelle where the food was kept.
“I sent my housekeeper away for the night. I’m sorry. Do you know how to cook?” Michelle nodded, and Haden patted her on the head. “Make yourself what ever you want.” Michelle looked towards the kettle on the stove. “The tea is in there,” he said, pointing to a large canister and asking her to make him a cup too.
Michelle filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove. She grabbed two cups and saucers, and rummaged through the pantry searching for honey. There was a brand new jar, unopened, and she couldn’t get the lid to budge. She quietly walked into the living room and saw Haden inspect a gun then hand it back to one of the men, while the other man was sliding a cartridge of ammunition into his own gun with a loud clack. Michelle cleared her throat, and Haden motioned to the men who put their weapons away. “Michelle, what can I help you with? I’m sure you can see that we’re busy here.” The men looked at Michelle and then back at Haden who smiled with a shrug. Too shocked to say anything, Michelle just held the jar of honey out towards him, and Haden walked over and opened it.
“I don’t know how to turn on the range,” she added. Haden stepped over to the stove.
“Like this,” he showed her. Haden smiled when he saw Michelle spooning the honey into the empty cups. “I like mine very sweet, with lemon,” he said, pointing to a basket of fruits hanging above Michelle’s head. She reached up to grab the lemon and that’s when Haden grabbed her by the waist and turned her over and laid her almost flat on the countertop. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her passionately. He then pulled her arms around him, and Michelle embraced him while he ran his hand against her outer thigh. “I think we’re going to be good friends,” he said, leaving the kitchen again.
The water boiled and the kettle whistled a loud, whining screech. It did so for a long time, and eventually Haden returned to see why Michelle wasn’t tending to it. The kitchen was empty, and the back door was open.
Michelle knew she only had a couple of minutes before Haden would find out she was gone. She searched the Audi and then the truck, but the keys were not there. Michelle turned to look at the house, then tried to decide between running up the hill towards the ruins, or downwards. If she went down, she could either run to the flat clearing where the concert was held, or to the left where tall shrubbery grew. She chose the shrubbery. At first she thought about staying there and hiding, but she then picked up on the unmistakable smell of horses. The stables must be in that direction. Michelle ran along the pathway, pushing her body to the limit of its own speed with all her might, all the while hearing the teakettle whistling, but she wasn’t sure if she was just imagining it. She was too frightened to look behind her. The stables were right ahead and she ran straight into them, much to the surprise of the three horses who neighed and huffed through their large nostrils. She caught her breath and looked at the six eyeballs that were studying her with curiosity.
“Hey guys,” she said between gasps. “Don’t worry, it’s ok. I need a ride.” The horses seemed to quickly grow accustomed to her presence, and Michelle scanned their faces until she laid her eyes on the beautiful white and brown mare. “Hey, Susanna,” she said, reading the mare’s name from the carved wooden plank above her stall. Michelle reached in to scratch her nose and the
mare moved in closer. Michelle smiled. She had only attended horse camp once when she was a little girl; she hoped she remembered how to attach the saddle correctly, let alone ride. The mare didn’t seem to object to Michelle’s shaky hands as she tightened the cinch and slid the bridle into place without a problem. Michelle prayed as she put one foot in the leather stirrup and lifted herself up. She grabbed the reins and maneuvered the mare outside.
Michelle looked back at the house and saw no one coming. She circled around the stables and set out in the opposite direction. Her whole body was shaking and she felt a strong pounding sensation behind her ears with each beat of her heart as it pushed pressured blood through her veins. She had a headache. At first she let Susanna lead her, but as she got more comfortable she urged her to speed up by tapping her gently with her feet. There was still a long way between her and the farmlands up ahead in the distance, but there was still no one behind her. They must have thought that she had tried to make it to the main road, or that she was hiding somewhere around the house.
Michelle began to inhale a little deeper. She patted Susanna on the neck and urged her not to slow down. Out of nowhere, a black horse with Haden on top of it, riding bareback, appeared to her left. Michelle panicked and kicked Susanna, and the mare took off in a gallop. Michelle was too frightened to look back. Suddenly, she hit something solid, like running straight into a cement wall. She was out cold, but only for a second. Michelle screamed in agony; her back felt like it was on fire. Her eyes were closed, she couldn’t move, and Haden was on top of her.
“You little bitch!” he growled at her, and slapped her so hard that she became dizzy. She cried out in pain and turned away but Haden slapped her again on the other cheek. “Who do you think you’re going to fool? To lie to me! To play games with me!?!?” Michelle wept; she had failed. She tried to move underneath Haden’s weight but he was too heavy and when she exerted any pressure, her back felt as if it would snap in two. “You little piss ant. This is how you repay me for my kindness? Lie to me and make a fool out of me in front of my men! You’re going to pay for your audacity. That you thought you could con me!” Michelle felt the pressure from his weight lighten and she thought that maybe Haden was getting off her, but when she opened her eyes she saw that he had merely raised himself onto his knees and was unbuckling his belt.
“No matter how honest I’ve been with you, you’re always trying to get one over me! You’re rotten! Pulse or not!” Michelle closed her eyes; the image of a man on top of her unbuckling his belt was one that could only come from nightmares. She tried to push him away with her arms but he grabbed both of her wrists with one hand. With the other he began lifting her skirt. Michelle tried to kick, despite the pain, but there was no use. Haden’s hand searched for her underwear and she tried to move her pelvis away from him. “What’s this?” he said, pulling out a rolled up kitchen rag from beneath the elastic. He unrolled it in front of her and the kitchen knife she had stolen fell to the ground. “What were you planning to do with this? Were you planning to use this on someone?” he yelled straight into her face, bringing the blade a mere centimeter away from her. “Tell me!” he yelled, and Michelle’s eyes watched the serrated blade as it hovered menacingly. Her lips quivered.
“I… don’t know…” she cried as a stream of fresh tears broke loose down her cheeks. Haden was furious, his eyes glowing with anger. He ran the blade across Michelle’s cheek and she squinted awaiting the pain, but then in a swift move he instead drew the knife across her dress strap and sliced it. Michelle was too scared to move.
“You know this could have been so much nicer between us, but now you’ll just have to suffer.” Haden lifted the knife above her head, plunging it into the ground so close to her that she thought for sure he was going to stab her in the face. He then lowered his lips onto hers while grabbing at her bare chest. She tried to pull her arms towards her body so she could protect herself from his cruel fingers, but failed. He kissed her mouth spitefully and stuck his tongue so deep down her throat that she thought she was going to choke. She couldn’t scream; anytime she tried to even breathe his lips were back on top of hers. She tried to thrash about, to throw him off her, but the more she did that the rougher he pressed his weight down upon her lungs. She tried to scratch, and even looked at the knife that was still next to her face. If only she could get her hand loose for long enough to grab it. Haden read her mind and chucked the knife as far away as possible. He then wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed, telling her that if she didn’t calm down he’d simply snuff the life out of her first. And then he would leave her body naked in the field for the wild animals to eat. No one would ever find her.
Michelle understood. Stop resisting and maybe he won’t kill her afterwards. Her body was already robbed of all energy and she was in so much pain; she simply gave up, lying motionless and turning her head upwards as far as she could to look at the upside-down horses and the flowers by her head, even the blue sky above. Michelle whimpered. She found herself quietly crying out for Elliot, saying his name between little moans of sadness. She could hear Haden unbuttoning his pants.
“For as much as you’re concerned,” Haden said coldly as he contorted her legs into whatever unnatural position he wanted them to be in, “it makes no difference whether you’re with Elliot or me. The outcome is the same, so just shut up already!”
“Please!” she pleaded. “Please Haden, don’t. I’m begging. I’ll do whatever you want. I was just scared, that’s why I ran… I was scared of being pregnant.” Michelle began bawling again, searching his eyes for any sign of sympathy. But they were almost completely white and monstrous. She told him that if he had a heart he would stop, because she was young and she was somebody’s daughter just like he had a daughter. She told him to imagine someone doing the same to Vilna. Haden hesitated for one second, and Michelle’s instincts told her it was now or never. She quickly sat up and threw herself on him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her face upon his chest. She pleaded again for him to have a heart. Haden lifted his arms away from Michelle’s embrace as if she were diseased. He was not going to feel sorry for her, instead yelling at her that she made him sick and shoving her off him so hard that her head bounced on the ground when it landed. He pushed her legs aside in disgust and got up to fix his pants. Michelle sobbed and heaved in relief and shame. She hid her face in her hands and cried out that she wished that she were dead.
“Get up!” Haden yelled at her, but Michelle couldn’t find the strength. He yelled at her again, and this time she tried to sit up but as soon as she did she screamed in agony and reached for her back. The pain was severe.
“I can’t… it hurts too much,” she cried, but he told her that he didn’t care, warning her that if she weren’t on her feet by the time he was done tying the horses together he would change his mind and not stop this time. Michelle struggled to stand up as Haden watched from a distance, his eyes still unnaturally blue. She did her best to cover the bare side of her chest with the torn dress, and pulled the skirt down over her legs. She stood hunched over in pain.
“Look what you made me do!” he said to her. Michelle looked down at her dirt-soiled dress. “You brought this on yourself! I hate it when someone causes me to lose control, especially a stupid girl like yourself who has no idea what it is she really wants. You’re very, very lucky, and I hope you remember this day!” he said, then spat on the ground towards her. Michelle apologized profusely for running away, but Haden told her that he didn’t believe a word she said. She was a liar like all women, like all humans. He then grabbed her by her elbow and dragged her back towards Susanna. He tied her hands behind her back and then ran his hand along her spine without any sensitivity at all. She screamed when he touched the sore spot. “There’s nothing broken, you’re just bruised. Take a freakin’ aspirin when we get home. You think I give a damn?” Haden lifted her and roughly placed her on the mare. “You deserve it. I hope you suffer well.”
; Haden untied Michelle and threw her onto his bed. She rolled into a fetal position and wept quietly, massaging her back every once in a while and crying out that she was hurting. Her body felt like it was bruised all over. Her spirit and her soul were just as bruised. She had never thought that she would be fighting for her life with every ounce of energy, and she had never really understood how weak she was until now. She was fragile and pathetic, she was a woman, and her strength would always be mediocre to that of a man’s. She had been moments away from getting raped; she was in hell. She knew very well that Haden had not even come close to using all his strength on her. He could have easily killed her if he wanted to.
“Here. Drink this,” he said, placing a glass of golden yellow liquid on the side table. Michelle’s body began trembling uncontrollably. She curled herself inwards like a wounded animal, protecting herself as much as she could. Haden’s cell phone rang. He said one word, then ended the call and walked over to the window. He looked down below to where he saw Elliot standing in front of the black Range Rover, completely surrounded, while one of the men was frisking him for weapons. Haden gave out a small laugh as Togor took Elliot’s sword and then his dagger. When Michelle heard Haden chuckle, she knew right away that something bad had happened.
“Well, if it isn’t Prince Charming himself. He showed up after all. Got to give him some credit, no? Wonder what he would think if he saw you now,” Haden said sarcastically, pulling the large sword out of the sack. When Michelle realized that Elliot was so close to her she felt even more pain than she thought she ever would. She didn’t want him to see her this way, and she wasn’t even sure who he was to begin with. But at that moment she wished she didn’t know anything about his past; she just wished she were in his arms.
Pulse of Heroes Page 45