UN-Breakable

by S. K. Lessner

  An older man walking out of the house across the street caught my attention, pulling me from my morbid thoughts. He was carrying a white garbage bag that appeared to be filled with clothing or fabric of some type. After pulling the door closed behind him, his head was down, shoulders slumped as he slowly shuffled around to the side of the house and got inside an old white Cadillac. Once he finished backing up and pulling away, my eyes returned to the house, silently wondering what his life was like. Did he have children? Was he married? Did his wife make the sheer curtains that hang in the windows? I had no idea why the onslaught continued. I needed to move on to the next address Boss had given me. But for some unknown reason, my heart felt shattered, the homes and ideas behind them filling me with a deep sorrow and longing for something I may never have.

  Realizing how much time I’d wasted by standing there and taking inventory of the neighborhood, I kicked a discarded can out of my way and hurried back to my car to move on to the next address. The disappointment that James wasn’t here quickly morphed into anger as I turned the ignition and started the car. I couldn’t explain why I’d been so certain she’d been in that house or why the neighborhood had seemed to speak to me. It was just a feeling I had. One that hadn’t paid off and ended up wasting precious time.

  I felt hesitant to leave, even though my mind was already racing toward the next destination. Something wasn’t right. I kept feeling like I was missing some clue. My mind was sluggishly trying to stay on task, my emotions and fatigue beating me down. With every hour that passed, I felt increasingly more hopeless. I knew I needed to sleep. My body had been pushed to the limits. But that wasn’t possible. Reminding myself that Gwen was out there, somewhere alone and in agony, I wanted to kick myself for being so self-centered. I needed to get my mind focused and stop the melancholy bullshit. Closing my door, I began driving and turned the radio up once again, trying to drown out my self-loathing. It was to no avail; the words and tunes only seemed to amplify my incriminations. I knew if nothing came from these next addresses, I’d be screwed, completely helpless to find her. I wouldn’t give up, but I’d be without a home, living out of my fucking car while I continued.

  Slamming my hand down against the steering wheel, I cursed for the thousandth time. “Where are you, damn it!?” If only I could find a sign or a billboard pointing me in the right direction.

  Loud footsteps were the only warning that he was coming. I had to fight to pry my eyes open, the swelling and dried tears had sealed them closed while I’d slept. With consciousness came another extreme bout of pain that only seemed to increase as he grew closer. Knowing my time alone had come to an end, I stayed in my tucked position as long as possible, and watched the shadows against the wall grow as he walked into the room.

  “So, your little friend is still looking for you, huh?”

  I had no idea what he meant unless Nick was trying to find me. I didn’t know if I should answer him, shake my head, or ignore him entirely. His accusation sounded like he was blaming me. Closing my eyes, I wished I could pretend none of this was real and pretended to be asleep.

  “I suppose it’s time to move on.” His voice deflated, the sound of his steps disappearing as the mattress dipped and signified he was standing over me. “I was hoping you and I would have more time together. Especially after all the work I put into capturing you.”

  Without warning, I heard a high-pitched whistling sound flying through the air, followed by the loud slap of what could only be a leather belt connecting with the bare skin along my thigh. My eyes flashed open, confusion and fear warring for supremacy in my mind. The pain stung for a moment then billowed into a firestorm as he swung again and again.

  “Don’t worry, you can stay here, under the driveway where the rest of the girls are. You won’t be alone.” He laughed manically as he swung the belt, repeatedly hitting me along the length of my body.

  Scurrying to push myself back into the corner as far as possible, my body trembled at his words and actions. The pain was distracting me from any coherent thoughts. I wasn’t sure if I should beg and plead for my life or let him have what he wanted and finally end it.

  “Oh, hell no.” He threw the belt to the floor and leaped forward, coming to his hands and knees in front of me. Grabbing my ankles with each of his hands, he yanked them out from under me and dragged me lengthwise across the mattress. “If he can have you, then so can I.”

  I saw the determined look in his eyes. The evil incarnate. And I knew that there would be no persuading him otherwise. Only a few weeks ago I’d considered what it would be like to make love to Nick. I wondered if he’d be gentle and help me overcome all my fears. Now, I was back in the grip of a monster who would destroy and steal the only good thing that I had left.

  I felt the tears threatening to escape as I watched him yank his pants open and frantically begin pulling them down. His fury was like a growing beast. The fabric was only making it worse, refusing to follow his command and continually halting his advance. He was shaking with rabid ferocity. I knew it was pointless to hope that he’d get frustrated and walk away. I’d seen men at their worst before, and this one was far beyond that. One way or another I’d feel his wrath taken out on my body. Turning my head toward the wall, I gave up all hope. With one final sigh, I said goodbye to Nick and all the dreams I’d once had. It was done.

  Whipping the car around in the middle of the road, I almost collided with a bicycler and an older lady carrying two grocery bags. Yelling “sorry” even though they couldn’t hear me, I floored the gas pedal and weaved in and out of the same traffic I’d just worked my way through. I knew what was amiss now. I didn’t need to go to the second house after all.

  The house with all the pretty flowers that I’d been completely enthralled by? The one where the man had walked out of? The same one that had pulled my attention to it, practically begging me to come inside? I was certain that’s where Gwen was.

  Replaying every detail again and again in my mind while I drove, I’d been brought back to the picture of that house repeatedly. It wasn’t until I passed a motorcycle that the reason was revealed. The windows in the house had all been covered with white lace or sheer curtains—all but one. The odd window on the side of the home had been covered with a white blanket. It was enough that any passerby wouldn’t have looked twice. But the more I thought about it, I realized what I’d been looking at but hadn’t comprehended. On the backside of the fabric, just slightly visible from where I’d stood, was a Harley Davidson emblem.

  Turning the corners faster than what was considered safe, I feverishly worked my way down the crowded road, hoping I didn’t hit any parked cars or wayward pedestrians along the way. When I got within sight of the house again, I throttled the car even harder, racing down the road, and driving straight over the curb and into the front yard. I didn’t stop to consider I might be wrong and barging into someone’s sweet abode. I knew in my gut that she was there.

  Rushing from the car, I didn’t take the time to turn it off or close the door. I was going full speed, running up the steps, and kicking with all my might to open the door. To my surprise, the wood splintered where the deadbolt met the frame. The old wood not strong enough to withstand the sudden pressure, it popped open with almost no protest whatsoever.

  “Open your eyes, you little whore!” James screamed, spittle flying across my naked body as he jerked my chin toward him. “You will watch, and you won’t cry. Do you hear me?”

  Unable to stop myself, I nodded my head, hoping he’d get it over quickly if I did as he said.

  “And don’t you dare do anything stupid.” He lowered his voice as he climbed on top of me.

  Little did he know, he’d already won; he’d broken the final pieces that remained of my soul. I wouldn’t be fighting back again.

  I kept my eyes open but tried not to think about how he felt pawing my body and feverishly rubbing himself . He was having trouble getting ready to complete the final act. Something I wanted to
find joy in, but only wished it would end sooner rather than later.

  Realizing his hand wasn’t doing the job, he abruptly came to a stop. Unlike Alex, his eyes didn’t change. They remained the same cold, calculating, evil regardless of what he was doing. After a quick change in plans, he anxiously straddled my body, his repulsive sack dragging beneath him as he inched his way higher. With no regard to me whatsoever, he roughly grabbed my breasts, his hips rushing forward to try and slide himself between them. With no lubrication, the friction was unbearable. His skin stuck against mine, painfully jerking and pulling as he thrust back and forth.

  “Damn it!” he cursed, releasing my breasts, and crawling higher along my body.

  I didn’t know what his sudden rush was. He’d seemed completely at ease earlier in the day, satisfied to take his time and slowly inflict as much pain as possible. The way he was now feverishly trying to complete this act made me wonder what had changed.

  “Put your arms at your sides!” he demanded, squeezing my shoulders between his thighs as he positioned himself over my chest. He was practically sitting atop of my breasts.

  I already felt dirty and useless, past the point of ever being respectable again. But when he took his member and started rubbing it along my cheeks and mouth, I found there was more he could still rip from my soul. To my horror, his actions only increased as he suddenly began to grow harder. His fury morphed into delight, his evil grin replacing the scowl he’d had only moments before. It made me sick to my stomach, angrier than I’d ever been before.

  Pursing my lips together, I tried to focus elsewhere, but when he started smacking me with himself, the hard length connecting against my tender facial skin, I couldn’t take it anymore. I did something I knew I shouldn’t. I didn’t think first. I only reacted.

  Watching him repeat the action, I waited for him to come toward my mouth once again. With a boldness I didn’t know I possessed, I opened at the last second and took him all the way in. Surprised by the sudden surge he felt as the warmth and wetness of my mouth surrounded him, he grew extremely hard and overcame his good sense. With a groan of delight and satisfaction, he started pumping in and out of my mouth. Two more times I allowed him access to my oral ministrations. A third and I was opening as wide as I could, allowing him to find the depth he longed for. With his head flung back, his eyes closed in bliss, I slammed my jaw down, biting with all the force my jaw could manage.

  “Ugh!” he cried out, desperately trying to yank backward to remove himself from my grip. The tight hold I retained kept him trapped between my teeth. “You fucking cunt!” His hand gripped my neck and viciously started to squeeze. The response filled me with relief, hoping that maybe he’d finish me off before he could complete this awful act.

  “You…you, bitch! Let go!” His free hand pulled back and flew toward my face, a fist savagely connecting with my eye. Once, twice, and then the pain was too great for me to withstand and my mouth let go of its hold, releasing his disgusting piece of equipment.

  Through the pain radiating alongside of my face, I watched him roll to the side, falling off the mattress, and grabbing himself. I couldn’t help the smile that appeared. Nor could I help the tiny chuckle that snuck out. I must have been insane to provoke such a beast, but I hadn’t lost myself after all. I may end up dead and buried here in this damp and dirty basement, but I had fought to the very end. Nobody would ever take who I was away from me again.

  “You no good…piece of…filthy trash!” He must’ve heard me chuckle, or noticed the smile that refused to fade. Before I could register what he was doing, he was standing on the mattress beside me, his foot rearing back and malevolently colliding with my side. Again and again, I felt the pain. Crack after crack I heard my ribs pop. But through it all, I smiled. Even as the tears cascaded down my face and he roughly pulled my legs apart and positioned himself between them, I continued to smile. He would never win. He would never crush my spirit again.

  Fucking hell. There was blood everywhere. It was sprayed on the wall, pooling on the mattress, and dripped across the floor. In the middle of it all, Gwen laid with tears in her eyes and a small smile forced to her lips. She was looking away from me, her face focused on the wall where her hand tried unsuccessfully to grip the tiny cracks and crevices as the sick bastard stroked himself between her legs. I didn’t know what had happened before I got here, but I knew without a doubt he would never touch her again.

  “Get. The. Fuck. Away. From. Her.” My voice rose along with my gun, but I remained calm. Only ten feet away, I knew I could take him out with a single shot. But I didn’t want Gwen to witness it. Not if she didn’t have to. It would only be one more image to add to her nightmares. She didn’t need that.

  James’ head whipped in my direction, panic and surprise flashing across his face. Releasing himself, he reached up and rubbed his mouth, trailing a line of fresh blood along his lips. That’s when I realized she must have bitten his dick. Not only bit it but caused some serious damage. Storing the info away so I could tell her how proud I was of her, I took a step closer.

  “Move!” I yelled, getting no response from James except an ugly sneer. Gwen, on the other hand, snapped her head to the side, shock and surprise filling her huge eyes. Well, one huge eye, the other was swollen and turning a horrific shade of blue. Seeing that, my calm disappeared, replaced with the rage and anger I’d kept contained during the past few days.

  Taking another step, I’d planned to grab him and pull him into the other room to finish this once and for all. Instead, he pulled a knife from beside him and thrust it to her throat. Motherfucker! The tip was beginning to puncture the skin, a drop of blood beading on the blade.

  I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn’t let him do that to her. Not now. Not after I’d finally found her.

  Trying to think of a plan and coming up with nothing, I raised my hands in the air, taking my finger off the trigger, and holding the gun so it was clear to see that it wasn’t in use. Just as I was about to lean forward and set it on the ground, I saw Gwen’s leg twitch and glanced down at her. With a single, almost unperceivable nod, she told me to be ready. A second later, her knee jerked up, her leg extended out, connecting with his manhood. The force sent him tumbling backward, the knife flying out of his hand and across the room.

  “Kill him!” she ordered, her voice rough and garbled.

  I had every intention to do so, but not here in front of her. Closing the gap between us, I grabbed the bastard around the neck, holding him with one arm and the gun with the other as I dragged him from the room.

  I wanted him to suffer just as much as she had. I wanted to chain him to the wall and perform every type of perverse and painful act I could imagine. Unfortunately, I’d left the car in the front yard, parked haphazardly across the lawn and the front door wide open. I expected the neighbors to notice and call the police at any time. That was the last thing I needed. No, this fucker would get his justice when he met Satan himself.

  “Nick, kill him. Now!” She raised her voice, pleading with me as she struggled to sit up on the mattress.

  I paused, momentarily stunned by the fierceness in her command. That’s when I noticed her wince and grab her side in pain. The bastard deserved far more than a bullet to the head. “I am.” I nodded and continued pulling him backward.

  “Fuck you,” James wheezed out.

  “I need to know he’s dead!” Gwen cried, her body beginning to tremble, shock setting in.

  I wasn’t sure what to do. He wasn’t the first asshole I’d killed, and I had no problems finishing the job. But in front of someone so pure and good, I just couldn’t do it. Pulling his body over to the far side of the room, I found the laundry basin where a washer and dryer normally would be present. Turning my back toward Gwen, I yanked his body up and leaned him over the sink, sticking his head inside.

  “You fucker,” I growled in his ear. “You deserve far worse than this.”

  He laughed, wheezing uncontrollably, and l
aughed again. “She’ll always think of me now.” He coughed. “You’ll never own her like I do.”

  His words were an accelerant to my already raging fire. Making certain I blocked her view, I squeezed the trigger twice and unloaded the bullets directly into his temple. A second later his body was hanging limp, his words the last he’d ever speak. With an angry growl, I wrapped my arm around his waist and flung him to the floor. Unable to reign my temper in, I kicked his lifeless body, angrily wishing I could’ve done more.

  “The key. It’s in his pocket,” Gwen called out, sounding completely in control and not at all alarmed by what had just happened.

  Grabbing the pants that hung around his knees, I searched his pockets until I found the key she’d directed me to. With it in my hands, I gave him one final kick before hurrying back to her side.

  I expected to wake up at any minute and realize this was all a dream. Maybe I was lost in my delusional mind, and James was actually still alive. But the pain was so severe, so intense, I knew this had to be real.

  “There, that’s the last one.” Nick placed the final piece of tape along my ribs and sat on the side of the bed looking down at me. Grief and remorse filling his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Gwen.”