Muffled sounds surrounded me, I wasn’t able to focus enough to really understand what was happening. My body was limp, securely pressed against a warm surface.
I groaned trying to get more warmth from the surface, the little movement had my tired eyes shooting open at the excruciating pain that shot through my chest and shoulder.
My eyes were met with dark, threatening ones staring down at me. I tried to pull away as I realised the warm surface was Noah’s chest. Each movement was met with a sharp pain in my chest.
“Ah, ah, ah, I would limit my movement if I was you baby girl” his tone was impassive as I quit my struggling. I gripped his shirt afraid of being dropped, as he climbed the stairs holding me like a child.
I was carried into an unfamiliar room, the walls and decor were all dark colours, giving the room an eerie atmosphere. “Now I want you to shower, you’re filthy after your little journey and then I need to wrap that mark before it gets infected”. His fingers ghosted over the branding as I whimpered.
He sat me on the toilet seat, the bathroom was much bigger than the one that was attached to ‘my room’. It matched the bedroom, the only colours were black and grey. He turned the shower on, placing clothes on the counter and turning to leave.
“Don’t even think about doing anything funny unless you want that mark on your chest to seem like child’s play” his eyes bore into my soul. My stomach was doing flips as fear coursed through my body.
I gulped as his stare prevailed, “I won’t” I whispered. I couldn’t find the courage to speak any louder, I was afraid he would snap if my voice was too loud.
“And no locking the door” he sneered before slamming it shut. I flinched working up the courage to stand.
I found myself frozen in front of the mirror, staring at the angry dark red blob on my chest. Sobs bubbled in my throat just staring at it but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hearing me breakdown, especially not when he told me my screams were beautiful earlier.
So, I got in the shower and let the noise of the water mask out the sound of the sobs that racked throughout my body. I stood in a daze staring at the dirtied water swirling down the drain, it had such an easy way out, it wasn’t trapped here and I envied it for that.
“Embry, you’ve been in there long enough, time to get out” his shout echoed, mixing with the bang he sent to the door. I rushed to wrap a towel around me and threw the clothes upon my body. My anxiety was screaming at me to go faster unless I wanted him to be mad and drag me down to that basement by the hair.
The cloth of my top rubbed against the raw skin of my chest sending sparks of pain up to my shoulders. I was face to face with that monster before I even had time to twist the handle. “Ah, there we go, all better and clean” he widely beamed. There was something so unnatural about seeing him smile, it didn’t suit the demented persona he had going.
“Yeah, thank you” I spoke lowly, wanting to do as much as I could to be on his good side. Nothing favourable ever came out of being on his bad side, after years of experience I had come too accustomed to that fact.
“It’s your home too baby girl, no need to thank me” my fingers met with his cold skin as he slipped his hand into mine. “You haven’t eaten yet, let’s go eat” I stayed quiet as he dragged me down to the kitchen, forcing me into a stool.
I stared down at the newly heated pasta in front of me, any other time I would have been ecstatic to eat it but at this moment my appetite seemed to fail me. His constant staring made me uneasy and I couldn’t help but squirm under the heavy gaze.
“Eat” his voice was dark and commanding, I must have moved too fast in a hurry to pick up the fork as my whole body lurched forward with the shooting pain in my chest. His eyes had softened from the hard gaze he bestowed upon me usually as he saw my face scrunch with pain.
“I don’t want you to be afraid of me Embry,” he gently whispered. Tears of annoyance stung at my eyes. He didn’t want me to be afraid of him? Well maybe he shouldn’t have burnt my skin with his initials, faked my suicide or kidnapped me.
Holding a tight grip on my fork I imagined what it would be like to lunge and stab him with it, but I knew I’d never be able to do it. Taking my silence as a sign of compliance he happily sighed and sat down next to me.
I yelped minutes later as he sprung from his chair, “sorry, I just remembered we have to bandage your chest” he nonchalantly announced as if I hadn’t nearly peed myself.
I studied his movement, getting ready for an unexpected attack, as he quite gracefully moved from cabinet to cabinet collecting supplies.
The fork balanced on top of the now empty plate, holding all my attention as I avoided eye contact with Noah. “Take your top off” he directed, while ripping open some unknown packet. My eyes widened at his request, he wasn’t serious? I could do it myself.
“It’s fine, I can do it,” I whispered, looking at his face but dodging his eyeline. “Embry” he warned, opening a disinfectant with more aggression than he held previously. “Really, I can, it’s fine, I’ll just go to the bathroom or something, or even the sitting room really, maybe even the bedroom, it’s really not that big of a deal which room I suppose-” my nervous rambling was cut off by a growl.
I felt the anxiety shooting around my stomach and chest at the menacing grimace he held on his face. “Take off your top and then sit down, NOW” my body flew into action at his howling of words.
I shivered as the cold air of the kitchen hit against my bare skin, as I clutched my top around my chest, trying to cover as much of my bra and co. that I could. “This might sting a little” he frowned before soaking a cotton ball with the disinfectant.
I clutched his shoulder as the waves of pain travelled throughout my upper body. “Stop, p-please, it hurts” I cried out, the tears staining my face.
“Shhh, shh, I know, it’ll be over soon” my grip tightened at the thought of him doing this longer than necessary, all it should have taken was a couple swipes. A sob of relief flew past my lips as he stepped away grabbing the bandage. This not being nearly as painful as the last act.
I moved at an unnatural speed to get my top back on as I felt his eyes linger upon my skin for too long. Slumping back into the chair I could physically feel the thoughts spin around my mind.
What was I going to do now, I had no one looking for me, they were too busy mourning my supposed death. I was too scared to try and run away again, and I didn’t think I’d be able to even find my way home, I was stuck with a guy I was beginning to despise and my shoulder hurt very badly.
“Hey Princess, sorry I couldn’t be there to save you from Noah’s sadism” my head spun to the left as the man from the woods trotted down the stairs. Taking a closer look I could see slight resemblance between his and Noah’s nose and eye shape but that was about it.
Noah grumbled from inside the kitchen at his brother’s remark. “Hi” I whispered, maybe if I got on his good side, he could help me leave. I’m sure their parents didn’t have enough psychopathic genes to give them to both sons.
“Better watch yourself Noah, or I’ll take your girl for myself” his stare and smirk started to get unsettling. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to take that comment as a compliment but all it did was make me extremely uncomfortable.
I jumped out of my skin as a plate smashed on the wall right of Noah’s brother. “I swear to god Sebastian, you better watch yourself before I f*cking murder you.”
“Who came to help you when your little b*tch ran off huh, so shut your mouth you ungrateful f*ck.” Nevermind, I don’t think I’m going to entrust ‘Sebastian’ with my safety anytime soon. Well damn, looks like I’ll have to fend for myself.
Noticing my discomfort, Noah trots over pulling me to his chest. As if that would calm me down, I could have sworn this boy was a straight A student before, he seems to have lost all his intelligence.
Tensing in his embrace, I let him hold me, not wanting to pull away and get dragged to my demise. I felt Sebastian walk into the kitchen but I was sure Noah wouldn’t let him hurt me, considering he liked to keep that job for himself, so I wasn’t panicked at the prospect of being murdered by him.
“Let’s watch a movie, you wait here while I get the blankets okay” he rubbed his thumb against my cheek before racing out of the area. He seemed so child-like yet so absolutely terrifying.
I shuffled awkwardly waiting for him to come back as I played with the hem of my shirt. “You’re so very beautiful Embry” I jumped at how close Sebastian’s voice was. The way my name rolled from his mouth made me want to laugh, vomit and cry all at the same time.
“Ehm, t-thanks” I mumbled, and for the first time here prayed for Noah to come back. My throat constricted as his hand met my lower back and began trailing downwards. “So, so, so beautiful” his hot breath was touching my ear as I recoiled from his touch, at least Noah had never touched me in such a disturbing way.
“Please stop” I begged, moving my arm to push his away. He moved too fast as he pinned my wrist to my side, his touch becoming harsher. “Tsk, tsk, princess, that’s no way to treat guests” I scrunched my eyes painfully, holding the tears back as his nose trailed my jaw.
“You’re all mine now” he whispered evilly.