The Ones Who Saved Us

Chapter 15

Avalee's POV

I was lying down on the ground of the cold basement floor. Chains snaked around my ankles and wrists. A piece of cloth was tied around my mouth, gagging me, but I was still foolish enough to try and scream. A cool draft blew by me feet, numbing my toes. I was in my home in Georgia, in the basement alone with no one to save me.

My eyes searched the room for my brothers, for Papa, for anyone to get me out of here. I wanted nothing more than to feel the warmth and safety they provided. I wanted to go home.

Sir towered over me, the whip that had ripped my back apart countless times wrapped around his hand. "Did you really think you could run from me?" Sir asked, cracking the whip against the wall. "I'll always find you. And I will always have power over every part of your life."

I needed my family to come save me. With all my strength, I yanked on the chains and yelled as loud as I could. But no one came. No one would come.

"They're not here, Avalee," Sir said, a smug grin on his face. "They abandoned you. Don't you remember? You were too much of a burden, so they left you. With me."

My heart dropped at what my stepfather had said. I was all alone.

A small light shone into the dark basement as a man ran towards me. A set of hands restrained my arms while another trapped my legs.

"What's going on?" someone yelled.

"She's hallucinating. Help me hold her down before she hurts herself."

I couldn't see the faces of the men who were in this room, but I knew they were more of Demetri's and Sir's friends that had come to hurt me. My arms and legs flailed as I scratched the men who were holding me down.

"Let me go," I cried. "Please, I didn't do anything."

"Ava, calm down. It's me, Papa. You're safe, bambina."

No, no, no, no! They were lying. As long as I lived in this house with Sir, I wasn't safe. Alessandro and Papa abandoned me, and there was no one in this world who cared for me except maybe Teddy. I was in Georgia in that dreaded basement, and in a few minutes, these men would hurt me so much that I wouldn't be able to pick myself up afterwards.

"Stop, Sandro! You're hurting her. Let her go."

I knew that voice. No, he couldn't be here. He knew better than to leave his room when Sir and Demetri invited their friends over.

"Teddy, I need you to leave. We got this under control."

I turned my head towards the source of the first voice and saw my little brother with tears running down his cheeks. These men were dangerous, and they were going to hurt Teddy unless I did something about this.

I pulled my arms out of one of the man's grip, landing a strong punch to his face. Tears were pricking the back of my eye as I realized that I wasn't getting out of this. There was still one more man holding me down, and after I took the first one out, he tightened his grip around me. With my free hand, I attempted to scratch the face of the man who was holding my other arm, but he caught my hand before it made contact with his skin.

"Please, I'll do anything," I cried, struggling against the man holding my arms. "Just don't hurt my brother."

The man's grip on my wrists loosened enough for me to fight my out of them. I ran over to Teddy, taking his hand in mine and dashing out of the room to the farthest one. But I couldn't get over the fact that I wasn't able to find the stairs going up from the basement. This wasn't my home in Georgia. So, where was I?