Hell Himself

Tough love.

The way he said my name almost wooed me. The thick German accent, the soft whisper; it nearly made me admire him in a way.

I quickly snapped back to reality, shaking my head and turning my head, looking over his shoulder. He knelt down next to me then, grabbing my chin with his left hand, while his right hand rubbed my lower back seductively, forcefully keeping me on the ground.

"Sweetheart, you're such a pretty thing, y'know?" He paused, his eyes drifting from my own, to my lips, neck, my nose, back to my eyes. "I want you."

He growled subtly, leaning his head forward and kissing my jaw, his lips next to my ear.

"Don't make me hurt you, Am..." He began, chuckling deeply, wrapping his hand around my neck lightly. "You have a choice."

He looked down at me, coldness, envy, and lust in his dark eyes. "You come with me," He stood up, dragging me with him by my neck. "Or - well, do I need to mutter the end of it?"

He mocked me. He kept his hand tight on my neck, but not tight enough to choke me. His right hand was now holding my wrists together, as he pulled me to his chest with the hand on my neck, putting his chin on my shoulder, tilting his head.

"I don't have all day, Ameri."

I whimpered, my face buried into his jacket as he pulled me to him. I shifted my face so I could still breathe, my eyes watering again.

"You know I'd never -" he didn't let me finish. He hushed me, picking me up like I was nothing and throwing me over his shoulder.

"I don't care, sweet."

He rolled his eyes, ignoring my kicks and rants as he trotted out of the hospital, as if nothing had happened. I squinted my eyes as a street light shined into my eyes, scoffing. The sky was orange, blue and red - the sun setting over the horizon, street lamps flickering on all over the city. I looked around at the few cars parked in the parking lot; belonging to the patients, who he killed.

I groaned, getting thrown into the back of a pitch black Peugeot, my head wacking on the door as I smashed against the opposite side of the car.

"Ow!" I shrieked, curling up and whining in pain.

He snorted, getting into the drivers seat and looking at me in the rear view mirror.

"Oh, don't be dramatic, Am." He turned the engine on. "You'll live."

Before I could speak another word, he started driving. I could tell that he was getting faster since I could see everything slowly turn into a blur as I looked outside, occasionally.

I looked over his shoulder out of curiosity, my eyes widening as I saw that he was going 347 mph.

"Hey - whatever your name is - slow down!!" I squeaked as I felt my stomach drop, glaring at him with a scrunched up face, my arms over my stomach.

He laughed, putting his foot down.

"Buckle up, princess, you're in for a ride." He revved the engine, changing gears and looking at me again, his eyes staring right into mine through the rear view mirror. "The name's Bill, by the way."

I nodded, putting my seatbelt on and holding onto the door handle for dear life, furling my whole body up into a tiny ball, burying my scrunched up face deep into my shaky knees as I squealed fearfully.

I could tell that Bill sensed my discomfort, and I knew that as soon as he scoffed and drove faster. This asshat's goal was, obviously, to scare me.

"Bill, stop!" I shouted through my worried and scared sounds, my voice barely reaching the same volume of the car as he sped through the city.

I watched as every car moved out of the way for Bill, how he barely missed hitting cats, birds, even people, on the way to wherever it was he was taking me.

He laughed, looking back at me, and suddenly pausing. He grunted, turning serious and stepping on it, putting the car to a harsh stop.

I was utterly confused. I watched as he got out of the car, swinging my door open and grabbing my arm - but it was almost as if he forced himself to be harsh. He pulled me to the passenger seat, pushing me inside and slamming the door shut.

He climbed back into the drivers seat, his right hand on the steering wheel as he put his left hand on my hair, rubbing his thumb over it.

"I'm sorry, Ameri." He whispered softly and soothingly into my ear, sighing.

I cowered away, whimpering and looking at him with wide, scared, and clueless eyes. I saw the shift in his eyes as his face softened, as did his touch.

"Are you... scared of me?" He asked, looking away for a moment and then sighing, shrugging. "Not surprised, actually."

I didn't say a word as he let go of my hair, starting to drive again. This time, he drove at the speed limit for a while.

I eventually warmed up to him, thinking that he was being nice now and not trying to scare me.

That changed when he suddenly smacked a hand over my mouth with a handkerchief, knocking me out.

I heard his sigh, followed by a chuckle as everything went blank.

--------

I woke up, sitting up and rubbing the side of my throbbing head. I groaned, peeling open my eyes and glancing around me.

I was in a bedroom - a big, dark, clean bedroom. I didn't quite understand where I was, why I was here, or where Bill went, but in this moment, I didn't care.

I instantly got up, darting to the door and opening it, breathing a huff of relief as it was unlocked. I wandered down the halls, passing the dozens of doors on my way. I swore I was in a mansion. My shoes thudded on the white, marble floor as I ran down the halls, eventually reaching the staircase.

I sighed, walking down the stairs and whimpering as fear filled me to the brim. I stayed silent as I reached the bottom of the stairs, looking left and right, before I strutted left. I entered the living room - I assumed - and I saw Bill there. He was on the couch, a cup of coffee in one hand, while a newspaper was in the other. He heard my little squeak of confusion, turning his head to look at me.

His look softened for a shirt moment until he cleared his throat and turned stern and threatening again. He put his coffee down, chucking the newspaper onto the table and patting his leg.

"Come here, sit down." He gestured next to him, and I obediently followed the order - but only out of fear.

I say down next to him, huddling my knees to my chest as I look up at him and stutter, my eyes filling with tears as my breath caught in my throat, a lump forming.

He paused again, and I could see a slight pain in his eyes as he watched me panic. It was as if he was forcing himself to hate me, so he doesn't care.

"Ameri, Ameri, please." He didn't let me speak. He dismissed me, waving his hand and shaking his head, looking down at his lap and meddling with the rings on his fingers.

"Bill, I'm scared..." I shakily stated, sniffling as I broke down, crying and shifting in my seat. "I wanna go home; I don't know where I am -"

He interrupted me, slapping me across the face. Now he looked enraged, this time not forcing himself to be. He growled and huffed, throwing a pack of tissues at my face.

"Clean those damn tears away, will you?" He patted his knees, dusting himself off and standing up. He started walking out of the living room.

I couldn't speak a word as he slammed the door behind him, leaving me alone on the couch, in a mess of my own tears.

I heard him sigh through the door, barely making out a sentence before he walked away, hearing him rant to himself.

"Tough love, Ameri, get it through your thick skull..."

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