Hell Himself

She's like a pet.

As I heard those words, both confusion and annoyance settled in my body, slowly rising higher and higher. 'Tough love'? He didn't even know me; what does he mean 'tough love'?

I scoffed, crossing my arms and wiping my tears away, shaking my head. I heard footsteps in the hallways, coming closer to the living room; where I was.

I ignored them, thinking that Bill would just come back in again. I heard the door open, and then I heard breathing. I turned my head, looking up to see someone else. It wasn't Bill - yet he looked so similar to him. He had Bill's face, but he had black braids instead. And their styles were so different.

Before I let my thoughts wander anymore, he spoke.

"You must be Ameri." He stated dryly, looking me up and down with a sly, judgy sort of look.

"Yeah." I replied back with just as much dryness as him, rolling my eyes and turning my head away.

Before I knew it, this guy had grabbed my wrist and yanked me up, holding my wrists together with one hand, tight.

"I'm Tom." He sighed, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, starting to walk out of the room with me in his grip. "You're already annoying me."

My eyes widened, and my nose scrunched up angrily, but I didn't say anything at all. I simply just watched him and the halls as he dragged me somewhere in the mansion.

He dragged me into a garage, where four beautiful, big, yet dangerous looking sports cars were. I let my sight check out the cars, taking in the sight as I was being dragged. Bill's pitch black Peugeot, a red Lamborghini, a blue Tesla, and a white Mazda.

I gazed in amazement as I saw how clean and neat looking they were, until Tom snapped his fingers in my face, while his other hand dragged me.

"Hey, eyes off." He growled, dragging me toward a spare room in the garage. He twisted a lock on the door, swinging it open.

He pulled me inside without a word, taking me over to a couch and shoving me back, making me sit down. He glared at me.

"Stay here; if you leave, I'm gonna shoot you in the face." His words echoed in my ears, alarming me instantly.

My eyes went wide yet again, and I opened my mouth to talk. Nothing came out. I just nodded, staying put as my shaky hands rubbed my knees.

"Hm..." He nodded a small nod, scanning the room, before he sighed. He looked at me one last time, leaving the room.

I heard the door slam shut, and the click of the lock followed after. My breathing got shaky as I sat there, looking at the floor.

I heard everything. The clock ticking, the muffled talk of Tom speaking to someone outside, the loud sounds of doors being slammed, and a few people in the house shouting cheerfully. The sound that stuck out to me most was my breath. It was loud.

The anger and confusion that had set inside of me slowly turned into fear, dread, and regret. What if I never went outside that day? If I'd stayed in my apartment, surely then I wouldn't be here. Those patients wouldn't be dead.

I started to think. I thought hard, my knee bouncing up and down as my foot tapped on the ground.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Tom coming back in. I think he called my name a few times because when I snapped back to reality, he sounded impatient.

"Ameri!!" He raised his voice, shrugging his hand, calling me over. "God, took you long enough. Come on, get out."

"Fine..." I mumbled, standing up. I let my legs take me toward Tom, slowly stumbling in his direction.