Dollface

Part 15

~~~~
I sip my tea and watch Simon from a window, the sun shining brightly as he strained, pushing his muscles to physically impressive limits. Push-ups, sit-ups and laps around the field my father considered his backyard.

Sweat ran down his tanned skin as he practiced at the shooting range. He was so beautiful, a kind of perfection that hurt to see ruined by his anger.

J: I wonder about him too.

Johnny spoke next to me. At first I was startled, embarrassed that he caught me watching him.

J: He's depressed inside, you know, as a friend of six years I still don't know anything about his life before everything happened.
I: Remember when he started working for my father?

He nodded slowly and folded his arms across his chest. His ice blue eyes blinked as they stared out the window.

J: Yes, he showed up here in a school uniform. All dirty and cut up. He looked like he had just been through hell and back, as a child at such a young age he looked like he had seen all the fear and horror of the world and swallowed it all down. He scared me at first, honestly.

I furrowed my eyebrows a little and looked at Johnny with interest.

I: He never showed any emotion?

He averts his eyes to me.

J: I would stay away, Isa. Listen to him, hear his concern rather than his anger, when he yells at you to stop asking questions, he yells out of concern, there's a lot of gravel burying his emotions with anger.
I: I'm just... *sigh*
J: I see the way you look at him, but he's dedicated to forgetting and never feeling again. I know this may sound silly to you, but some people are just not meant to be saved.

My heart felt like it was stuck in my throat.

I: He's so alone...

I trailed off quietly.

I: He wants to be saved, it's just that no one has tried hard enough.
J: Trust me, I've tried. Right now you see him training his body until he can't feel anything... it's because of you.

I raised my eyebrows.

I: Because of me?
J: You're making him feel something. I don't know what it is, but ever since he saw you, he's been doing this for days. Simon is a complicated man.
I: I know.
J: Do you have feelings for him?

Johnny inquired, staring at me with concern. I open my mouth to say no, but he didn't pull away from my throat.

I: ...I think I'm more wondrous than him.
J: You're more curious about him, you mean.

Johnny suddenly frowns and holds his fingers up to his earpiece.

J: Copy that, listen, I have some business to take care of, but don't forget what I said.
I: I will.
J: Isa, this is his life. His everyday life is this job. Don't mislead him, don't make him feel anything you won't reciprocate, don't change anything.

The man disappeared down the corridor and silence overcame me, then I thought to myself, how can I change anything?

~~~
I sat in the kitchen and quietly ate some peanut butter while sighing peacefully, feeling like there was no one in the world but me and my thoughts.

S: Isabell.

Simon called, coming into the kitchen while I was washing my spoon.

S: Your room, now it's time for you to sleep.

I parted my lips.

I: But I'm not-
S: Rules!

He seemed especially agitated that night. My eyes looked deep into his as he nervously watched me, as if I wanted to disobey him, but I sighed deeply and nodded my head before heading to my bedroom.

~~~
?: SHUT UP AND WE WON'T HURT YOU.

I close my lips tightly, feeling my chest rise and fall from my deep breaths. I recognized that voice under the black ski mask that hid her figure, it was from the gas station a few days ago, the deep, rough one.

I am pushed to my knees next to my father and sister, across the room Simon was held back by two men on each arm as he struggled to escape their grasp.

S: DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!!!!!
?: Shut up Riley or I'll beat you myself to your last breath.

The big man delivered a punch straight to his stomach, causing Simon to let out a loud grunt.

I: STOP!!
?: DON'T LET ME TELL YOU TWICE MISS GATES.

He snaps his fingers and orders one of his men to stand behind me as he wraps his hand around my hair and tugs hard, making my head shoot up.

I: Oh!
D: Let go of my daughter you fool!!
I: Father...
?: Oh, shut up Gates.

My father takes a swift blow to the jaw, causing blood to pour from his mouth.

E: STOP! Don't do that!!!

My sister starts clenching her hands and whimpering desperately.

?: Well, Miss Gates, you have something I want, now give it to me!

The man kept spitting in my face while tears welled up in my eyes.

I: I don't know what you're talking about.

I choke on my words and feel my heart rate rapidly increase.

?: Don't lie to me.
I: Honestly! What do you want?! I don't even know w-what you want...
?: I'm not going to say it again!!
I: I'm not lying!!

I scream.

?: Then you're leaving me no choice.

I watch in horror as he grabs my sister and pushes her to her knees in front of him. Emily's eyes meet mine, showing all the fear and terror she was feeling.

E: Isa...
I: No! DON'T HURT HER! HURT ME!

With another snap of the man's fingers, Simon is thrown next to Emily, both of them on her knees.

?: Okay, who's first?
I: No... NO!!!!

The man cocks his gun and waits impatiently for my choice.

I: YOU CAN'T CHOOSE ME!
?: CHOOSE!!!

His voice shook the room as my heart left my chest.

I: N-no, DON'T HURT HER!!
?: Very good.

He points his gun directly at Emily and not a second later a shot rings out in the air.