Thug Love

9 - The Days

The days blurred together like a series of faded snapshots. Each moment, each hour, was a torturous repetition of hopelessness. Ayanna couldn't remember how long she had been in the basement. Time seemed to have lost all meaning since Damon had taken her. The darkness, the cold concrete walls, the overwhelming silence—each day felt like an eternity, but she couldn't even count the hours that passed.

She was still tied to the chair, her arms sore from the rough ropes that had been tightened to the point of cutting into her skin. The bruises on her wrists were only a small reminder of what she had endured, but they would heal. The marks on her body didn't matter. It was her spirit that had to stay intact. She couldn't afford to let him win again.

Ayanna's mind was always racing. How could she get out of here? Would anyone come looking for her? Was Troy still searching for her, even though he didn't know where to start? She wanted to believe that Troy would find her. He had promised her that he would protect her, that they would be okay, but Damon had taken her before Troy had even had a chance to find her.

Every so often, Damon would appear from the shadows. He was never far away, watching her from the corner of the room, making his presence known without speaking a word. His footsteps would echo against the basement floor, sending a ripple of anxiety through her. Each time, Ayanna would steel herself, refusing to show any sign of weakness, refusing to let him see the fear in her eyes.

But inside, her heart raced in terror. It was the quiet moments, the ones between Damon's visits, that were the hardest to bear. The silence in the basement pressed in on her, suffocating her, as if the walls themselves were closing in. She had to stay calm. She had to stay sharp. She couldn't let him break her.

Ayanna's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. She had barely noticed Damon approaching, his presence so silent, so chilling. She tried not to flinch as he stepped into the dim light, casting a long shadow across the floor. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and she saw the cold glint of amusement flicker in them.

"How are we feeling today?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Ayanna didn't answer. She couldn't. The silence between them stretched on, thick with tension. Her jaw clenched, and her gaze remained fixed on the ground, refusing to meet his.

Damon chuckled, stepping closer to her. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" he murmured, running a finger across her cheek, the touch too intimate, too invasive. "But that's okay. I like a challenge."

Ayanna's stomach turned, but she refused to react. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"You know," Damon continued, his voice becoming darker, more menacing, "You could make this easier on yourself. All you have to do is admit you belong to me. It's that simple."

Ayanna lifted her head slightly, her eyes blazing with defiance. "I'll never belong to you," she said, her voice low and steady, despite the fear that churned inside her. "You'll never control me again."

Damon's smirk faltered for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. His eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "Don't be foolish," he hissed. "You're already mine. You always have been."

He stepped back, looking her up and down, appraising her like an object, something to possess, something to control. "But you know," he mused, "I'm a patient man. I'll wait until you come to your senses. I'll give you time to realize that I'm the only one who can protect you. Troy? He's nothing compared to me."

Ayanna's heart ached at the mention of Troy. She had hoped, desperately, that he was out there searching for her, fighting to bring her back. She had to believe that. She couldn't let Damon win, no matter what he said.

Damon's voice interrupted her thoughts. "I'm not going to keep you locked in here forever, Ayanna. I've got plans for you. Big plans. But first, you'll have to understand your place. And when you do, when you finally accept that you're mine, everything will be easier. For both of us."

His words sent a chill down her spine, but she kept her gaze steady, not allowing him to see her fear. He was trying to break her, trying to make her doubt herself, but she wouldn't let him. She couldn't. Not now.

Damon turned on his heel and began to walk away. "I'll check on you later," he called over his shoulder. "Don't go anywhere."

Ayanna could hear his footsteps fade as he walked away, and the sound of the door closing behind him was like a final nail in her coffin.

She slumped against the chair, closing her eyes as the weight of the situation settled over her like a suffocating blanket. She had to find a way out. She couldn't stay here forever. She wouldn't. But what if no one came for her? What if Damon was right? What if Troy had given up, or worse, couldn't find her in time?

Her thoughts spiraled, and the tears that she had held back for so long finally came, falling freely down her cheeks. She couldn't stop them. She had tried to be strong, but the emotional toll of everything was too much. She had been through so much, and it felt like she had lost everything.

But even in the darkest moments, a small part of her refused to give in. She would fight. She would keep fighting. She had to.

The silence in the basement returned, oppressive and heavy. Ayanna's mind continued to race as she thought of Troy, of everything they had been through together. He wouldn't give up on her. He couldn't. And that thought, that hope, was the one thing that kept her going.

The sound of footsteps echoed again, and Ayanna's heart skipped a beat. Was it Damon? Had he come back to torment her again? But as the footsteps grew louder, Ayanna's hope flared—there was someone else coming. Someone who wasn't Damon.

Her pulse quickened as the door creaked open once more. The figure that stepped into the room was tall, broad-shouldered, and unmistakably familiar. Ayanna's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the face, the voice—Troy.

He was here.

The door shut behind him with a soft thud, and Troy's eyes locked onto hers. His face was etched with concern and fury, and his jaw clenched when he saw the ropes binding her. Without a word, he rushed to her side, kneeling down in front of her.

"I'm so sorry, Ayanna," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should've gotten to you sooner. I swear, I won't let him hurt you anymore."

Ayanna couldn't believe it. She had thought she had lost him, thought she would never see him again. But here he was, finally finding her, saving her.

Tears of relief flooded her eyes as she looked at him. "Troy... I knew you'd come for me. I knew you wouldn't let him win."

Troy gently cupped her face, his eyes softening as he brushed the tears away. "I'll always come for you," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I'll always fight for you."