Bittersweet Agony

Chapter 8

When I woke up, I was in a different room than before. Blake was gone, and it was nearly pitch black. The only light came from the crack under the door, and it shone brightly in my eyes.

Every bone, muscle, and tendon in my body felt sore. I was bruised and battered, and it hurt to even think about breathing. I tried sitting up, but my body screamed out in pain, and I was forced back down.

I heard footsteps outside my door, and squinted my eyes when it slowly creaked open.

"Blake?" I called, unsure.

"Ah, sweet Ady. I see you're awake. Have you finally learned your lesson?"

I knew that voice, and it wasn't Blake. Thick Italian accent. Bittersweet tone of voice. Menacing growl behind each syllable.

"Father." I breathed fearfully.

As brave as I wanted to be in that moment, I couldn't help the tremble that pulsed through every vein.

"So, do you think if I let you out you're going to act out again?" My father spoke disapprovingly.

"No, sir." I said submissively.

"Good. Then let's get you out of those chains." He said, and walked over to me slowly.

When he crouched down, I flinched away. He looked at me with mock sympathy, and trailed the back of his hand down my face almost affectionately.

"I'm not going to hurt you, my sweet Ady. As long as you do as I ask and behave like I know you can, you'll be fine. Do you understand?"

I nodded weakly. "Y-yes, father."

"Good." He picked me up by my hair after he finished with the chains, and drug me out of the room. "Now, what have I taught you about acting weak?"

"The weak are punished for fearing the strong." I answered.

"And...?" He jerked my head in his hands.

"The strong are feared for punishing the weak." I finished.

My father nodded with an approving smile, and my shoulders sagged in relief when I let out a strained breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Would you rather be feared, or punished?"

"F-feared." I replied softly.

"Good." He agreed. "Now, go shower before we eat, you're filthy. You've been locked in that room for days." He commanded.

"Yes, sir." I replied meekly, quickly rushing out of his grip and upstairs to the bathroom.

When I got in the shower, unexpected tears came rushing out, and it seemed like they'd never stop. I cried until it hurt to breathe, and I was gasping for air. I couldn't tell what was water from the shower, and what was tears.

How did he find me? How did he get me? Why?

I was so confused as to what happened after I was in the hospital. The only thing I knew, was that I was back in the one place I could never escape. Even when I was finally out of there, my father's house still haunted me in my sleeping hours.

But he'd said I'd been in that room for a couple of days. That must mean I'd been out of the hospital for a couple of days. What happened to the Knights? Where was Blake and all the rest? Did my father kill them when he came to get me?

"Ady!" My father's voice boomed through the house, and I shivered despite the scorching water. "Ady, what happened?"

What is he talking about?