Only Through Pain [Collab with kayfiles]

Chapter Two [kayfiles]

"Let me out!" Sophia's cried in vain. She beat her fists against the thick steel door, desperate for it to open. "Let me out, let me out..."

She abandoned her relentless banging, her arms too weak to carry on. She leaned against the door, instead, her body shaking with quiet sobs. 

She'd been in this position too many times before; begging for an escape, desperate to get out. Locked in a basement was no place for a young girl. Yet, she'd been here for six years, trapped in the solitude of the four cement walls. She sat on the top step, tears still streaming down her face.

If these walls could talk, what would they say? she thought, trying to distract herself.

They'd probably say Roy was a disgusting bastard for what he does to her. They'd know all the dirty secrets that were burried in this basement. They would probably open up and swallow her whole to save her from the pain she would undoubtedly endure in the coming years.

Sophia heard the lock slide out of place behind her and the door swung open, causing her to jump up and retreat down the stairs as quickly as she could manage. From her corner, crouched down, she could see Roy descending the stairs towards her. 

"I came back for some more fun, princess," Roy said, his voice making Sophia's stomach turn. Never had she been so disgusted by a petname than when he referred to her as 'princess'.

Another set of legs appeared at the top of the stairs and she whimpered. She hated when Roy brought friends the basement. Slowly, the man made his way down to the open room. He was tall and thin with sand-colored hair. His beady green eyes were looking at Sophia like she was something for sale. At that moment, she wanted to leap up and attack him. But she knew any attack she sprang on him would be useless and only earn her punishment.

"Here she is, Danny, isn't she a beauty?" Roy beamed at the other man, Danny, like he was showing him his prized coin collection.

"She's something, alright," Danny said, drawing out each syllable. The knots in her stomach tightened at the sound of his voice.

Roy approached her first, crouching down to her level. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Play nice, princess."

Then he stood up, backing away from her with a sick smile plastered accross his face. "She's all yours, Dan." He clapped his friend on the back and headed back upstairs, closing the heavy door behind him and locking her up with the man she'd only just met.

Danny grinned down at her, his eyes flashing with lust. Sophia had to look away; she'd vomit if she didn't. She felt so uneasy, so sick. She wanted to die right then and there, at least to spare herself from what she was about to go through. 

A minute later, she was sprawled out on the floor, all of Danny's weight on top of her. 

Then, the world went black.

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The trees whizzed by, blurring into whisps of green and brown as Sophia sprinted. She twisted her head around every few strides, searching in panic. She didn't see anyone following behind her, but she couldn't trust her eyes anymore. Her vision was already starting to fade around the edges, and she thought she might collapse. Her heart was hammering against her chest, only proving how fast she was running.

But she had to be faster.

How she'd ended up here, she was unsure. Once she came to consciousness again, she was standing on a dirt road, next to an forest. She took the only opportunity she'd had in six years and started running through the thick trees. 

After several more minutes of running, she slowed to a halt. She knew it was unsafe, but she felt her body beginning to shake. She raked through her mind, trying to remember the last time she'd ate, or even slept. 

Three days ago, was her answer. Her body could give out at any minute from all of her movement. She hadn't been outside in years, Roy had always kept her locked in the dark. She wasn't used to the sunlight.

As Sophia panted, trying to catch her breath, she sat on a large rock. she felt a shiver rip through her; her t-shirt, which had been one of Roy's, and a pair of gym shorts was all she had to brace herself from the cold air. She wrapped her arms around herself, struggling to maintain body heat. While she sat, she noticed the t-shirt was dirtier than before. There were splatters of something across it, a dark red-brown color. It looked like blood.

She surveyed her body, looking for any sign of injury. She couldn't find anything, and could only assume it was someone elses. Or maybe it'd always been there. She couldn't think straight. Her mind was a mix of jumbled madness. She felt dizzy, and soon the ground was pulling her downwards. 

Behind her, she heard a twig snap. She couldn't judge the distance through the fog that was filling her head, but she thought it sounded close. She tried to look around, but couldn't move her head. Instead, her eyes swiveled around, searching for the source of the noise. 

Then, suddenly, the forest was filling with white light. She wondered briefly if she was dying; the suspicion was almost confirmed when she saw a man step through the blinding brightness and offer her his hand.

The last thing she heard before her eyes fluttered shut was her name being called out.