Blood Red Blindfold

Chapter 13

Grant walks me quietly back towards the basement. A cruel laugh echoes down the hallway. I stiffen. With the red covering my eyes, I can't tell if I'm hallucinating the sound. But it pierces through me again. It sounds like a rumble of thunder through the house. Grant's hand squeezes tightly around my arm. I can hear the laugh. And it's coming towards us. The footsteps of two stomping individuals fills me with dread. I can't see them. I don't like this. Grant stops pulling me toward the basement, and holds his ground where we are at.

My ears are filled with rugged breathing and then the strong smell of alcohol hits me like a wall as the men come closer. "Ohhhh," I hear Bumpy coo. "It's the girly." His words slur disgustingly.

Shaggy chuckles, and I hear the sound of someone stumble. In any other situation, I would have made a snarky comment about how graceful someone was. But I am still with horror. These men were terrible enough to kidnap me. They must be monsters when they are drunk.

"Where you going with she?" Shaggy's words are a jumbled mess. His question barely registers in my mind.

"Downstairs," Grant informs the men icily. He is younger than them, but at this moment I can hear the authority in his voice. Please don't challenge him. Just let Grant take me. Please. Please. I've got to get back to Josh. I have to get away from these men.

"Oh no she isn't," Bumpy says dominantly. I hear him step closer, so I step back. Shaggy starts to laugh hysterically.

"Get away from her," Grant says, still with a calm and firm voice. He drops my arm and I feel him shift in front of me.

"Move, boy. Or I'll tell the boss I caught you kissing on her," Bumpy sneers. Every bit of his voice is tainted with liquor. Grants presence in front of me is instantly gone. He shifts away. No. My mind is screaming. Don't leave me like this!

The older man steps closer, and a whimper escapes my trembling lips. I shiver as the smell of alcohol fills my nose and burns my throat like I drank from the rivers in Hell. His hand touches my stomach, making my automatically flinch. I am pushed against the wall, with his face only centimeters from mine. Hot breath sticks to my face. "Aren't you purty?" He slurs. His other hand traces over my cheek. Squirming, I hear the same laugh escape his lips that had filled the hallway. All I can see is red. I just want to be somewhere else.

"Hey," I hear Grant start to warn.

"Shut up, kid. I'm in control." His words make me want to cry.

His hand pushes my forehead back and forces my head against the wall. Rough lips graze my ear. Somebody help me. Please. Tears spring in my eyes. His lower hand slowly slips underneath my shirt. No. This is not happening. Calloused fingers graze my skin and hot anger flashes through me. Anger and fear. His tongue leaves a sloppy trail on my neck as his fingers move drunkly farther up my exposed stomach.

"Stop!" Escapes my mouth. "Please," I'm pleading at this point. Act innocent. Act weak. That's what Grant told me. I am innocent. I am weak. I don't deserve this.

And that is when Bumpy's body releases me. No one is laughing anymore. I feel the traces of his touch left on my skin. I barely register the grunts I hear. I can't do this anymore. I fall to my knees, my hands clawing at my head. My entire body folds, trying to save a part of myself. Trying to savor a sense of me. My name is Hailey Graham. I am Hailey Graham. My body will not stop shaking.

My hand pushes on the stupid red blindfold accidentally. Terrified, I look up. Grant stands over the man that was just touching me. Bumpy is out cold on the floor. Shaggy is slumped against the wall, snoring. I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking uncontrollably.