Borderline

Chapter 16

I tugged against the cloth that was keeping my wrists together behind the chair.

"Don't fight it, Ry. It'll do you no good."

I stilled, eyes wide with the fear that voice brought me.

I saw his smile. "Good girl. Now," he held up a shiny object. "Let's have some fun."

He stepped into the circle of light around me and I saw that he was holding a scalpel.

Oh shit, what's he going to do with that?!

I pulled at my restraints more, panicking.

He pouted. "Aww, are you scared?" His face was centimeters from my own. "Is the little baby gonna cry? Are you gonna cry out for mommy?" He chuckled darkly. "Oh wait. You can't."

I felt the cold metal of the scalpel touch my cheek, and I resisted the urge to shrink away from it.

"How about that little boyfriend of yours? Eli, was it?"

I glared at him, refusing to speak.

"Or...Joshua?"

I thrashed in my chair, trying in vain to do some damage to him.

"Oh!" He removed the scalpel and stroked my face with the back of his hand. "Too bad they're both already dead."

I felt a single tear run down my face.

"This should be fun."

He cut a shallow line into my cheek, and I bit back a scream.

The damn blade was dull.

"Oh my! Looks like I forgot to sharpen my tools this morning." He shrugged dramatically, showing he never had any intentions of sharpening them. "Guess it's too late now!"

He dug the blade deep into my shoulder, and I felt my lip bleed from the pressure of me biting it.

"Come on, baby," he said, twisting the blade. "Scream for me."

And I did.

***

I didn't scream when I woke up.

My eyes flashed open and I couldn't move. I had tears spilling from my eyes, and I wanted nothing more than to be able to crawl into bed next to Joshua and cry into his shoulder.

But I couldn't. So I stared at my ceiling, letting the tears dry on my face.

I was sick of this.

I was sick of all of the nightmares, all of the fear, all of the crying and sleepless nights.

I got out of bed and silently crept out the door after putting some clothes and shoes on. I walked down the hallway and noiselessly descended down the stairs to the boys' floor.

I reached room 343, and I waited a few seconds before I knocked on the door.

It opened almost immediately.

"Josh, I-" I stopped. It wasn't Joshua.

It was Eli.

"Oh...s-sorry. Is Joshua up?"

"No," he said sharply. "What do you want?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, first, I want you to lose the attitude. Second, I need to talk to Josh."

"Well, that's too bad." Eli started to close the door, but I stuck my foot out, stopping it.

"Then maybe you can help me," I whispered.