Detriment

10. as I lay sleeping...

I'm begging you.

Please tell me this is all just a bad nightmare.

I'm begging you.

   
     "We went over this already, I won't have anyone's blood on my hands."

     "For fuck's sake Cameron, for once can you just take instructions and just end it. I swear, you are amazing in bed but your mentality is less to be desired for." Bradley said as Cameron was leading me through the house. 

    "Just tell me where to keep him, I have a shoot to get to.

   "He's afraid of the basement here. Chain him up in there."

     My heart started to race, my first instinct was instantly to struggle against Cameron. "N-no, please..." I choked out only for Cameron to dig his nails into my wrist and tighten his grip on my hair. It had silenced me, a gasp passing harshly through my lips as his nails broke through the skin. 

​​​​​​     Desperately, I tried to make eye contact with Bradley just wanting him to see me. Wanting him to see how much pain that I was in. To see what him and Cameron was doing to me...

    But he didn't even spare a glance towards me, his eyes more focused on the hallway and the intended destination. We had arrived at the basement quicker that I would've liked and again, I had tried to talk, only to find out that my words wouldn't form coherent sentences.

     My mind was blank. 

     My heart felt as if it had stopped.

     I can't handle this. I can't handle being down there.

     "P-please." I begged, trying desperately to turn in Cameron's grip. "P-please."

     Darkness engulfed us as he led me down into the basement, the dust throwing me in a coughing fit. My body went limp in Cameron's arms at the action, his movements stopping for a minute. For a split second, I had thought that he would take me back upstairs. That he would realize that being down here was detrimental to my health.

     Then I realized that this was Cameron I was talking about and the sudden action of being shoved into the cold concrete wall made me never forget it.

     I didn't stop coughing as light was shone on me from Bradley's phone. I didn't even stop when both of my legs were being bounded by Cameron with...

    With what? Moving my legs slightly, I felt the sharp twisted metal cut into my skin and instantly realized that it was barbed wire. Blood rolled down my ankle slowly, no doubt staining my skin.

     "His phone is in his pocket." Bradley informed Cameron in a bored like tone, aiming his phone's flashlight to the specific pocket. His hands dug into my pocket, stripping me of my phone and also any money that was on my person.

     My hands were restrained last without much of a fight. I was too weak to fight him.

    "I have to go, I'm already late." Cameron walked over to Bradley and kissed him, before heading upstairs. It was silent for a moment, my coughing coming to a stop but the pain continuing to pulse in my leg.

      Then Bradley sat down in front of me, his hand reaching out to touch my hair, and despite everything, I allowed him to without pulling back. He ran his hands through the strands gently. This wasn't supposed to calm me, but it did, even if only a little.

     "Br-Bradley..." I whispered causing his attention to snap to me. His hand stopped.

    "Sometimes..." He started low, moving his hand through my hair again, and cocking his head to the side as if he was trying to recall his next words. "I wish you were never born. I wish that I was an only child and I never knew you. I think about it a lot, actually."

    Bradley's eyes locked with mine, his narrowed. "I wish you were dead. I want you out of my life so badly that it hurts, but no. Everywhere I go, I'm fucking reminded of you. Charlie Graham, the superstar. The pop sensation, the singer adored by millions. He's so great, they say. An angel, a fucking role model, they say."

      Bradley chuckled bitterly without much humor. "You just think you're so special don't you. It must be nice, having so many people love you. I can't even go home without hearing about you. Mom...she only talks about you. How proud she is and how talented and amazing you are."

     "How I should be more like you. It's comical really, how she wants me to be like you when you were the one that had left us to live with Cameron. Oh, but here's the kicker, Cameron didn't even want you. He couldn't care less about you and that was what you left us for? Hurt and abuse?  So called Love? You deserve everything you're getting."

     I stared at Bradley, not in shock but in sympathy.

     "I'm sorry." I tried say loudly but it only came out in a hoarse whisper. He heard it though, a 'tsk' escaping his lips as he turned away.

    "You'll never begin to understand the hatred I have for you Charlie. Or maybe you will, considering your situation right now." Bradley stood up, crossing his arms and moving the flashlight away from me. "No one really loves me like they love you. Except Cameron. He loves me, more than he's ever loved you. Nights where he wasn't with you, he was holding me. Well, holding and other things."

      Bradley stopped talking, his eyes hardening as he glared at me. Annoyance flashed through his features. "For God's sake, get angry or something!" He screamed at my lack of said emotion. "I fucked your boyfriend! I've fucked him in your bed and had him moaning out my name!"

     "God! I can't believe when I was younger that I used to idolize you! You're so fucking weak and pathetic!" Bradley said, his foot connecting with my stomach.

     A cry left from me as the pain began to spread throughout my body. Tear swelled but they never did fall. "I'm sorry." I let out again​.

     And it was true. I really was sorry. I was sorry that Bradley had felt unloved because of me. That he was always pushed in the shadows. I had never intended for any of this to happen.

       "You're sorry? Then prove it by dying because your apologies don't mean shit anymore. I so done with you Charlie. Just get the hell out of my life already!" Fuming, Bradley walked out of the basement and slammed the door locked."

"I'm sorry..."