Control » l.h

Chapter Four

I yanked my hands from his, almost falling off the bed as I scrambled to touch my feet to the hardwood flooring. "Three days?" I shrieked, moving to the window.

"I wouldnt-" Luke tried to protest.

As I moved the curtains aside and pressed a hand to the dark glass, a shock went through me. I stumbled backwards, falling against the bed and onto the floor, holding my hand. My heart felt like it has skipped five beats.

"Are you alright?" Luke asked, running over to my side.

I cringed away from him, into the wall by the bed. "You said you didn't want to hurt me."

He stood straight, trying to keep his face emotionless. "I have to do what I have to do to keep you here."

"I just wanted to see if it was light outside!" I yelled. I stood, my feet wobbling. I could hardly feel any of my body after the shock. But I firmly placed my hands on Luke's chest and pushed him backwards. "Take me home!"

"Jemma, I wouldn't." Luke advised, stepping back from my touch.

"I don't care!" I roared, stepping towards him again. "Bring me home!"

Luke didn't even say anything. His eyes suddenly flashed to life as he brought his arm up and to the bed. I crashed into the headboard, getting the wind knocked out of me. As I coughed violently, ropes were tied around my wrists once again. His eyes dulled back to their original blue. He looked torn within himself. Part of him hated doing this to me, but he was doing it anyway.

"You're a monster," my voice came out hoarse and wispy from lack of air. "I hate you."

"So do I." he stated, turning on his heels, leaving me in the room by myself.

 ~*~

I had resorted to talking to myself after two hours of humming random songs as I sat on the bed. I couldn't lay down because it tugged at my shoulder joints. But I was getting tired and I found it hard keeping my eyes open.

As if he could read my thoughts, Luke snuck back into the room, looking at me with a softer expression than before. "How are you?"

Instead of replying to his question, I yawned. He nodded and chuckled before walking over to the dresser. He took out a black v-neck and some grey sweatpants. He glanced at me with dimly lit eyes as he flicked his index finger up, causing the ropes to fall once again. He motioned me forward, but I stayed where I was. It wasn't until he opened the door and gestured for me to go through it that I decided to follow him.

"You can shower if you like," he said, opening a door to a bathroom. "These are for you to wear. I'll just wait in the bedroom."

Luke shuffled back to the room I was locked in. He didn't close the door before he sat down on the bed. I walked into the bathroom before he saw me staring and asked if I needed help. I made sure the door was securely locked before stripping off my clothes and stepping into the hot water. I let the water wash over my body, temporarily making me feel more comfortable. I always took showers when I was stressed. They just made me feel generally better.

I thought back to when I had that heart to heart with Luke only a few hours ago. It was amazing how just giving the puppy dog eyes had me almost hypnotized. It made him look ten years younger and it was like I wanted to help him, despite the fact I only met him today. It was like he didn't only control you physically, but mentally too.

I finally decided I should get out of the shower before I fell over asleep. I quickly rubbed the water droplets off my skin and wrung as much water out of my hair as possible. I put my bra and underwear back on before sliding on the top and pants Luke had handed me. I unlocked the door, letting the steamy room fill with the cooler air in the hall. Luke hadn't moved since I walked into the bathroom.  He looked up when I entered.

"Here," he said, holding his hands out for my old t-shirt and jeans. I handed them to him and he walked over to the closet, tossing them inside before sliding the door shut. "Okay, so you're just going to sleep in here. Okay?"

I nodded tiredly, not bothering to fight him about how I'd rather sleep at home. I crawled into the bed, Luke flipping the covers over so I could get under them. I sunk into the blankets, wriggling around to get comfortable.

"Im' sorry, but I have to keep the door locked," Luke said. "But I'll be back here in the morning."

As he turned to walk away, I found my voice. "You're leaving?"

He turned abruptly, taken off guard by my sudden vocalization. "Well, I'll be just downstairs."

I looked nervously around the dimly lit room. "I'm scared." I whispered, my voice cracking.

"I-I didn't think you'd want me to stay with you."

I nodded, watching as Luke's eyes lit up, but in a different way. He just looked happier when I admitted that I wanted him to stay with me. I wasn't going to sleep in this menacing looking place by myself. I was too tired to care about the fact my life was in the hands of this boy who's last name and age I still didn't even know. I just figured that if he said he wasn't going to hurt me, then cool.

Luke told me he'd be back before disappearing down the hallway with some navy blue basketball shorts in one hand. When he returned, that was all he had on. His toned stomach was on full display and if I wasn't so tired, I probably would've been focused right on it. He tossed his clothes into the dark closet before walking over to the other side of the bed and slipping under the covers next to me. He flicked the lamp off, plunging the room into total darkness.

I rolled over on my side so I was facing him, although I couldn't see him. "Luke?" I asked.

"Mhmm?"

"What's your last name?" I asked without even thinking. It was just something that had been on my mind.

"Hemmings," he replied. "And my real name's Lucas."

"Lucas Hemmings," I repeated, feeling the way his name almost just rolled off my tongue. "How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen, like you."

It went quiet after that, and it stayed quiet. I was tired enough to go to sleep, but too scared to go to sleep. I couldn't even see Luke. He couldv'e just got up and left without me knowing. I searched under the covers, my hand reaching out to find Luke. When my hand touched his warm hand, he gently grabbed my fingertips.

"You alright over there?" he asked. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I just wanted to make sure you were still there." I told him.

"I'm not leaving, Jemma." he assured me. He traced his fingers up and down my arm, leaving trails of goosebumps.

I scooted closer to him, but not so close that our bodies were touching. But he must've felt me move towards him, because he reached his arm over and wrapped it around my back, pulling me to him. He smelled of cologne, pine, and some sort of metallic smell. But it smelled good. I breathed deeply, which turned into a yawn.

"I still want to go home." I stated. I was half asleep and I was just saying whatever I was thinking.

"I know." he told me, stroking my hair.

"I don't know if you're actually a monster, though," I admitted. "You're so nice sometimes. You get this face and it's like I want to help. You're-you're like a-a puppy or something..." my voice trailed off.

Luke chuckled. I felt it vibrate in his chest and his breath hit the side of my face. "I'm a puppy?"

"Mmm." I responded.

"Jemma, you should sleep," he was still laughing. "You don't know what you're saying."

"I do," I protested groggily. "You're a puppy. Just a cute, lost, innocent, broken beyond compare puppy."

He hummed to himself as he thought over what I had said. "Lost and broken," he finally said. "You've got those two right."