Release Me

Chapter 10

//EDITED//

Everything is black.

I can't feel anything, nor can I lift up my arms and legs. To be honest I don't even know if my eyes are closed or open. Everything is just pitch black. The darkness feels like it is suffocating me. I can't breathe and I feel like I am crumbling from the inside.

The darkness, the suffocation, and the feeling of utter defeat is all too familiar. In the distance, I can hear voices.

"Thea."

No. Please not again.

"Thea. Come out sweety."

Go away!

"Why are you trying to hide from us darling?"

I scream. All the terrible memories begin to surface and they're clawing me alive. I can still hear the haunting voices, but somewhere in the chaos I hear someone else. A deep, sweet voice rising above the terrifying voices. The voice is strong and so full of love it overpowers everything else. It brings warmth to my terrified mind.

"Princess don't give up. Be strong. The darkness will pass, just hold on and wait for the end, 'cause, in the end, all the struggles will be worth it. In the end, you will see the stars shine."

It's Jake's voice. His voice echoes through my head and gave me hope.

Be strong Thea.

Come on, just open your eyes.

And when I do, I wish that I never had.

In front of me is Walker, with a smirk plastered on his face. He has a grey suit on this time, and his blond hair is kept back. For the first time since I met him, I notice how young he is. He is probably only a few years older than me, yet he has done the most terrible thing a person can do. He hurt another human. He tortured and killed her. God knows what else he has done, and how many others he has hurt.

He is a cold man and I despise him.

"I see you're awake Ms. Woods," he says, still smirking.

I notice now, that I'm sitting on a hard chair, and my hands are tied behind my back. My legs are tied to the chair, making me immobile. I shake my body violently but it's no use.

"I am afraid that won't work, Ms. Woods. From past encounters with you I have learned that you can be quite a hand-full, so I made sure to be on my guard this time," he says, chuckling. "The more you move, the more the ropes will tighten around you, so if I were you I would stop moving."

Stupid son of a bitch.

"What do you want from me Walker?"

"Well, originally I didn't want anything from you, just to end your life. However now I have a new understanding that you are working for Mr. Martinez" he says, walking around me.

"Why the hell would I work for him?!"

"That, my darling, is what I need to know." He is now leaning in from behind me. His breath brushes across my neck, making me shiver.

"I don't work for him," I say steadily.

"I find that hard to believe, Ms. Woods. You have been spotted at two of my private meetings, and Martinez could use both of those encounters against me. So I will ask again - What do you do for him?"

"And I will tell you for the last time, I do not work for that bastard. I thought you two worked together, based on the last meeting that took place."

"Martinez and I aren't even partners, let alone mates."

Now I'm confused. If they aren't working together, why were they conducting a secret illegal trade? This just doesn't add up.

"I don't have all day Woods, just answer the damn question!" He yells. I can tell he is getting frustrated now.

"I already told you. I. Do. Not. Work. For. Him."

He runs his fingers through his hair. He takes off his jacket and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.

"I tried to go easy on you Ms. Woods, but I guess you don't like easy."

With that, he walks towards me and unties the rope. Once my arms and legs are free, he pulls me out of the chair and pushes me to the floor. I fall hard, and a pain sprouts through my head. He slaps me across the face and punches me in the stomach, making me curl up in pain.

"Your suffering will end if you just answer the question!"

"I already told you my damn answer!"

Apparently, that isn't the response he wants to hear, and he throws me against the wall. The pain shoots through my back and I groan. Walker charges at me, but I move just in time for his fist to collide with the wall.

"Shit!" He yells in pain.

I use his moment of weakness to my advantage, and hit him in the head, making him tumble to the ground. I kick his stomach and punch at his face, but he blocks each blow. He grabs my wrist and pulls me underneath him.

"I know you work for him! I know you know where the plans are! Just tell me!"

He keeps punching me like a madman, and I try blocking some of the blows. Walker keeps asking for the Plans, but I have no fucking clue what he is talking about. After a while he starts drawing blood, and my face stings.

"Why the fuck don't you have a breaking point?!"

Oh darling. I have been pushed way past my breaking point. This is a walk in the park for me. I feel him get off me and yank me up.

Blood flows from the cuts on my face and I'm sure I have so many bruises on my body that my skin is blue. Walker drags me, because I literally can't feel my legs.

"There is one more thing I haven't tried yet, and I am pretty sure it's your worst nightmare," Walker says with a cold smile.

He drags me through the dusty halls and throws me into a small room. I swear at least one of my bones is broken.

Curious as to what he has in store for me, I slowly look up. My eyes first land on the white and black converse that look all too familiar. A little higher I see faded blue jeans and a flannel. When my eyes reach his face my heart stops beating. I started shaking.

"Thought you would enjoy a small family reunion Woods," Walker says from behind me, and I can just imagine his face. His lips form a cold smirk and his eyes fill with darkness as he stares at me.

He is right, he found my worst nightmare.

My nightmare is sitting in front of me, tied up and gagged. Fear, confusion, and concern is written across his face as his eyes bore into mine.

In front of me is my Charming.