Borderlines

Chapter Thirty-Three

Fawn opened her eyes slowly and her vision was blurred. She blinked a few times to clear it and when she did, she was hit with a pounding headache. Fawn sat up and let a seething breath out through her teeth. The first thing she noticed was that she was in a room she had never seen before.
"Comfortable enough darling?" Clay's voice made Fawn's whole body go rigid immediately. She looked for the voice's source and saw Clay sitting in a chair, his smile gave her chills. Fawn swallowed.
"Where am I?" She managed out in a calm tone.
"Why dearest, you're in my quarters. Remember? Garth gave you to me." The memories hit Fawn in a flurry. Gunshots, Ruth, Garth...Travis.
"Travis!" Fawn exclaimed and tried to get herself off of Clay's bed. Her legs collapsed underneath and she almost hit the floor.
"Now, now, love. Let's not get too hasty here. You've been out of it a couple of days." Fawn felt his hand graze the side of her leg and yanked away from him, which ended with her thumping down on the bed, legs dangling over the edge. She sat up.
"Is he dead?" Fawn asked, dreading what Clay might say. His lips curled into a smile that confirmed her worst thought. Fawn tried to choke back a sob, but it still came out. That was it then. She had lost everyone that had ever mattered to her. She was alone and she was scared to death. Clay was in her face and Fawn partly gasped.
"Don't cry love, you have me now and that's all you'll ever need." He leaned closer and put a hand on her leg.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Fawn screamed at him and jumped away, this time her legs supported her, but she was a little dizzy. Clay chuckled.
"I like a girl with spite, but you're weak right now. I'm going to have the servant's bring something to help liven you up and put color on your cheeks. Also change out of those hideous clothes." He nodded toward the bathroom.
"I picked something out for you. Something more...comfortable." Fawn curled her hands into fists.
"I'm not wearing it, whatever it is." Clay looked at her.
"Oh, you'd better. Or you're going to wish Garth shot you instead of Travis." Fawn lowered her head.
"I already do." Clay walked over to her, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
"You're mine now girl. Do you understand that? I am your master."
"No one is my master." Fawn hissed. Clay grabbed her shoulder, his nails digging into her skin. Fawn let out a cry of pain as he pushed her into the bathroom.
"I have a meeting to attend to and you'd better be in that dress by the time I get back." He let go of her and then slammed the door shut. Fawn glared at the back of it, but she didn't have much strength for fighting him. Glancing around, she noticed the dress he had referred to, hanging up. The site of it made her gut wrench. The dress was red with black lace. Thin straps and a low cut made sure to highlight her shoulders and neck, not to mention, the dress was short. Fawn took a deep breath before changing into the dress. When she was finished, she glanced in the mirror. A bruise marked one of her cheeks where Garth had slapped her and her shoulder was red from Clay's iron grip. She had gone from the hands of a maniac to a monster. She had once been beautiful, hadn't she? Fawn pulled down the skirt and walked out of the bathroom. The smell of food greeted her and despite her anxiety she knew she needed to eat. Maybe it would help later. Fawn sat down on a chair and poked at her food. She ate slowly, observing her prison. Two guards were posted outside the door, she could hear them talking. There was a balcony, but when Fawn tried the doors she found that they were locked by a key, not a simple lock, like her room. There wasn't anywhere else to get out of the room so Fawn knew escape was practically impossible. Fawn ground her teeth together as she felt her emotions threatening to spill over again. Anger or sadness couldn't bring her friends back and now she needed to protect herself. Clay could be back anytime now and from the clothes he had given her there was only one thing he wanted. Apparently, old habits die hard. Her fingers curled in fists, holding the silk. She wasn't going to let him have her. She would fight him with every bone in her body and if she died, she died. There was nothing left for her on this Earth anyway.

~

Clay came back almost an hour later. Fawn stood by the window's of the balcony and looked out at the garden as best she could. It was storming outside and the thunder was crashing loudly.
"Enjoying yourself?" Clay asked her. Fawn turned and saw him shrugging off his jacket that was slicked with a little rain. He sat down in his chair and smiled at her, looking her up and down.
"I see you listened to my advice." He said.
"I didn't have much of a choice, now did I?" Fawn said tightly, wishing he would stop probing her with his eyes.
"Come here." Clay said softly, like he was calling to a child. Fawn planted her feet and swallowed.
"No." She said defiantly. Clay raised an eyebrow.