Masked love

Chapter 16

Nikita was completely worn out. She was barely conscious as she kept her eyes on the monster in front of her. He was sleeping deeply. However his grunts, snores, and movement made him seem like he could easily wake up. The whole twelve pack that he had was gone. The empty bottles laid out a trail from her to him. There were two broken bottles that told of her pain with the blood on its sharp edges. Some pieces of the glass was embedded into her wounds. Her mind felt fuzzy from the strong fumes. Her hearing went hazy, as she imagined a soft familiar tune being whistled in the room. Her persecutor had ripped off the duct tape, leaving her mouth feeling sore. However she still took the chance that someone was actually there. She closed her eyes and made a small circle with her lips. She whistled weakly with pain and sadness. Could someone hear her, or was she completely alone?
The monster that wore the face of her father grumbled, as he lifted his head slowly. She wondered how late it was, how much time had passed, since she was forced into the dungeon. He looked at her with a disgusted face. Did she wake him or was this his new permanent face? Without saying a word, he grabbed the duct tape and walked towards her. Nikita shook her head frankly, using as little energy as she could to struggle. "No, please no." She whimpered in efforts to persuade him. "I promise, I'll stay quiet. Please, I'll be good, just like you taught me, just like m-mo-ther tau-ght—." He took ahold of her face to force her mouth shut. He placed a small piece of duct tape just over her lips.
"Why should I take the chance, when I can ensure it? Besides you're already being too loud. I'm heading to bed, enjoy the silence." He laughed and left the room. The door slammed and the lights went out, leaving her in darkness and silence. She closed her eyes to ease into resting.
Even in the darkness she wasn't safe. The beatings may have stopped, but her demons didn't. She could hear their voices. They wouldn't let her rest. "Why didn't you end it when you had the chance? Was he worth it, worth this?" They clawed at her heart, breaking her down from the inside. "No one is coming to save you. You're not worth their trouble. They never really cared  about you. Everyone leaves you and turns against you." She tried to tune them out, but in truth they were her. She was hurting herself. "Give up! Stop fighting, let yourself rest. Their lives will move on without you. Yours is over now." She almost wanted to listen, to let go. However a small feeling on her forehead told her to hold on just for a little longer.

Hours passed until the door opened and the light turned back on. She opened her eyes with purple bags sagging down her cheeks. She could hear her father trample down the stairs. He faced her, but she could hardly stand to look him in the eye. "It doesn't look like you got enough sleep." He laughed slightly, as he took a seat at the table in front of her. "Serves you right, heh I guess." His voice almost seemed to hold an ounce of regret. He placed a twelve pack of the stinky brown liquor on the table, as he looked at the familiar piece paper. "Why did you have to leave me alone? I never wanted to be a single father. I just wanted to live happily with you until we grew old." He looked at Nikita, as he chugged down two bottles. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. She hated the sight of them. Part of her wondered if he could still see her underneath all of his illusions. He stood up, and pointed at her while holding the empty bottle. "You left me! You took the easy way out! Why did you do that? I loved you, but I guess i-it was-z never enough." Tears fell down from his eyes. She couldn't recognize the bawling man in front of her. She didn't even fight, as he slammed the glass bottle across her head. She thought about the name of the man in front of her: Robert. Was this who he truly was?
He wrapped his arms around her. She tensed within his tight grasp, feeling a cold painful encasement. "All I've ever wanted was for you to return, to be able to touch you, and to show you all the love I have for you." He took a step back from Nikita, and grabbed his knife off the table. "But I was left with was this younger tease of what you were. She isn't you! She isn't you!" He kept repeating, as he slashed the blade across her skin. Who was he trying to convince?

After several beatings, he went back to drinking and staring at the letter. Nikita's head slumped down as she lost the energy to keep it up. Her arms were sore, covered in cuts and bruises. She wasn't going to last much longer in this state. Fear was the only thing keeping her awake, barely keeping her alive. At one point he left to go eat. She could smell all the different flavors of the food from the musty basement. She almost thought she was dreaming, until Robert came down carrying a bowl of baked beans. She looked up at him with a small spark of hope. The food looked so tasty, even a cooked rat would look just as delicious.
"I bet you're hungry, honey. It's been what four days since you asked me to lock you down here? You and your strange fetishes. Heh, honestly I hate to see you suffer. You seem to like the pain though, my lovely Angel." He said sweetly. she stared at him slightly confused, but mostly exhausted. The nickname, Angel made her think of her mother's name, Angela. Robert ripped off the duck tape from her mouth, making her eyes tear up. He fed her small spoonfuls of the beans. The warm sweet brown liquid filled her mouth, as she chewed up the beans and small chunks of meat. She took her time savoring the food like it was her last. After five bites she felt full and he stopped feeding her. "I bet you really liked that." He said with a hint of evil, as he took off his belt.
She trembled slightly with fear. "Pl-please.. ju-just let me go" she pleaded weakly. She could hear a door creaking in the background.
"Now that's funny. I'm never going to let you go. After all I love you, Angela." He looked back at the letter, as he placed down the bowl. "Never again." When he turned to face Nikita once again, he held a knife in one hand and his belt in the other. His pants felt loose around his waist. He dropped the belt. The metal parts clinked against the rough stone floor. To her the sound seemed to echo through out the room. He delicately touched her cheek, as his blade touched her skin. "You are just so beautiful. I just have to show you all the love I have for you." He said with a smile.
"N-oo no no n-" she stopped begging as the shock set in. His blade danced on her body cutting fabric and skin. How far would he go?
Suddenly she heard a small meow. Then he screamed in pain, dropping his knife. She looked down at his feet to see a small black kitten with it's claws dug into his ankle. "You stupid rat!" He kicked the small animal off his ankle, and it slid to the wall seeming so weak and defenseless. He walked over to the kitten and raised his foot above its body. "I never should have let in a stray like you."
"Wait! Don't hurt Shadow!" Somehow Nikita found strength to speak. Robert looked back at her with a smile, but then turned back the whimpering kitten. "I-I mean don't let something as small and in-insignificant, as that black fur ball interrupt our time together. You know you barely have even started to show me your love." She said slowly, trying to reel him in.
He turned and walked back to her. The kitten laid still, hurt but alive. He held her soft beaten cheek in his hand. "You know you're right. I should focus on this moment, on you, and you're beautiful body." He said placing his other hand at her waist. She could feel his skin against hers through the rips and tears of her clothes. At least she was able to protect that small part of her past.