The Sunflower Keeper

The Painful Test

“Sleeping Beauty. Time to open those pretty little eyes of yours.” I jerk myself awake as his voice surrounds me. A strand of my purple-navy blue hair becomes stranded on my face.  I go to brush it aside but I can’t. Fear rises inside me. I gasp for air as the panic sets in. My wrists are bound tightly behind my back. I bang, rub, and pull them against the metal chair that holds me.

          They got you. Just great… Breathe! In and Out… In and Out… Hopefully they won’t kill, torture or worse… My heart stops. Not a beat pounds in my chest. Eat you… The thoughts dawdle in my head.

The air that surrounds me doesn’t do a fantastic job of concealing its musky odor. I tilt my head down and force my nose into my shoulder. My vision finally becomes clear. He stands before me. Arms crossed as his chest rises and falls. His handsome muscular body makes me ache inside. I want him. I want him to want me.

STOP! You can allow yourself to be fooled by his angelic appearance. He has you tied to a chair... Be realistic.  Either he wants to get kinky or he’s going to feed you to the monsters.

          “Great! You’re awake.” Elijah grins and clasps his hands together. “It’s time for your first test. Don’t worry... You won’t die. Though I can’t promise you that you won’t come out without any scrapes or bruises. Remember what I said. That bruise you got from punching me won’t be your last.” He chuckles. As much as it is attractive it’s intimidating.

He steps closer towards me. His beautifully crafted hand pushes away the annoying, stranded piece hair that takes up residence on my face. I twitch as I try to escape his touch. No matter how much I want it on the rest of my body.

“I’m not here to hurt you. Do you really think that the Snoogle Society would trust you as the new Sunflower Keeper if you can’t even protect yourself?” His voice is almost saturated with sarcasm.  

          “Let me go!” I wiggle around, and try to free myself from my restraints.

          “Now... Now... Now.” He waves his finger in front of my face. Temptation surges through me. I almost want to bite it off. “I’m going to cut the ropes. I want you to try to escape.”

          “That’s it? That’s all?” I throw him a questioning look.

          “If you can get past me and out that door...” He points to the door that lies behind him. It’s golden and holds engraved sunflowers all over it. It’s almost mesmerizing. “... then Damian and I will have to skip the whole teaching you the basics thing. Though from the looks of you I doubt it. This will be a real fight and it will hurt. But keep this in mind, I will not kill you.” He cuts the ropes that dig into my skin. I jump up and rub my raw, bruised wrists. I groan.

          I turn away so that I’m not facing the deadly hottie. “When do we start?” I manage to mumble over the angst that knots inside my throat.

          “Now.” His hands wrap around my shoulders, and he hurls me against the wall. The wind leaves my lungs, and I gasp for air. I fight my burning lungs. I push myself off the floor and throw my fists up. I lunge at him but my fist rams into the wall. I grunt with agony. “That might be broken.” His voice almost sounds concerned. “Come on. Dance with me.”

          “Dance with you? Why would I ever do that?” I ask.

          “Because you like me even though I’m kicking your ass.” His voice bangs against the empty walls. “Now let’s fight. Turn around and give it your best.”

          “No.” I say flatly. Feelings of being defeat roar as the floodgates bust open. My heart beat still bounces around behind my rib cage. It pounds against my bruised rips. Pain enters as I take a breath. I wince.

          “Then I’m sorry that I have to do this.” His words almost match the sound of his voice. Almost. His fist clashes against my face. The world spins and I attempt to steady myself against the wall. My body begins to slump to the floor but his arms catch me. “I’m sorry.” The words fade away as my head falls against his warm, rugged chest. The world becomes a black swirl of nothingness.