Life Straight Up (reposted - feedback wanted)

Chapter Fifteen

Ray's POV

My whole body was sore, Carrie hadn't returned since the incident with her son. Instead she sent down her little followers. First it was just one, he wasn't big but he took pleasure in beating me black and blue. He would disappear for a little and then return and it would start all over again. Soon it seemed that just beating me wasn't enough for him, he returned with a knife. I had promised myself I wouldn't show them my pain. That thought went completely out of the window, as his knife sliced through the tender flesh of my thigh. He proceeded to cut me again and again, until I couldn't control the tears that streamed endlessly down my swollen face.

After the fifth beating I felt beyond weak, my stomach was aching more. I felt as though I had been stabbed repeatedly by a red hot poker. After him came another, he was bigger than the first. The first seemed to have boyish looks, with mousy, wavy chin length hair and piercing amber eyes. Eyes that will haunt me until my dying day. This new male was tall and muscular. His black hair was shaved close to his head, his chin was covered in three or more days' worth of hair. His eyes were dark, almost black even. At first, he would just stand there by the door watching me closely. He didn't move an inch he just stayed perfectly still, but that wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me was the look in his hollow eyes, the hunger and lust. It made my skin crawl. God only knows what perverse thoughts were swimming round his head. His confidence soon grew as he ventured towards me, spending his time sniffing my scent.

This time though I knew he had something more in mind. I had glanced up at him as he walked in, but now I kept my head down. My body was completely drained from my last encounter with the knife happy guy. He had cut me deeper than he had before, I could still feel the blood flowing freely from my arms and legs. I had no more fight in me, I doubt I would make it through another one of his torture sessions. I didn't look up as the sound of his footsteps grew louder, I just stayed still and prayed that whatever he had in mind wouldn't be painful.

He stuck to his usual routine and stopped a few feet away from me, inhaling me scent deeply. My stomach churned as he moaned loudly and got closer to me. Stopping right in front of me, he knelt down so his face was level with mine. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt his rough hand grab hold of my chin. He slowly lifted my face, my eyes still closed, bringing us face to face. He stroked his free hand down the side of my face, before running his thumb over my swollen lips. I could feel the bile rising from my stomach with every move he made.

"What has he done to you?" I heard his gravelly voice ask.

I stayed quiet, trying to convince myself that none of this was real. That at any second I would wake up and find myself in bed, that all of this was just some sick and twisted dream.

"You were so beautiful when we first got hold of you, now he's taken that all away from you. He's ruined you," he said mournfully as his fingers traced down a knife mark, running from my cheek down to my jaw.

I winced as the wound started to open up again, the blood slowly seeping out and running down my neck.

"Oh, I'm sorry pet," he said as he leaned forward, making me feel more uncomfortable with his closeness.

I took a sharp intake of breath as I felt his warm tongue running up my neck, licking up the blood that flowed down. I shuddered in disgust as his tongue grazed over Cole's mark.

"So, this is where the big almighty Alpha claimed you as his mate. I think I might be able to make you forget all about him, but first we had better untie you," he whispered huskily, as he quickly freed my wrists.

I knew if I was ever going to be able to escape, this would be it. Unfortunately, I just didn't have the strength to make the most of the opportunity. Once he was finished with my wrists he started on my ankles.