After

Chapter 9

Lauren wakes up in pain. Memories of the previous night flooding her mind and she wishes she could forget it all. She flashes back to being brought back into the main room and being punched in the face only one minute after arriving. She still has no clue who threw the first punch but she doesn't really care. After that, it seemed as though almost everyone felt the need to hurt her in some way. One punch to her face, then another, then one more which brings her to the ground and then a kick to her already bruised stomach and a tear rolling down her cheek.

She was beat until she finally passed out but in that moment, she wished her eyes would close permanently. Much to her dismay, they don't. She can remember waking up in the basement again with a bunch of men surrounding her. She tried to back away but she was already in the far corner of the room. Her eyes move to and from different men and she realizes all their eyes hold the same look: a terrifying look of lust and of hunger. Lauren is reminded of watching Criminal Minds with Mani and so many of the cases involved men torturing women in the place of having sexual contact with them... but that would be involved sometimes too.

The chain around her neck tightens and she begins to cough, her body weakening until she almost passes out again. Right before she allows the darkness to consume her, it loosens again and Lauren breathes heavily, desperate for the air she is now able to consume. One of the men crouches down and the smell of alcohol on his breathe causes Lauren to almost choke. She tries to turn away but his hand forces her to look directly at his face. He gives her a smile and whispers, "One day, you and I will have some time alone. I'm looking forward to it." He pushes her dark hair behind her ear and stands back up.

She is forced back into her present reality when Brad walks down the stairs into the basement. He doesn't bother turn the light on before unchaining her and carrying her up the stairs. He wordlessly drops her off into her room and leaves. She picks herself up and carries herself to the mattress and collapses on it. Her heartbeat slows to a normal pace and she begins to allow herself to relax.

After only a few minutes, James and Tristan walk into the room. Lauren suddenly becomes alert and tries to make herself as small as possible but they continue their approach. James begins to tug on her shirt and pulls it off her, thankfully her black sports bra still cover a good part of her upper body. He smiles at her before putting on the infamous black mask she saw on him when she first arrived. Through the slits in his mask, she can see him gaze proudly at her bruised stomach before he pulls a small knife from his pocket and begins to cut Lauren's leg as she screams out in pain.

Tristan simply stands behind James as he cuts Lauren. From her knees down, no flesh is in sight. It is all covered in a thin layer of blood. James stands back up and brings Lauren with him. He brings the knife up to her neck and looks directly at Tristan. Tristan picks up a camera and takes a few pictures before silently leaving the room. James takes off his mask and lets go of a weak Lauren. She falls to the ground and sits up with the support of a wall. James takes off his mask and smiles at her before saying in a dark tone, "Your friends will be overjoyed to know that you're alive. You may even get to see one of them soon." He stands up slowly, dramatically flexing his muscles and leaves.

"Guys, there's something you all should see." Dinah yells from the couch, worry lacing her voice. She rolls off the couch and shoves her phone in front of Normani's face. Normani says nothing, instead she breaks down into tears. Ally walks over and looks at the picture pulled up on Dinah's phone and copies Normani's actions. Dinah receives a couple more pictures and she too breaks down into tears. After a minute and a few more pictures, all four girls are collapsed on the couch, covered in tears.

AG had left about thirty minutes ago and she had been working the whole day, so they just decided to let her know about the pictures tomorrow. For now, all they can do is cry. Dinah suddenly receives another message from the unknown number and begins to read it aloud to the other girls, "Dinah, as you can see, your friend is still alive. I am sure you would do anything to keep her that way. Correct?" She stares at the other girls, awaiting their response. Camila begins to speak, but tears choke her words. Dinah finally speaks again after hearing no response from her friends, "I'm gonna say yes. There is nothing else to do." Before any of the other girls are able to say anything, Dinah had already sent her message.