The Hart Game

Chapter Thirty-One

CASSIE

"Come on, Baby Girl. It's time to go play upstairs."

No! I thought in my head cause for some reason I couldn't open my mouth to speak. It was like watching a movie I couldn't stop. Dominic had his hand extended out down in front of me so I can take it. I didn't want to take it, I was trying to force myself not to take it. Willing myself to stay still.

But I don't stay still.

My small little hand extends out to reach his rough giant hands.

"That's my beautiful Baby Girl." Dominic says in a low voice. He leads us slowly up the stairs and into my bedroom that is now my fathers bedroom. I don't come in here much, since my mom died, but it's the only place he knows someone won't come looking for me.

He lets go of my hand and turns around to close the door. I shudder when I hear the faint click of my lock. There's no escaping this now.

Help me. I try to say but my lips aren't moving. Then something happens. I'm now looking at a younger version of myself. And she's looking straight at me. I could see the pain and the abuse in her eyes, my eyes, even when I was younger. Silently pleading. I was paralyzed.

"Let's go to the bed, Baby Girl." The younger me turns around and walks slowly towards the small bed.

"NO!" I yell trying to move but my feet were glued to the floor. I was going to be forced to watch.

"NO! Please stop!" I scream even though I knew it was going to be no use.

"Relax Baby Girl, I'll take care of you." Dominic says as he sits down on the bed. Then he turns his head and looks straight at me. I couldn't move, but I could hear a faint scream coming from somewhere.

"Wake up." Dominic suddenly says in a harsh whisper.

"Cassie, wake up!" He says louder this time, still not moving but still looking straight at me. The same menacing silver eyes, still the same as his sons. Soon I can't breathe. And the scream becomes louder and louder.

"Princess! Wake up!" It's coming louder from everywhere. I could feel someone shaking me. "Come on Princess. Wake up!"

I shoot straight up, my body going into auto pilot grabbing the persons neck, wrapping my legs around the persons middle. Twisting my body around causing the person to fall flat on their back on my bed. I begin to squeeze my right hand, the one that was around the neck.

"Princess, it's me." The person wheezes out due to me cutting off their air supply. Soon emerald green eyes come into view. The same emerald green as mine. The same as my mothers. Christian.

He's the only brave one when it comes to me and the nightmares. Realizing that my hand is still around his neck my eyes widen in horror as I release my hold. Christian quickly takes in air and starts coughing. I immediately start trying to get off my bed and shrink back to the closest corner of the room. Once I'm in the corner, I bring my knees to my chest and hold them, all the while still trying to breathe. That's when I Teddy at the door, hair disheveled and eyes still covered with sleep but he's alert.

"Cassie?" He whispers out. My head suddenly starts hurting but I don't pay any attention to it cause I'm focused on my breathing. And Christian's breathing. I could see Teddy debating on whether or not he should comfort me but decides it was better not to. "I'll go check on Bryan."

He goes in the direction of Bryan's room leaving me and Christian in the room. Christian still trying to catch his breathe while rubbing at his neck. Christian learned long ago to never fight back, so he just takes it. Leaving me always feeling guilty, he says he's always fine, but I can tell that it hurts him to see me like this.