In The Dark

Chapter 19

Drowsily I recognize myself being picked up but sleep overtakes me before I can deduce why. I wake up back in the bed with his arms around me. I scramble painfully out of his arms in shock. He sleepily reaches for me causing me to crawl further away backwards falling off the bed. The thud makes his eyes pop open but they close again as he pulls a pillow close, cuddling it. I shiver in disbelief at the fact that I slept in his arms. I wanted to cry, scream how unfair this was. I didn't want to do this I just wanted to give up. It felt like every time I found a small happiness it was taken, twisted and thrown away. I'm afraid and angry and so damn tired.

A thought flashed through my head, a terrible thought. It would all be over if you just took that pillow and suffocated him. I shake my head as if to shake the thought away. I will not become like that monster.

I hide in a corner hugging my knees and silently cry, finally letting all the fear and anger overtake me.

"Everything's gonna be okay my dear." When I hear his voice I squeeze my eyes shut and hug my knees tighter. "Since you're awake I think it's time for the next game."

He grabs my elbow and yanks me up. I keep my head down but his fingers are under my chin forcing me to look up. His sadistic smile is the first thing I see.

"You hurt my feelings when I didn't get to wake up next to you my dear, but I'll forgive you if you win this game."

I slap his face. "I don't want to sleep next to you. I don't want you to like me. I don't want to be here. I don't want to win!" I yell into his face before being shoved roughly into the wall.

"You deserve punishment for hitting me but all the pretty things I've broken were no fun after they were punished so I'll let it go this time with a smaller punishment." When he finishes, I realize what my anger has cost me. I can't find it in myself to regret it, even as he throws me onto the floor like a rag doll, kicking me in the stomach multiple times causing me to gag on the water and acid coming from my empty stomach. I still don't regret getting to hit him.

He wipes my mouth off with a cloth and picks me up laying me on the bed. Cupping my cheek he looks at me sadly.

"Please don't make me punish you again my dear."

When I don't say anything he sighs.

"This is where you say you're sorry. Say 'I'm sorry Lucas.'"

"I-I I'm s-s-sor-rr-ry Luc-c-cas." I stutter through my tears coughing throughout.

"Good girl! I love when you say my name you're just so cute!" He grins yanking me up into a hug. My arms hang limp until he squeezes me tighter, letting me know that there will be consequences if I don't put my arms around him. I think of Mason when I wrap them around him and pretend I'm hugging him instead.

"Since you might need some rest now I'll wait until tomorrow to play the game. I'll be back soon with some soup."