Savior (Book One)

Chapter Thirty-Four

The way there was completely silent, save for the two girls in the back who bickered and argued all the way to the house. And what an extravagant house it was. We pulled into the driveway of a modern two-story house with a large wrap-around porch and a swing hanging in place, waiting to be used. My eyes wandered over to the rosebushes that were placed under the large windows, and I felt a smile grace my lips as the white roses swayed to the unseen breeze.

The car slowed to a stop and everyone climbed out, myself behind them as I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ears. I bit my bottom lip, smiling shyly as Henry handed me my bag. I only had a few clothes anyway, so I didn't really need any more than one. Henry shut the trunk and silently began walking to the house. I followed behind him, walking on the gravel walkway until I stepped onto the porch, my feet echoing as I walked inside.

My footsteps were met by silence as I stepped onto the plush carpet, my eyes grazing over the decently sized living room. Ivory made a beeline for one of the leather seats and giggled as she bounced on it. Jessica rolled her eyes at her younger sister and plugged her earphones into her ears before she stomped her way upstairs to, I guess, her room. Henry moved past me and gestured for me to follow him. I followed him into the kitchen to a door near the fridge, halting my steps as Henry stopped in front of me.

Henry turned his grey eyes towards me and gestured to the door, making me furrow my eyebrows. "This is where you'll be staying." He said.

I frowned and glanced back at the door. This was my room? It...seemed really oddly placed to be a bedroom. I mean, who put a bedroom in the kitchen? I went and opened my mouth to ask, but gasped as Henry threw open the door and all but shoved me downstairs. I rolled down the creaky, wooden steps, pain exploding in my body as I smacked into the cement floor below. My bag landed next to me with a thump, but I paid it no mind, for my body was killing me. I took in a shaky breath, wincing when I lifted my hand to gingerly touch at my head, gasping in pain when my fingers were met by a bloody gash. I raised my eyes to meet Henry, whose face was eerily stoic as he closed the door, encasing me in darkness.

My heart began racing in my chest when I heard the door be locked and I shoved myself from the floor, regardless of my body protesting, then ran up the stairs to begin hitting at the door. "Let me out! Please! Why are you doing this?!" I cried, my fists slamming against the wooden door.

Why was he doing this? Why was he locking me in the basement? I mean, it looked like a basement with dusty old boxes and furniture. But why would he lock me in here? What did I ever do to him? W...What did he have planned for me? Was...Was he going to sell me? Oh Father, I hope not. I didn't want to be sold as if I were nothing but an...an object. I was a person, wasn't I? Why would Henry do this to me?

I finally stopped beating at the door, leaning my head on it as I breathed erratically. My hands throbbed, my knees finally collapsing to where I sat on the first step at the top of the stairs. I closed my eyes and sat there in silence, listening to Ivory's giggles and Henry's scolding. I don't know how long I sat there, but I eventually fell asleep leaning against the door.

I woke up to the sound of shuffling, opening my eyes to find that I was no longer at the top of the stairs, but rather, I was not laying on my side on top of a stained mattress. Light flooded the basement and it took me a moment to realize that the door was open. Open. Did Henry feel bad about throwing me down the stairs and locking me in here, despite my cries and pleas to be let out? Did he feel even an ounce of remorse? Or...was there another reason that door was open?

My eyes widened and I quickly sat up, wincing when pain exploded in my body. I didn't pay any mind to the pain as I stood up, ready to leave this place...this crazy family. It probably was a trap, but I didn't care. I wanted out of here. However...I heard a cough to my left and froze, every muscle in my body taut as I turned to face Henry, who sat in a dusty chair with a plate of steaming food in his lap.

His cold grey eyes watched me like a hawk, his fingers tapping against the arm of the chair. "And where do you think you're going?" He asked calmly, leaning his head on his other hand, his elbow planted on the arm of the chair.

My heart leapt in my throat and I tried gulping to get the phantom feeling down. I glanced up at the open door...my freedom awaiting me, only to look back at Henry with a frown. "Why...Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?"

Henry tilted his head, his eyes turning even colder, if that was possible. His lips twitched as if he found me amusing, and he rubbed at his stubbled jaw, scratching it before he dropped his hand onto his upper thigh. "Why else? Money is very hard to come by nowadays. Jobs are few and only a small handful of businesses are eager to hire you. I have two daughters to think about, Skylar. My paycheck isn't even enough to sustain us, anymore. I barely even have enough money to buy food and clothes for my little girls. I'm so far in debt, it will take me years to pay it all off."

"Then why would you tell Social Services you can provide for me, if all you're going to do is treat me as if I were an object?"

"Because, with you here I get a paycheck from the government. The longer you stay here, the more money I can acquire to provide for my daughters."

"But, why lock me in the basement? I...I don't ask for much, honestly." I informed, inching backwards towards the stairs.

Henry narrowed his eyes at me and my heart froze in my chest at the intensity of his gaze. "I don't need to justify my reasons to you, Boy. Just be happy that I'm considerate enough to give you food and a place to sleep." He sneered, making the hairs on my arms raise up.

He stood up, making me take a step back, and set the plate onto a nearby table that hardly looked stable. He began making his way towards my only shot of freedom and I panicked, grabbing the closest thing to me, which happened to be a lamp, and threw it at him. The lamp shattered on contact to his head, and he barked a curse as I rushed past him, running up the stairs.

I ran into the kitchen, making Ivory scream in shock as I hurried past her. I ran into the living room and rushed over to the front door when a pair of muscular arms wrapped around my waist, hoisting me up off the ground. I screamed and clawed at his arms, kicking the air in hopes that he would loosen his hold on me. Somehow, he was still able to hold onto me, despite my writhing and attempts to escape.

What the heck was he made of? He was a thin man, surely he wouldn't have the strength to hold onto a grown, struggling man. Not that I was very heavy, though. I was the smallest in my family, only being a hundred and ten pounds. Of course he would still be able to hold on to me. I probably weighed as much as his oldest daughter.

"Let me go!" I cried helplessly as he dragged me back to the basement. I writhed in his grasp, grabbing onto the doorframes, and countertops, but my fingers only grazed over the surfaces.

When we arrived at the door to the basement he let go of me, long enough to push me down the stairs. However...he shoved me so hard that I completely missed the steps and slammed straight onto the concrete floor so hard that I swore I heard a crack. My vision swam and my lungs struggled to get air. My body ached and my head felt like it had shattered against the concrete floor. I tried to stay conscious...I really did, but when Henry closed the door to the basement and locked it, I lost the battle and fell unconscious.