A Thousand Lies

Chapter 53

Chapter Name: bait

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Temperance

I'm conscious, but I keep my eyes closed as I realize the all-too-familiar sensation of pain littering my body.

My head pounds, and I'm suddenly fearing that my brain is going to explode and then leak out of my ears and nose.

With my eyes still closed, I try to make myself aware of my surroundings as much as possible. My legs are cold; whatever I'm sitting on is made of cement. My arms are stretched above my head, my wrists locked in cuffs that dig into my skin.

I don't know how long I've been here, but my arms ache from the low amount of blood circulating through them.

I slit open my eyes, trying to see through my eyelashes as I fear that someone else is in this room with me.

Through my blurred vision, I see that I am still in my dress and I'm sitting on the ground wherever I am.

I try to keep my breathing calm. Every time I inhale, my ribs ache, which makes my face tense slightly. I move my neck slightly. My hair brushes across my shoulder. I can feel the dry blood embedded in my hair, causing it to be stiff.

"You're awake." The voice that haunts my everyday life speaks, causing my whole body to tense with fear. I can't stop the tears from flooding out of my eyes, rolling down my cheeks and dripping onto my chest.

My head spins with the flurry of emotions that tortures me. Fear takes over the feelings of sadness and anger. The fear takes away all other thoughts I could've had if he didn't speak at that moment.

"Can't say I've missed you, daughter." He crouches in front of me and puts his hand on my chin, lifting my head up to look at him. My eyes aren't in slits anymore. They are open now that he's figured out I am awake.

Every voice in my head is screaming at me to rip my head out of his hands and kick him where it hurts. Every voice is screaming, trying to force me to resist.

My body doesn't listen. My body doesn't move. I feel like a deer in headlights as his grip on my chin gets tighter. Why can't I move?

He turns my head with ease, looking at the sides of my face like he's studying me.

MOVE TEMPERANCE.

My body continues to deny me, leaving me frozen in place. In my helplessness, I am unable to stop my tears from wetting his fingers.

"Your friends here caught you out there being a little slut, Temperance. I can't tell you how disappointed that makes me. I thought I raised you better."

There's hate laced in my name when he says it, causing my breath to hitch in my throat. He leans in, staring at my face before he backs up.

I can faintly smell the alcohol on his breath, which isn't normal since I know he should wreak of the smell.

"Should we call her dear boyfriend now?" I see a figure walk into the room. Unsurprisingly it's the man who bought me. A menacing grin is plastered on his face, his eyes dark, making him look more twisted. My father lets go of my face, slightly throwing my head back into the brick behind me.