Lovers' Maehem

Chapter 51

Maeve

January 3, 2181

4:56am

When I wake up, I forget at first. I picture myself lying in bed next to Griffin about to do another stakeout. And then I feel the cold hard metal scrapping my limbs, and the watchful eyes on me. At first I pretend I'm still passed out as I gain my surroundings. There are 3 of them in the room with me. The other 2 must be sleeping. Dad is for sure one of them, and my guess is the other two are Indie and Dak.

"Welcome home darling," Dad sneers. He knows I'm awake so what's the point in pretending. I open my eyes and stare at his face that's full of so much hate I've only ever seen in the context of a Colton. You are a Colton now. Griffin. Oh god, he must've realized by now. They must be forming a plan, right? I settle my face and don't show fear. Fear and begging doesn't go well with this family.

"How does it feel?" Indie asks, "to trade places and be the one stuck in chains?" I'm about to respond, but remember the tight cloth tied around my mouth is preventing it. I'm in a closed off little room which is their kitchen. My hands and legs are all shackled to a hard uncomfortable wooden hair and the metal is pulling on my skin. My right wrist already has blood running down it. Or is it sweat? It's hard to tell but I'll give a bet that it's blood. They even tied my torso to the chair using a super thick rope. I have no room to even move an inch without drawing blood. I think that's the point. "Is it too tight?" she teases, "our bad, but don't worry, you'll grow into it after you start slimming down. That's what happens when no one feeds you, right?" The tone my sister is using. I couldn't even say I know this person. Even when I talked to her when we kidnapped her, I was always nice, or at least tried to be. I look to Dakota. The person who I once called my best friend. The person whose life I saved just months ago. She doesn't meet my stare, probably because she can't. I wonder if she knows I saved her. Maybe they all think Nate did it.

"Listen," my father says. Like I have a choice! "We aren't killing you yet, because we want answers. Just know if you don't hand over the answers, we will not hesitate to kill you in the worst way possible. You chose to betray this family. Now you will pay for your choice. And after we're done with you, all your little friends and that boyfriend of yours will too." With that Dad leaves the room. Indie and Dak stay there and exchange the who's staying look. Dak volunteers and I have to say I'm relieved. When Indie leaves, Dak sits on the counter and doesn't look at me. It's not like I can talk or move to get her attention.

"I didn't want to do it," she says quietly, "I begged them not to, told them it wouldn't do anything. I told them there were other ways. But Dad and Indie were determined to do it. There was no stopping them. They wanted to just kill you right away, but I convinced them you'd be useful for information. I'm sorry Mae." She's tearing up and I can tell it takes everything in her to look up at me. I hold back my own tears as Dak checks the halls quickly and walks over to me. She takes off the cloth and I take a deep breath realizing how slow I'd been breathing. I jolt with my breath pulling my wrists and chest. I can feel the tearing of my skin and it hurts, but I don't show it.

"I'd loosen them if I could," she apologizes, "but they would notice that too much. Maybe tomorrow when they are less... frigid." I nod, but can't bring myself to say anything over the lump in my throat. I have too many questions that I can't bring myself to ask. One of them I have to know.

"Do you..." my voice comes out hoarse. "Did Nate tell you..." I trail off unable to form the exact words to ask this.

"I know it was you," she answers, "Nate told me later that night. The family doesn't though." I start to nod but can't really. "Thank you," she says quietly.