Enslaved Heart (A "No one lives" fan-fiction)

Brain Freeze

Simon listened with extreme attentiveness, his facial features morphing with each gruesome but mostly shaved over detail of the story to ensure he wasn't too freaked out, at some parts looking disgusted while others more calmly curious. Donna couldn't help but crack a smile at the different shifting expressions that would silently adorn his face and almost forgetting that the story she was telling was her own. Remembering the time when her younger brother would snuggle under the covers and listen intently to the Jack and Annie stories she read every night. That's what it felt like, reading a fantasy tale off the pages of a book because what really happened seemed so impossible. Being kidnapped from a party after witnessing gruesome murders and spending months with that man.. It sounded like a lifetime movie. By the end of it both sat in a stifling silence just turning over what had been shared and then finally he piped up.

"So you don't remember everything that happened to you in that weird cell place? Or even where it was?"

She considered the question for a moment trying to reach into the dark corridors of her mind but only finding resistance in her pathway. Something had happened and it seemed to have locked her from certain memories of that monster.. She just didn't know what. "Seems like it. When I try to recall anything on my own I start hyperventilating. I think something happened that's forcing me to block out the trauma. Something terrible.." A pause, " To answer your other question, no. Everytime he took me from the cell I was either unconscious or wearing a blindfold. Besides the only time I was removed was to... Well I don't remember."

Simon looked equally puzzled at that statement and for what felt like an hour stared out the car window as they drove down the winding road up a mountain then down it passing very little cars on their way and seeing no stores or even pit stops that could provide any shelter. The sun was high in the sky by then and nearly blinding as it shone through the windshield forcing her to pull out the blocker and pull it in front but other than that it was peaceful in the silence despite a brewing unease of what had caused the boy to stay so silent. Occasionally throwing her eyes to stare at his wiry frame and concentrated face and noticing that even with the maturity he showed there was hurt in his eyes. A pain of losing everyone he loved but trying to put on a brave face for the both of them, something a teenager should never have to do. She knitted her eyebrows and clenched harder around the wheel wishing that the bastard was in the road now figuring he'd make a fine road bump.

"How did you know how long you spent there?" The voice was quiet and hesitant and for a moment Donna thought she had imagined it until she had turned over and saw his big hazel eyes pleading for an answer.

"Why do you want to know all this stuff kiddo? It's  sort of a fucked up tale and honestly a bit morbid that you're so curious.. Besides just thinking about it.. It's not pleasant."

"Please.. I need something else to focus on other than what happened to my parents. I want to know more about you and what happened so I know I can trust you. At least give me this. A mystery to solve other than.." Simon looked down at his tattered jeans pulling on the string around the rips and scratching at the grass stains around the knee area with his dull nail. Unable to word what was truly bothering him but Donna was already well aware and despite the heavy sigh that came from her lips she caved to his request knowing that this was a little punishment for being the reason his parents died in such a horrid manner.

"Fine fine. But only cause you asked so nicely. At first when I was in the cell.. I would carve the days going by with a rock into a smoother stone. It was sure a lot of work but by the time night fell sleep was almost impossible and it was better than staying up and listening to the sounds of the woods trapped with only my thoughts. Each day when-if he came back I'd cover it up with a pillow. Eventually the nicks became too much on the stone to cover and he saw what I was doing. He took away my stone and warned me never to do it again. After that it became impossible to count the days and I only knew the extent of how long I was held there when I escaped."