YOURS

Chapter 30

Cole kept digging through the boxes that were in front of him. I double checked the tapes that were on the floor.

I think we were doing okay.

Despite us wanting to kill each other I think we can make it through this.

As I double checked the tapes I read titles such as 'Watching Jared beat his first' and 'Paul teaches his first a lesson'

I'm not sure who Paul or Jared are - but the fact that they kept these tapes as..trophies? Memories? Educational videos? It's disgusting.

I made a pile of videos that were definitely not about Cole's father.

Then something caught my eye. 'Faith arriving'

Why was there a video about her arrival? What was so great about that?

Then another tape peaked my interest. 'Faith begs'

Then another 'Faith loses'

I put these 3 tapes in a separate pile.

"Cole?" I tried to sound polite.

He swallowed to keep in the anger that I knew was still in him. "Yes?"

"We need to trust each other, right?"

He stopped looking in boxes and turned towards me. "Yeah?"

"Well. I think I want to watch a few of these. I want to know what happened here."

Cole didn't hesitate. "Absolutely not." He went back to searching in boxes.

"Why?" I tried to sound nice.

"These are not meant for you."

"Who are they meant for?"

Cole paused. "No one."

"Then what are we doing? Let's go."

"After I find what I need."

"Fine. But I want to watch a couple."

Cole huffed. "Emily, I said no."

"Do you want me to hate you?" I felt myself stomach turn.

"No." Cole was looking at the ground.

"I want to watch these videos..of Faith. You're in them, right? Let me watch them. I want to know what you're capable of."

Cole looked into my eyes. "Won't it just make you hate me...seeing what I did to her."

I didn't respond.

"I found the video I need. Let's go upstairs and watch them." Cole lead the way back up the stairs.

I waited at the bottom giving the basement one last glace. I noticed the window I escaped from was still broken. The chair I was tied to still here. The argument between Zac and me could be heard if you focused really hard. I could still see myself in the chair I looked for too long.

I followed Cole into the living room. We both sat on the orange couch. I brought the tapes I wanted to see. I had 3. Cole brought 2.

"Me first." I said rushing to put one of mine in the VCR player.

"Emily..are you sure?" Cole asked as the tape was loading and we both sat down once again.

"Yeah. It will either make me hate you..or I'll still feel the same."

"Which is how?" Cole asked.

"Confused." I replied.

Static appeared on the TV before a dark room. The tape I put in was the one labeled 'Faith arriving'