Nescience

Chapter 9

"Will you get her for me, pet? You can drop her in our guest room" Aiden requested, moving to greet his father who barely glanced at her.

It seemed her old friend still remembered her voice. She looked as if she saw a ghost, recognition flashing on her gaze.

Aira was teary, with a bruise marring her face. It looked like she tried to fight Leon, but with the family's affinity to violence, nothing would work.

Tabitha swallowed the faint trace of a lump in her throat, the erratic beat of her chest reminding her to make a move. She had to do something.

How long has it been since she saw someone she knew from the past? Her life was mediocre, but she had enough to go by before Aiden came and ruined it all for worse.

Tabitha pushed her legs as fast as she could, picking Aira by her arm. The girl cried, muffled by the gag. Her blood ran cold at the sight of wire cutting through her skin.

All she was able to do for the girl was embrace her. Her friend whimpered, still in state of disbelief.

"It will be fine Aira. You'll be ok," she said, yet it felt like she was convincing herself. Aira nodded, tears falling off her cheeks.

Rushing downstairs, she barely made it to the room. Tabitha assisted her on the bed, pulling the gag off. Before she could speak, she shushed her.

"I can't let go of you yet. Aiden will get mad at me, or worse he'll hurt both of us. Calm down Aira, I'll explain everything later."

She took a deep breath, nodding. Then came her ballistic wailing. "Oh God, oh God. Tabitha, it's really you. Adrian has been looking for you everywhere! I-I can't believe you're here with me now."

She couldn't either. It was better when she was the one who shouldered all this torture, when guilt wasn't tormenting her.

"Call me Amelia, Aira."

"W-What?" Aira roamed her eyes on her face, as if seeing her for the first time. "Oh God." She blanched, eyes lingering on the wound on her cheek. "They're fucking sick in the head. We need to get out of here."

She shook her head. Only if it was that easy, she would have done it already.

"We can't. We're in the middle of nowhere. They always have advantage over us. We have to plan things carefully," she reminded her, hoping Aira wouldn't have to be tormented by Aiden for her to realize.

"We are fighting murderers," she declared. Aira has gone white. All Tabitha could offer was a forced smile as her friend took in all the information.

Yesterday, she was probably out with her friends or even boyfriend and now, was stuck with someone who was missing and suspected dead. Tabitha dragged her into this. It was her fault.

"What do we do now?" The dreaded question.

"I don't know, but-" Tabitha was all familiar with the creaks around the house and where the footsteps was. "shit, shit!"

She put the gag back in, just in time for the Aiden to walk in with Leon.

"Pet, you seem confused," Aiden said with a smug grin, tempting her to let go of her patience all together.

"Aiden, Leon. What is she doing here? Why do this at all? I'm already staying here." Aira's mouth scrunched at her statement.

"Don't worry, I just want you to be responsible. Your loyalty is much needed with the family, pet." Aiden went to peck her cheek, Aira made a face at the sight.

Tabitha couldn't look at her straight in the eyes. She most likely knew now.

"Be thankful that I even kept her alive, she dented my car, caused a ruckus along the way of getting here." Leon narrowed his eyes, daring her to say anything.

Tabitha cleared her throat. "Then, what should I do with her?"

"Turn her to what you want her to be. Do everything you want, Amelia. After all, this is a very fitting reward for being such an obedient girl. Now that you realize I do own you." Something with her friend's glare told her what she needed to know. Her doubt.

"Yes Aiden," she replied, hiding her knuckles from sight as she cringed at the sensation of nails pricking her skin.

Amelia and her obedience. He was showing off to Aira. She closed her eyes. She could already hear all the questions brewing and Tabitha wouldn't be able to tell everything that happened without being scrutinized and perceived as insane.

She killed someone and ate a human organ after all, all for the sake of her safety. Aira wouldn't understand. Neither she wanted it to happen.

"Well then, mum is coming over for late dinner. Teach the woman what she needed to know. Everything. Her mistake will be counted as yours and you know how I love punishments, my dear pet." As fast as he walted in, he was gone with Leon.

Though the man's glance lingered far longer than she wanted it to.

Aira shivered, giving her a side glance. Pity and intense emotion. Tabitha didn't have to deal with it before. She didn't have to, she didn't beg for it.

"Don't look at me like that Aira." She didn't even pretend to be upset.

Tabitha freed her slowly from the wires, careful not to cause more pain while thankful for the silence as she kept the gag on, but removed it as Aira made a noise of complain.

And there it all begun. Her explanation; Aiden's rule. Let him do as he please. She taught Aira to accept things as they were inside the house, at least whenever she faced him. "Don't question him why if he appears to be not on the mood, Aira. Agree with the terms of his family."

She frowned, her hands shivering. "I don't like how you let yourself become a slave of that man. You haven't tried to escape and you let him walk all over you. Where's the old Tabitha? The one I know will plan right away. You're being a coward, but I see..." Aira trailed off, "maybe you like being hurt too."

Her own hand made a move before she could stop herself, she smacked her.

Tabitha fell on her knees, eyeing the red mark on her cheek. "I'm- Oh God, Aira I'm sorry."

Aira cradled her cheek, wincing. "You've changed, and I don't know if for the better. Maybe you're just making up reasons, this isn't the middle of nowhere. I don't think so, Tabitha oh, Amelia."

"What is wrong with you? Aira, you have to stop before you-"

"No!" She raised her hand. "No. I will leave this hell hole and you will come with me now! Pretend you're touring me, and then we can easily escape! He trusts you."

Tabitha took a step back. Aira's eyes have reduced to slits as she gritted her teeth.

"Aira, I know you're scared, but you have to think. They will end up killing you," she pleaded.

"Killing me? You wouldn't come with me? You prefer staying here, with your deranged family?" Her voice rose as she took a stride towards the door. "F*ck. I'll just make a run for it, then!"

"Aira, no! Don't-" Aira slapped her hand away, dedicated with her incomprehensible mutters.

Tabitha grabbed ahold of her arms, but got hit on the back of the neck. The impact caused her to fall back on the floor, vision darkening.