I visited her every day, if only for a few minutes. I didn’t want her to think I’d forgotten about her, because the truth was, I couldn’t get her out of my head. She was all I ever thought about.
She’d turned into my reason for dealing with John.
I hated him. I hated him with everything I had. If I had the guts I’d kill him, but I couldn’t do it. Even though he was a horrible human being, I couldn’t bring myself to be like him.
Sophia and I were both trapped. She had no way of getting out, and I had no way of getting her out. I had nowhere to turn. John was a powerful man with other powerful men behind him. Who did I turn to? If I talked to the wrong person, there was no telling what John would do to me. Even though I was his son, I wasn’t sure that would stop him.
I couldn’t just let her out, either. For a full week, I’d tried to figure out the surveillance system he had in and around the outside of the house, but I wasn’t technical. He’d catch me. He had a bird’s eye view of everything that happened in and out of that house. I was trapped in every sense of the word, just like Sophia.
When I arrived home, I walked into the house and moved straight toward the hallway to the left which led to John’s downstairs office. The only door on the right was the one that headed to the basement. A basement I’d never been in before that day. I turned the light on and it illuminated the stairs that went down to Sophia’s room.
I made my way down the stairs and lightly knocked on the door before opening it, in order for her not to fear who was coming into the room. I wanted to at least show her a little bit of respect, but my main reason was because I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. I wanted her to trust me and know I wasn’t there to harm her.
I entered the room to see her leaning against the wall as she sat on the floor, a book in her hand. She closed her book and laid it on her lap as I shut the door and approached her.
“Hey,” she said with a small smile. I had yet to see her smile fully, but I didn’t expect that to happen until the day I was able to set her free. “How was school?”
I sat down beside her with my legs crossed in front of me and rested my hands in my lap.
“It was good.” I nodded softly and pointed down to her book. “What are you reading today?”
She shrugged and tossed the book away from her. “Some stupid historical romance. I hate reading, but the fantasy is so much better than what I have right now.” She tilted her head back and stared up at the ceiling.
My heart broke for her. I hated that I couldn’t do anything to help her.
“I’ll get you out one day, Sophia. I promise.”
She turned her head to look at me. “I don’t expect it, Mason. I know what they’re going to do with me. I don’t think I can even cry about it anymore.” She turned her head back to look up at the ceiling, blinking back the tears I knew she was holding in.
Hearing her talk that way always felt like someone was kicking me in the stomach. I hated that she’d given up hope. She had been there for a little over three months, but I knew the uncertainty of how long she’d remain had been getting to her.
I wasn’t sure why John had presented me with her in the first place. I knew what she’d eventually become, but why did he offer to me like a present? That was the one thing I had a hard time comprehending. What was his end game?
Sophia got up slowly and walked over to the side table to grab the water bottle. She was wearing grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, both too big for her, but they were the only things John would let me bring her after our first encounter. I was just happy she was entitled to use the bathroom and shower attached to the bedroom, which I was sure was also monitored by John.
Even the thought of him being able to see her in all her private moments fueled the rage I had for him, but it was just a wasted emotion. I needed to stay focused on what was important.
I watched her as she lifted the bottle to take a drink. The sleeve of the shirt lifted as she tilted her head back and that was when I saw the bruises on the back of her arm.
“What the hell happened?” I shouted as I quickly stood up and made my way over to her.
She looked at me confused as I grabbed her arm and pushed up her sleeve. I could automatically tell they were finger marks.
“Did he hurt you?” I asked her through clenched teeth as I dropped her arm.
She diverted her eyes and sat on the bed. “It was my own fault, Mason. I shouldn’t have tried to run again.”
I paced the room and ran a hand through my hair. I felt weak. I couldn’t do anything to protect her.