I backed up as he took a step toward my side of the table. Don’t come over here. Rose and Poppy closed in and the three of us stood together. If the three of us worked together, we could get out. In the state he was in, though, I wouldn’t risk trying anything.
“Do you have anything to say?” he asked. He spoke calmly and his voice was smooth like silk. But that was scarier than if he was shouting. He was too calm and controlled, but I knew any second he would let go and flip out. He was like a dog playing with a balloon; you knew it would pop but not exactly when.
None of us said a word. It would probably just make him angrier anyway. He walked around the table in the opposite direction. Rose and Poppy were between him and me. Raising his hand, he slapped Rose across her cheek. She gasped and stumbled to the side. Poppy steadied her and we all took a step back. I could hear my rapid breathing and tried to calm it down. What the hell is his deal?
He shoved Rose out of the way and grabbed Poppy’s hand, pulling her closer. No! A sharp slap to her cheek sent her flying into the table. She cried out and held her stomach where it had hit the wood.
“You. Will. All. Learn,” he growled and leaped forward, pinning me to the wall.
My breath caught in my throat and I flinched, closing my eyes as I preparing to be hit. Lewis, Lewis, Lewis, I screamed in my head, needing to mentally go somewhere else. His fist connected with my jaw and I fell down. Pain exploded in the side of my face. Pressing my hand over my mouth, I took a few deep breaths through my nose. Don’t scream and give him the satisfaction. My jaw throbbed and tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to cry. I wouldn’t let him know he’d hurt me.
My mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood and a stinging sensation pulsed from the inside of my cheek. I must have cut it against my teeth. I swallowed, knowing him seeing blood would make him worse. Slumping to the floor, I closed my eyes. I can’t do this for much longer.
“Clean up. Now,” he ordered. I flicked my eyes open just in time to see him disappear up the stairs. Jumping to my feet, I ran to the bathroom and rinsed my mouth out. Knowing he was gone, I allowed myself to spill the tears that pooled in my eyes. I sank to the floor, feeling so scared and alone it made my heart ache.
Thursday, December 16th (Present)
I sat on the sofa with Rose and Poppy. We had the TV on but none of us were watching. We anxiously waited for him to come back. He hadn’t come down for breakfast today. The thought of him coming was scary, but the thought of him never coming back was worse. If he left us, we would starve to death down here.
My jaw was bruised and swollen, and inside, my mouth was so tender I could only eat soft foods. The purple dusting across my face was a constant reminder of how messed up he was and how much danger I was in. Every time he hurt me or someone else, I seriously doubted any plan of escape. I realized that was why Poppy didn’t want to do anything; she didn’t think for one second we could make it.
“What are we going to do?” Poppy asked. “He’s getting worse, Rose, and you know it.”
There was something completely terrifying about them when they were worried. They had seen so much and were used to how it was, but now they were scared. I wondered if it was because of me. He chose someone who had a family. Was the outside world closing in on him? They were both distracted; when they watched the TV, their eyes were blank—thinking, worrying.
Rose shook her head. “I don’t know, but I’m sure everything’s going to be fine. We stick together as usual.”
I was seriously sick of them saying everything was going to be fine. Why did they even say it? They had clearly accepted this was their life, and it was not fine. Something inside me erupted and I jumped up. My blood boiled.
“Rose, take a fucking look around, will you? We’re locked up in some psycho’s cellar. How the hell is this fine?” I shouted. “Will you wake the hell up?!”
“Shh, Lily. You don’t know where he is,” she said in a hushed shout.
I took a deep breath and ignored her calling me Lily. Lily was someone in his sick fantasy and I was not her. “Oh my God. Think about it, Rose. We can’t hear crap until the door opens. You really think he can hear us? Instead of playing I-wanna-be-Mrs.-Crazy, can you please just act like a normal person? We. Were. Kidnapped.”
“I am very aware of the situation, Lily, but what do you want me to do?” Was she aware of the situation?
I clenched my fists. What the hell was wrong with her? “I want you to get your head out of his arse and think of something we can do to escape. I want you to stop acting like this is normal. Why don’t you want to get out? If we all work together, we could overpower him.”
“That has been tried before,” Poppy said, cutting into the argument.