“Carter, go away,” I call out, hoping he’ll respect my wishes not to see him.
I turn over to face the entrance, waiting to see those blue eyes that have made me fall into them time and again. The front door clicks closed once more and I take a deep breath. The bedroom door in turn flies open with brute force, slamming into the wall behind it, and I’m face-to-face with the monster from my nightmares.
He’s tall, over six feet, with broad shoulders, and a scowl that tells me he’s more than angry. His face is wrinkled, pallid skin hanging over his skull that makes him look like a monster, because he is. Thin lips curl into a vengeful grin.
Those gray eyes pierce me like a blade as he stares at me. It feels as if a knife is being twisted in my gut. “Snowflake, it’s so good to see you.”
I leap from the bed, but there’s nowhere to go. Bile burns my throat at those words. He reaches to the side, and when he turns to me again, I notice he’s got a large black bag. Shock settles over me, leaving me paralyzed in fear. He’s bigger than I remember. Almost scarier.
“What—” As he stalks forward, I shuffle back, but the wall stops me from moving farther away and I realize this is it. The end. My heart thuds against my ribs painfully. I’ve been scared all my life, but nothing could’ve prepared me for seeing the monster again.
“Your little boyfriend thought he could fu*king outsmart me?” His chuckle is demented. The sinister sound that haunted me my whole life. “I’ve missed my fragile little Snowflake. Used to be so sweet and innocent, but we all know you’re no longer that. Are you?”
“Please, don’t do this. Why are you here? How did you find me?” I find my voice, even though it burns to speak. His filthy gaze trails from my feet slowly up my jean-clad legs and the blue shirt I’m wearing, but it feels as if I’m naked.
“Oh, Snowflake, so many questions.” He grins maniacally.
I step back until my legs hit the vanity cabinet.
“You’re still so pretty. I like the darker hair. It suits you. And your eyes, they make you even more alluring, more tempting. Since you’re no longer pure and white, I suppose it’s fitting.”
After so many years of running I’m stuck here with him. And somehow, I don’t think I’m going to survive it. I can’t go through this again, just when I got back my life. He pulls something out from the bag he’s holding and when my eyes settle on the object I retch. The bile burns my throat and tears spring to my eyes as I shut them.
“Did you miss this, little one? I find pretty little girls love it as much as you did,” he hisses. Filthy hunger hangs on his words and I can’t look. I can’t face what he’s holding.
My body trembles and my stomach heaves with fear. There’s nothing coming out, but my body convulses. My hands grip my middle, attempting to hold myself together as I fall apart in front of him.
“Don’t be so dramatic. I know you loved feeling it inside that filthy whore cunt.” His tone changes, switching to the one I remember from all those years ago. All these years and he still has the power to paralyze me. “It worked out so well, Snowflake, when you chased your boyfriend away. He won’t be back for a long while.” His tone sends terror through me and I realize he knew I was with Carter. He did it on purpose so I’d tell Carter to leave.
Suddenly, Charles reaches out, gripping my hair at the nape, dragging me farther into the bedroom. He’s strong. Even though he’s older, his physical strength is no match for me. Shoving me forward, I fall to my knees, but I reach out to catch my fall, and my wrist twists. Pain shoots through my arm and I cry out loud. Something must have broken because the pain is unbearable. The shirt I was wearing is ripped away and I’m left in my white bra.
He uses brute force to turn me over and throw me onto the bed. My body bounces, but before I have time to move, he works the cable ties to secure my hands to the railing of my headboard. Without moving his body, he rears back and swats me hard across the face.
“Shut up,” he growls angrily.
My face slams sideways into the corner of the nightstand and all I see is red. Blood drips from my face. Pain shoots through me, causing me to whimper in agony.
“Please—” The rest of my words are muffled by the cloth he shoves in my mouth.
“Now you’ll shut your pretty little mouth and let me get reacquainted with your body.”
A frown creases my forehead, but when I take a deep breath through my nose everything goes black.
* * *
“Snowflake, I need to talk to you.”
I glance at my stepfather and smile. He’s been going through something that makes him angry all the time and I wish there was some way I could help him. My mom is passed out after the party. She’s really tired after looking after me and all my friends.
“Sure, Daddy, what’s wrong?” The chair of my desk is cold and I shiver. His gray eyes settle on my chest and I can’t help squirming under his intense stare.
“I think you know what’s wrong. What you’ve been doing all this time.”
I frown, regarding him warily. Fear runs through my veins as I watch him step closer to me. There’s something menacing about his approach, and when he grips my hair, tugging my head back, I let out a whimper.
Pain courses through me and tears spring to my eyes. He’s never hurt me. Why is he doing it now? I didn’t mean to make him angry. “I didn’t—”
“Yes, you fu*king did. Acting like a little whore in front of me. You think I don’t notice how you wiggle your tiny little ass? Those perky little tits are always on show. Pointing directly at me.” He hisses the words in my face and I wince. Spittle from his mouth dots my cheek and the stale smell of beer and cigars has my stomach rolling.
I try to shake my head, but I can’t move. His hold on me is too tight. The tears I was holding back spill when I blink and he leans in, licking my cheeks.
“Mmmm… So delicious. I’m going to taste every part of you. I bet you’re as sweet as you look, aren’t you, my baby?” His other hand gropes my breast, squeezing and mauling it.
“Please—”
“Shut it! Don’t you fu*king speak. Do you hear me?” He doesn’t wait for my answer. Instead, with one strong hand, he grasps my yellow summer dress and rips it from my body. The tattered material is in shreds, not covering me any longer, but instead leaving me bare to his filthy leer.
He pulls me up and drags me over to my bed. Throwing me down like a little rag doll, I bounce and pray someone will help me. That perhaps my mother will wake up and hear. Maybe she’ll be able to distract him or something, anything. But that doesn’t happen because he grips my ankles, pulling me to the edge of my bed until I’m bent over.
My blue cotton panties are pulled down and a deep animalistic growl vibrates from his throat. “So perfect.”