If I fight, Elijah is dead. I can’t do anything.
What do I do?
What the hell do I do?
How do I fix this?
“I always hated you for taking my boy away from me. You have no idea how long I’ve waited to do this,” Mr Bronze spits before throwing Elijah to the ground. When he lands with a thud, Mr Bronze strikes Elijah’s knee with his foot.
Elijah lets out a visceral roar as he clutches his leg.
“You’ve fucking broken my leg, you bastard!” He shouts as tears spring from his eyes.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” Teddy screams from his chair as he struggles against the restraints. I attempt to break free as well, but the rope is tight against my skin. It burns as I move my hands up and down the rope.
Mr Bronze steps over Elijah and moves in front of me. Elijah slowly closes his eyes as he passes out. He gets down to my level, his face uncomfortably close to mine.
“You look just like your mother,” he says, taking in the details of my face. He gently caresses my cheek with the point of the knife. I stay deathly still. I close my eyes tightly as I feel the blade press deeper into my skin, a small cut forming on my cheek.
“Maybe I should carve a Chelsea smile into your cheeks, since you’re so desperate to smile all the time,” he threatens.
“Leave him alone, he didn’t do anything wrong, Dad!” Teddy shouts.
“Fuck sake, can you two get some duct tape for him or something?” Mr Bronze says to the boys. They duct tape Teddy’s mouth while he struggles.
“I’m trying to chat with Noah here, and you’re constantly interrupting,” he says to Teddy. He turns back to me and caresses my cheek as I struggle.
“You know, killing her was an accident really. I guess it made my life easier not seeing her. A constant reminder of what I lost. But now you’re walking around. You have her cheekbones, her eyes…her fury,” he begins, stroking my cheeks like a lover. I tremble under his touch.
“You’re like her in so many ways, you have no idea,” he whispers as the blood from my cheeks transfers to his fingertips.
“You know, she used to have this little flower stall. She always did love flowers, didn’t she? Especially white roses, they were her favourite,” he says, pacing back and forth. He smiles reminiscently.
“I did love her, you know. But she was never into the hard work it took to provide,” he explains, making me laugh. He turns to me, his face serious now.
“What’s so funny?”
“So you became a criminal to provide for her? No wonder she dumped you,” I say, laughing in his face. He darts towards me and grabs me by the throat. The air in my lungs disappears, the pressure in my head building. I suddenly regret provoking him. Teddy’s muffled shouts ring in my ears. I choke out pleas of forgiveness, but he doesn’t stop.
“She was a fucking whore! She took everything away from me, and never once apologised. My life was ruined. And I will never forgive her for that. She made me this way!” he says through gritted teeth, spit landing on my face.
Finally, he lets go of his throat. I cough and splutter as air reaches my lungs again.
“I promised her I would never hurt you. She paid me to leave you both alone after I killed your father.”
He killed Dad?
“I will fucking end you.” I spit, staring him right in the eyes. My gaze steely.
“Don’t kid yourself on,” Mr Bronze laughs. “It’s a shame, though, she couldn’t afford to keep the flower stall open after the deal was struck. The things you do for those you love, eh?” He chuckles. His face grows serious as he turns to me.
“It pains me to say this, but I’m going to have to break that promise. You know who I am now. I can’t have any loose ends,” he explains, my eyes going wide.
What is he going to do to us?
Teddy’s muffled shouts cause Elliot to kick him to the floor.
“Shut the fuck up!” He shouts as Teddy’s head hits the floor. His switchblade falls out of his pocket while the boys start laughing at him. His eyes close slowly.
