When the dark masked man comes by, I feel like I’ve felt him before, but I always draw a blank. He’s wearing padding—after I attacked him and he walked away like it was nothing, I could feel the spongy feel.
Glancing at Bailey, I sit and lean against the filthy wooden walls, working my fingers through the dirt to find another stone. I’ve been working on a piece of scrap to try to have a weapon.
“Bad shit happened to me a long time ago, and I couldn’t see another way out from what I did. Bailey, I don’t know if we’re going to be saved or even survive this, and I don’t want you to think I’m a piece of shit. I’d blame me for being here. Fuck, babe, your injuries hurt me in ways you don’t even understand.”
“Clara, you don’t have to be a hero.” She moves against the slates and stretches a bit. “It’s okay to embrace the darkness inside of you.”
“My stepdad wasn’t a good man. He stole so much from me—my innocence, my firsts for everything that you’re supposed to have with someone you love.” I drop the stick and wrap my arms around my knees.
“I couldn’t imagine, Clara. I had shitty parents, but they never touched me. What happened to your mom? Or your real dad?”
Rubbing at a scab that’s formed since I woke up here, I don’t make eye contact. “Birth father took off, from what I understand. Didn’t want to be tied down to a baby. Ma hooked up with the first guy who gave her the time of day just before I started school. No other family, so I was raised by a monster.”
I stare at nothing until my vision crosses. How did I ever think I could be loved in a healthy way when Andrew was the one to show me what I deserved my entire life?
Bailey’s lips move, but I’m lost inside my memories. I can see her, but my mind can’t connect to my mouth, and I can’t hear anything. Grounding doesn’t work here, no matter what I do.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“We’re past apologies, aren’t we? I said your past can shape you, but it can also turn you into exactly what you’d never be.”
I glance away, staring at the heavy door that doesn’t open much, like he’s forgotten we exist. Although it’s better than the torture which sometimes comes at night, I feel like I’m drowning alive.
“I’ve always had a big heart, and I don’t know how I came out of the situation with any humanity at all. Having core memories of neglect and abuse and wanting to be loved in a way which doesn’t hurt is such a fucking curse.”
Bailey scampers across the dirt and sits next to me, our shoulders touching. She doesn’t say anything, but her warmth is appreciated. “You did what you had to survive.”
“Yeah, and now we’re stuck here. How am I going to save you?”
“Us, saveus. You’re just as fucking important as me. Doesn’t matter if you’re a stitched-up soul.”
I lean against her and rest my head on her shoulder. Dread pulses through me, and with a quick glance at the small window I know our time alone is ending.
We both jump as the metal lock bangs against the heavy door. I grab her hand and squeeze it.
As he steps through, he cocks his head and looks around. Whatever type of mask it is hides his facial features, and it drives me crazy because I can’t pinpoint who it could be. Maybe it means he’s going to let us go if we don’t see his face.
The energy changes in the room. The ominous vibes he brings, because he never says a fucking word, give me chills and fuel my belly with anger at the same time.
“How long are you going to keep us here?” Bailey asks.
He throws our dinner but advances on us, grasping her arm and dragging her away from me like a ragdoll.
As his fists beat down like rain, I’m stuck, cemented to the spot like I am watching an old film of Ryan and I. Animosity perspires out of him as he strikes her.
Sinking my fingers into the dirt, I find my half-ass shank and snap out of the past that always wants to drown me into the abyss.
The villain that lives inside of me is done waiting—there is no more time to waste for Bailey. Pulling on the deepest parts of myself, I am filled with malice and a bitter taste of hate.
Slinking behind them, I keep my eyes on hers. I’ve given up too much of my fucking life to die in this hellhole, and she deserves better.
When the room fills with the sound of bones crunching, I grab the back of his sweater and stick the sharpened piece of wood into his neck.
He roars and whips away from Bailey, knocking me down with a backhand. The pain blinds me, and I see stars.
Holding on to my need to help her, I kick as hard as I can and jump up to fight him. This fucker loves to use his fists instead of words, but he doesn’t know that’s my first language.
Shoving into him as the inside of my skin feels like it’s bleeding, I aim for his neck area again, needing to at least maim him if I can’t make the kill. Power pumps through my veins like I was built to be a different kind of monster.
