Thunk… Thunk…
Suddenly, the sound makes sense. It’s his boots on the concrete floor. Slow and steady. He’s in no rush.
“Ka-sh?” My voice cracks, and I’m not sure he heard me.
My head falls to the floor, unable to hold it up any longer, and my scalp stings from him dragging me, the motion pulling my hair. That explains the headache. I look around aimlessly, and something catches my attention. Red bulbs above doors as we pass.
We’re at Dollhouse.My heart leaps in my chest at the thought of being back here.
All of a sudden, the memories rush back. Us at the motel, him telling me to run, him catching me. He drugged me and brought me here.
“I’m going to break you, Eve.”
Panic grips my chest and my fight or flight kicks in. I use what strength I have and roll over onto my stomach, and my hands try to grab a hold of anything to stop him.
No. No. I can’t do this. I can’t be here.
“Good morning, Eve,” comes his voice echoing off the walls.
Morning? It was dark in the woods. How long have I been out?
“Kashton. Please don’t…” My throat tightens, thinking of what he could do to me. “I don’t want to be here. Take me home. Please…” I beg him as he continues to drag me down the hallway.
Funny, I wanted to leave Carnage, and now it’s the only place I want to be. I try to kick my tied feet and twist my body to slow him down, but it doesn’t even seem to bother him. My hands reach out to grab a hold of a doorframe, but it’s too far away.
“Sorry, angel. We can’t leave until you’ve proven to be a good whore.”
My breath gets caught in my lungs at his words, and I slap my hands on the concrete to try and stop him once more. My fingers burn and my nails break as they drag along the cold floor.
He gives the rope one hard pull, yanking me forward, and we come to a stop. I try to crawl away, but his weight is on top of me.
“Kashton. Stop,” I scream, tears filling my eyes. “Please…don’t do this.”
He grabs my arms and yanks them behind my back, tying my wrists together with rope. Then he flips me onto my back.
I arch my neck and scream, hoping someone will hear me. Anyone. But I’ve been here before, and there’s no one to save me.
He slaps his hand over my mouth, silencing me, and forces my head down. His free hand gently pushes my wild hair off my face. “It’s okay, Eve. You’ve been a doll before. I’m going to make sure you enjoy it just as much as you did last time.”
Tears blur my vision. He’s so cold. Heartless. This isn’t the Kashton I’ve fallen in love with. How can he switch it up like that? How could I have been so stupid to think he could ever love me?
Removing his hand from my face, he pulls another piece of rope out of his hoodie and starts to wrap it around my neck.
“What are you doing?” I ask, panicking. “Stop.” I try to pull away, but it’s no use. I scream in frustration, and angry tears pour from my eyes.
Pulling, he yanks me to standing by the rope wrapped around my neck, momentarily cutting off my air. He ushers me forward on my shaking legs and I stumble into his body since my arms are tied behind my back. Bringing me to a stop in the center of the room, he tosses the excess rope from around my neck up above our heads and over a pipe that runs from one wall to the other. Then he walks behind me, tying it off at the back of my neck.
“Kashton.” My body trembles and I try to swallow. It’s choking me.
“Remove her heels,” he orders.
He stripped me naked but dressed me in heels? Why? I try to spin around to see who the fuck he’s talking to, but the rope doesn’t allow it.
The rope around my ankles is cut and then someone grabs my leg, bends it at the knee, and removes my heel before it’s dropped.
My panic rises when I’m forced to stand on my tiptoes. The same is done to the other. I cry out when the rope tightens, forcing me to tilt my head to the side as it rubs against my neck and the side of my cheek, pulling on my sensitive skin.
He places both hands on my face, forcing me to meet his stare. “You love it when I play with you.”
