EVERETT
“Wake up, Eve.”
My face is slapped, and I jolt awake. “Hmm?” I mumble into the gag.
Kashton bends down and picks up a bloody razor blade and holds it in front of my heavy eyes. “Hold still. It would be a shame to cut this pretty face.” He chuckles. “It was the only rule I had for the Lords.”
I stiffen when he grabs the top piece of the tape and slowly starts to run the razor blade down it, cutting it away. He rips the last piece off and removes the gag.
My head hangs forward, and I spit and cough, trying to get the nasty sour taste out of my mouth.
“So pretty.” He places his hands on either side of my face and forces my head back so I have to look up at him.
“Fuck you.” I spit in his face. He takes his right hand and slaps me hard while his left hand holds it in place. I taste blood, and I spit that on him too. “Fucking kill me, you bastard,” I shout, fisting my hands behind my back.
He shakes his head, making atskingsound. “I watched the tape of you here, Eve. How much you enjoyed it. The cum that dripped from your overused cunt. I know it’s been a while, but I think I can get you back to that doll who begged to be played with.”
His thumb runs over my lips, and he leans down, pressing his mouth to mine. I sink my teeth into his lip, biting until I taste his blood this time. We’ll both bleed.
Kashton pulls back with a growl and slaps me across the face once more.
I want to cry, but the force has the rope pulling tight on my neck, and it takes my breath away.
“I’m doing this for us.” He huffs. “Ungrateful bitch.”
I give a manic laugh, sucking in a breath that burns my lungs, staring up at the ceiling. My vision is cloudy, and my head is pounding.How long have I been here? What do I have to do to pass? Just survive? I’m not sure that’s possible.
“I’ll prove to you that you enjoyed it.” I lower my head to watch him grab a syringe out of his pocket.
My heart shatters because I know what it is. I don’t stand a chance. All Lords play dirty, and he’s no different.
He stabs me in the arm and plunges the drugs into me. Then he steps back and tosses the syringe to the side. “Now let’s hear you count each time you come on their cocks.”
I sit straight up, gasping for air. I blink rapidly, and when my vision comes into focus, I see we’re still in the apartment above Blackout.
Kashton is sound asleep next to me.
Taking in a shaky breath, I run my hands through my tangled hair to push it off my face.
It was a hallucination, Eve,Kash had told me.
Even in my dreams, I can’t escape something that didn’t happen. It wasn’t real. But I’ve never felt anything more real in my life. I remember girls having hallucinations at Dollhouse. They looked like they had been possessed by demons, the way their bodies twisted and turned. The screams that came out of their mouths. It was horrific and so painful to watch.
Getting out of bed, I make my way to the bathroom and flip the soft light on. I go to the his-and-hers sinks and turn on one of the faucets, splashing cold water on my face. I do it again and then start digging through cabinets for something to help relieve this pounding headache. Everything fucking aches. Finding some Advil, I pop two in my mouth, cup the water, and take a sip. I’m so thirsty.
Turning it off, some of Kashton’s things catch my eye. He’s got his wallet, a money clip filled with hundreds, and his pocketknife on the counter.
I take a quick look into the bedroom, and he’s still asleep—head on the pillow, facing away from me, arms underneath it, and the covers up to his shoulders. Licking my lips, I pick up the knife and hold the cold metal in my hand. Why didn’t I kill myself in my hallucination?
I could have. There was a rope wrapped around my neck. I could have lifted my legs at any time and hung myself. It was a sign, right? Why didn’t I think of it? Would that have brought me out of my hallucination, or would it have given Kashton a reason to punish me? Probably would have just been another reason to torture me. I won’t ever know because none of it existed.
I don’t think anyone is capable of pulling themselves out of a hallucination. I’m pretty sure you have to ride it out. Especially if you’re given drugs to induce it.
“Angel?”
I gasp and drop the pocketknife, startled by the sound of Kashton’s voice.He stands in the bathroom, dressed in nothing but his black boxer briefs. He hasn’t touched me sexually. I passed out in his arms a few hours ago after he picked me up off the bathroom floor.
Why would he want to touch me? I screamed for him to get away from me. I told him I hated him. He probably hates me now. “I’m sorry.”
