“Well, make sure you don’t work too hard, man.”
“I’ll try. No promises.”
With a tap on the hood, I finished making my way home. There, I found myself once more sitting at my desk, papers strewn about.
Emery
Tears fell as I stood, hands tied behind my back with a thick rope. Said rope was bound to a hook somewhere behind me on the wall. There was no way I could get loose, even if I tried. Not that I would. I knew better than that.
A lesson well received.
“It’s okay,” Enzo whispered, his own grief making it hard to speak the words. His arms were stretched out, bound by similar roping and tied to the wall behind him. He was as much a hostage as I was.
But it wasn’t okay. It was all my fault. I should be the one that was on the other end of the punishment. Not him. Anyone but him.
I shook my head, not able to speak as my throat closed up from the sobs.
“Oh, shut up, you worthless piece of shit!” Steven hissed over his shoulder at me.
I wished I could. Truly, I did. But the sobs and shaking couldn’t be turned off with a flick of a switch or a snap of the fingers.
Biting my bottom lip to stop the sounds as best I could, tears fell heavily down my face. Nothing but death would be able to stop them.
And that would be the best thing to happen to either of us.
Another sob caught in my chest as the first strike landed on Enzo. Welts already appeared from the leather along his chest.
One. Two. Three more swift strikes, each leaving bruises and broken skin in places that no one should ever have to deal with. Enzo’s scream was soundless as the fourth made its home near his ribs. The buckle dug into the skin, tearing into the little muscle he had.
The only thing stopping me from collapsing right there was the bonds. If I were to fall, both of my shoulders would pop out of place.
No longer able to see through the tears, I gasped, willing each breath I took to be my last. It was all my fault. My own doing for bringing him into this world. A world I once thought wasn’t so bad.
Now, I knew better. I knew there was only one way out, too, and I would keep searching for it.
I had nothing to lose. Not as I was forced to watch the only person who cared being belted for my mistakes.
Finally, Steven finished. He spat at Enzo before turning to me.
“Maybe next time you’ll do better, pet.” He grasped my hair, pulling my face upwards. My scalp screamed, but my mouth did nothing but clamp shut tighter. “I’m gonna leave you both hanging here for a bit. A few hours, or days. I really thought you had this business under control.”
“I-I-I’ll do b-b-better.”
“I’m sure you will. If not….” He didn’t need to say the words. Steven was great at coming up with punishments, with new ways to torment me. And, he wouldn’t stop at simple torture to prove his points.
I was the one responsible for the man tied up across from me. It had been me who had brought him in. All because Steven wanted another plaything.
I’d just never expected to fall in love with him.
Emery
The pillow under my head was soaked with tears. My body trembled as the dream left my mind. It was more than a dream. A flashback. One of many.
The pain of my actions would never be soothed.
I shouldn’t be here. I’m the one who should have died. Not—
My thoughts were interrupted by a face appearing before me. A real one, not one from my memories.
