Sometime later, I wake up in a dark room. It smells of mildew and the air is cold. Looking around, I find that I am tied to a chair. My hands are pulled behind my back and bound together while each of my ankles are connected to a leg of thechair. Adjusting my weight in preparation to knock the chair over, it doesn’t budge. Looking down, I see it has been bolted to the floor. Fuck. There’s a one way mirror in front of me and a heavy metal door to my left with a lock that only opens with a code or key card. Just as I begin to plan my escape, the door creaks open and in walks a middle aged man followed by Xavier Santino. I roll my eyes at his presence. He moves ahead and looks me up and down before laughing hoarsely.
“Oh how the tables have turned my friend.” He says.
“You going to kill me?” I already know the answer to that question but I need to buy myself some time.
“In due time. For now, we are going to enjoy our time together.” I spit on his face and offer him no emotion. I’m not giving this fucker any pleasure in watching me squirm. I’m prepared to die today if I must.
He rears his brass knuckle covered fist back and punches me in the mouth. Blood drops from it as my head bobs from the impact. I smile at him with my bloody mouth. I’ve been hit worse by girls.
“My girlfriend hits harder than you. You’re going to have to do better than that.” I laugh hysterically.
“Oh we will.” With that he continues to punch me over and over. I absorb each hit like it’s nothing.
Hours have passed but I have no sense of time except for the watch on his wrist telling me it’s nine pm.
“Where is she?” I groan out while my head hangs from exhaustion.
“She’s not here yet but she will be soon.” He says menacingly. He begins to walk towards the door but I can’t help myself from responding.
“Fuck you.” I spit at him. Venom present on my tongue. He turns around and walks back towards me. My face is expressionless behind the ever apparent swelling and bruises mixed with blood. He bends down so we are face level with each other
“Almost forgot this.” He pulls a dark fabric from his pocket and pulls it over my head. The realization hits me of his plans and that causes me to panic. I start thrashing in my restraints but he doesn’t react. Turning his back to me, he struts out of the room and the door closes behind him with a bang before the sound of the locks being engaged makes a beep sound. I’m so fucked.
Present: Everly’s POV
I come to my senses as my eyes struggle to open. I attempt to move my arms but something prevents them. Wiggling my fingers up, I feel my binds are made of rope. Absorbing my senses, I sense that my feet are restrained as well. A pounding headache creeps on and my cheek feels wet. Blood is found next to my head. These fuckers hit me with something. Remembering the previous events, I shift my gaze to my gunshot wound that is now wrapped in gauze. Well, at least they were kind enough to care for that.
Soft music plays on the radio of the van as I look up to find the back of two heads looking towards the road ahead. One turns and I am met with his face. Horror washes over me as memories flood forward. Striped sheets and evil hands.
“It’s been too long, La Cantante.” He laughs but my blood runs cold. I remember every detail of the things he did to me. He likes to play with knives and not in a good way. I shiver at the memories but push it down the best I can. Not again. Never again.
“Where are we going?” I ask, making sure to keep my voice level. I will not show any weakness.
“Xavier wants you. We go where he tells us.” The driver speaks up. Xavier is dead wrong if he thinks that using my abusers against me will keep me placid. That mother fucker is so dead.
Hours pass before we come to a halt.
“We are here.” The driver says and both men climb out. Seconds later the side door is opened and they pull me out. Carmen, the one that likes knives, throws me over his shoulder and I nearly vomit from the contact.
“Get the fuck off of me! I will kill you!” I scream but he only laughs in response. Looking around, I take in that we have moved to a secluded bunker. We head through a door and walk down stairs that leads to a long hallway. After a few turns, we come down a hallway filled with solid metal doors. I take in their security systems. We stop in front of one and suddenly I hear screaming from another room. The sound of Ryon’s voice fills the area and my heart lurches. I thrash in his arms as he continues to open the door and walk in. He sits me down on a bed and pulls out a long chain with a hand cuff that is connected to the wall. Once secured, he cuts my ropes and with one motion I throw myself at him. He dodges me and I’m thrown back by the wrist. Looking around, my heart stops when I see a familiar pattern painting the bed. White and blue striped sheets wrap the thin mattress behind me.
“You motherfucker!” I scream just as he walks out of the room and leaves me in the dark.
At some point I fall asleep from pain and exhaustion but am awoken by the sound of the door opening. Walking in, four men stand with hungry eyes. They stand in a line not saying a word. I spring up into a sitting position and ready myself for a fight.
“We have been given direct orders to not touch you but no one said anything about not hurting you.” Camron says. I bare my teeth at him like a wild animal.
They slowly creep towards me as I throw myself out at one. My hair is grabbed and I am thrown to the floor. They all descend on me. I jerk around with kicks and punches. I won't stop fighting though. I never will. Continuing to hit me, I attempt to throw my legs and feet at anyone within reach but never make contact. This goes on for so long that I lose time. I curl into a ball and protect my body the best I can from their assault. Eventually they get tired and contact stops. Some spit on me while others say profanities. I just keep myself small. I might look weak right now but I am not. I need to stay alive. I need to save the guys. Somewhere in this building contains Ghost, Blake, and the guys. If I can find a way out, I can save them. I just need to stay alive long enough to do that.
Days must have passed as they bring me food each day and each day I leave it untouched. I don’t trust them not to drug me in order to sneak in and rape me. These men are horrible human beings with no moral code. They fed me drugs to make my mind and body weak over time with no way for me to fight back. By the time the drugs stopped, I had no will to live. I didn’t need drugs or restraints. I felt nothing. It wasn’t until my father’s team found me that I cried again. It took years of therapy for me to start training again.
The door clicks open and two men walk in. I don’t even bother acknowledging them as they move towards me.
“Get up.” One says, to whom I’ve learned, is called Andre.
“Fuck off.” I groan. I am in no mood to be fucked with.
I’m grabbed and ripped from my bed by my hair. Holding me inches from his greasy face, I nearly gag at his horrific breath.
