“Stay the fuck away from me!” I slowly walk backwards to the window in my closet.
Metal claps against metal as he slowly unthreads his belt from the loops in his slacks.
I panic, lying, “I’ve told Ruby.”
“Good girl.” He smiles, pausing. “You’ve finally done something useful. She can’t escape her role any longer.”
He takes another step.
I push my arm forward, slashing the knife through the air to keep him back. Without a single ounce of fear on his face, he continues advancing as he folds his belt in half, slapping the folded leather against each other so they crack. The large kitchen knife shakes in my hand as my back hits the wooden window casing.
“Get the charges against Kane dropped.” I fumble with the lock. “I’ll stop everyone knowing what you are.”
“You don’t know what you’ve involved yourself in. It doesn’t matter what you do, princess, you will never win.” He laughs again, shaking his head as he holds the tail ends of his belt in one hand. He quickly whips the looped end against my hand, a red stripe instantly blooming as my fingers open on instinct, dropping the knife.
I kick back, aiming to smash the glass, but he grabs my hair, pulling my head down as he brings his knee up. Pain shoots through my face, an odd click in my nose as blood drips down over my lips into my mouth.
His fist is balled, ready to punch me in the stomach as he pulls me up by my hair.
“I’m pregnant!” I scream, pushing backwards.
“Well done, princess.” His fingers tighten in my hair as he smiles down at me, lowering the belt. “Daddy is proud of you for saving us.”
I sacrifice my scalp as I try to evade his touch, pushing my weight down. It’s no use when he shakes my entire body with his hold on my hair and flattens his hand over my stomach. “For your sake, I hope there’s two in there to replace what you took.”
“Don’t even think about my baby.”
“Babies,” he snarls.
Folding in half, I stretch out to grab the knife as I knock his disgusting hand off me. “I know why you need me to have a child.” I meet his eyes as I bring the knife to my stomach, exactly where his hand was. “Get the fucking charges dropped or you won’t have any children left.”
Just give me Kane back. I don’t have to have him in my life; I just need him to be safe.
“You can put me in prison instead,” I offer. “I’ll take the punishment, then you can go back to your sick friends, say it wasn’t your fault.”
The tip of the knife pokes through my dress, scratching my stomach.
“Do it,” my father scoffs.
I silently apologize to everyone I’ve hurt as I tighten my hold on the handle.
The air beside my head parts as I apply more pressure to the knife and the full impact of the belt slams into the side of my face. He abruptly lets go of my hair, knocking me off-balance. I end up dropping the knife when pain erupts on the other side of my temple as it connects with the sharp point of the window casing. I curl up in a ball with the last bit of strength I have, protectively covering my stomach as the air whistles between each lash of the belt pelting my back, arms, head—everywhere.
2
DELILAH
The sun is beginning to set as I make it out of the creepy forest full of dolls, following the narrow road running beside the forest. I’m not even going to try my luck with the other portion because the warning signs facing the road are more erratic.
Who the fuck would visit here without warning other people about all the strange shit? Or some idiot with a phone would have tried to make a video about it all, documenting the creepy forests, so it should be everywhere. Yet I still don’t know which continent I’m on.
My feet are raw as I walk along the edge of the forest, careful to stay on the mossy ground instead of the sandy tarmac while searching for anyone to help me.
I repeat Kane’s instructions with each step. “Noctem. Speak to someone called Niko, he’ll help me find my sisters.”
Ruby has to help me. She has to save me since it’s all her fault for leaving. Scarlet can fuck off if she tries to be a bitch.
The desolate island I’ve been stuck in for however many hours finally, fucking finally has proof of civilization as a row of houses comes into view. I can’t see Helene’s house. Hopefullyshe thinks I died. What the fuck has my life come where the best possible outcome is faking my death?
