Savanna
Ikeep waiting for the lights to go out again, terrified that at any second the room will be plunged back into darkness. My heart races while every part of my body is screaming at me. Every inch hurts, and I can feel my headache growing worse, threatening to turn into a migraine.
My breathing picks up when I look around the room. It’s bad enough with the lights on, but when they go out, it’s not just dark. It’s a pitch black that I’ve never experienced before. No light under the door, no glow from behind curtains or blinds, just a darkness so thick it feels like a presence. I’d never know if someone were standing in front of me or if bugs were crawling towards me. My mind races out of control, working me into a frenzy until I’m shaking and crying and wishing like hell Niki would walk through that door.
I have no idea how long I was asleep. I’m pretty sure I’m into my second day here, but there’s no way for me to know for sure. I know that despite my fear, I’m starving, so it’s been long enough for my body to get past the adrenaline and terror and demand some sustenance.
Ignoring my empty stomach, I shake some circulation back into my hands and tell myself that this will all be over soon. Ihave no idea if it’s true, and I have every reason to believe it isn’t, but I need something to hold onto.
Niki is coming for me. I repeat it so many times it becomes a mantra, one my life depends on, and I’m so lost to the repeating cadence of those five words that it takes me a second to hear the door being opened.
Every part of me freezes when I notice it. Niki’s name dies on my lips when I see Cupid walk in, the man who used to teach me, the man I trusted and looked up to, and the one who’s now staring at me with a smug grin playing at his lips. He slowly walks closer while he runs his eyes over me. Stopping at the end of the bed, he makes a show of sniffing the air before giving a pointed look to the puddle I made on the floor.
“Well, I’m sorry I missed that show,” he says with a laugh. His eyes go back to my cuffed wrists. “Did you struggle to get your pants down? I bet that was a sight. I’ll have to go back and watch the footage.”
His smile spreads when he sees the horrified look on my face. My eyes dart around the room, but there’s no camera, at least not one I can see.
“Of course you’re being filmed. I even sent Niki the link to the feed.”
“What?” I ask, desperately looking around and trying to guess where the camera might be. I give up and just start yelling Niki’s name, crying and screaming for him until Cupid sighs.
“It’s not on right now,” he says and sits down next to me.
I tense and scoot as far away as I can.
“I’m sure he loved the video of me fucking you.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, and then it hits me. The woman he brought in here had been blonde and dressed in similar clothes. He’d taped her mouth shut and kept her head pressed into the mattress. She hadn’t been able to scream, but I had. Out of sight, chained to the wall, I’d unknowingly providedthe perfect soundtrack. My stomach clenches at knowing Niki watched that, thinking it was me, and something snaps inside me when I think about the pain it would’ve caused him.
“You bastard,” I say, unable to comprehend how anyone can be so vile. It’s inhuman and impossible to understand. It’s not just that there’s something off about him. There’s something off with Sasha, but he would never do this. The man grinning at me is a pathetic excuse for a human, someone who has to hurt others to make himself feel like a tough guy.
“Cowards always prey on those who they think are weaker,” I tell him. “That’s why you came after me instead of going directly against Niki. You kidnapped a woman who’s not as physically strong as you are and then you raped another one who was bound and gagged.” I let out a hysterical laugh. “Wow, you’re such a tough guy.” I laugh again, not caring that I’ve reopened the cut on my lip and it’s dripping fresh blood. “You know you could never win in a fight against another man, so you prey on women. You’re fucking pathetic.”
I see the rage flash in his eyes, the way his body tenses when he leans closer, invading my space and threatening me without a single word being spoken.
“I’m pathetic?” He hisses out the words, trying to keep control of himself even though I can feel the anger vibrating off him. “I’m not the one who pissed on the floor like a fucking animal. I’m not the one cuffed to a filthy bed. I think you’re forgetting how delicate your situation is, Savanna. You need me. I’m the only thing standing between you and a fate far worse than death. Although, death is definitely an option. You’ll die if I leave you here, so you might want to change your attitude.”
I tense when he brushes my hair off my shoulder.
“Come on, where’s my A student?”
The taunt in his voice has me trying to rear my leg back to kick him, but he sees the movement and grabs onto my thigh, roughly pinning me to the bed.
“Not very smart,” he says, digging his fingers in hard enough to bruise. “I thought I taught you better than that. Where’s my submissive little student who always sat up straight and took notes, hanging on every single word I ever said? Where did she go? Because I think I’d enjoy that Savanna a whole lot more.”
“I think you killed her when you punched me in your goddamn office,” I hiss at him before letting out a yelp of pain when he digs his fingers in harder.
“I’m not trying to hurt you,” he says, and when I look down at the hand that’s currently causing me a lot of pain and then move my arms so he can hear the clank of the handcuffs, he lets out an annoyed breath. “You brought this on yourself. You fought me. This is all on you.”
“I haven’t been chained up here long enough for that fucked-up psychology to work on me.” I grin, even though nothing about this situation is even remotely funny or enjoyable. It’s just so surreal, and I’m pretty sure I’m going a little crazy. “Remember that class you taught about psychology and childhood trauma? You’re exactly like the monsters you lectured about.”
“I don’t hurt kids,” he says while lessening his grip on my thigh. He keeps his hand there, not letting me go in case I decide to try and kick him again.
“I don’t think that logic is going to make my mom and dad feel any better. You think it’ll make your sons feel better when they find out who you really are?”
“They’ll never find out. I’m going to leave and start a new life. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. The only question left is if you’re coming with me.” The back of one finger traces along my jaw. “So, Savanna, are you joining me, or do I need to sell you to someone else before I leave?”
I turn my head, but there’s nowhere for me to go. I can’t avoid his touch when he trails his finger down my neck and along my throat.
