Gaia
Itried not to think about him. He’d been wrong for me from the word go. He’d been in my mother's bed for fuck’s sake. Then he kidnapped me and my brother, held me against my will, and drugged Gabriel to the point he could not recognize me. He’d made all sorts of unreasonable demands, and yet...
And yet...he’d made me feel. I’d spent my life fighting demons, yet he’d shown me the other side of darkness. That darkness could be cold and terrifying, but it could also be warm. It could be a safe place. His darkness was my safe place. When I closed my eyes, I saw him smiling down at me, I heard him telling me how much he loves me, how mad I drive him. How could a man who loves a woman as much as he said he did, treat me the way he did a week ago?
One week. Seven days. One hundred sixty-eight hours without him.
I felt sick, I must be coming down with a cold. I couldn’t eat a thing.
Gabe was worried about me, and I knew it was because they were going to strike at anytime.
“I will be strong enough, brother, I promise.”
* * *
Iawoke to the sounds of yelling and gunfire. I turned on the security monitor in my room, seeing masked and armed men storming the mansion from all directions, clashing against our guards. Shots rang out, and shouts of anguish filled the air.
“There’s been a breach in security! Into the bunker!” I heard my father’s voice as he banged on my door. I was surprised he even bother to notify me. He’d avoided me like the plague since I returned to this house. His footsteps retreated, then I heard him bang on Gabe’s door. My mother was probably already in the safety of the family bunker. My heart hammered in my chest. He was here. It was going to be over, but I knew that there would be many lives lost before the night was over. But I’d be free, from Arthur and my family, and that was all that mattered.
I threw off my covers and jumped out of bed, getting ready in jeans, a t-shirt, jacket, and runners as fast as I possibly could. I didn’t bother packing a bag, there was nothing I wanted to take from this place.
My door swung open, and as expected, Gabe was standing at the door. He nodded at me and held his hand out. “Time to go, sis.”
I took his hand as we made our way down the long corridor. There was chaos everywhere, so we didn’t have to worry about not making noise as we walked in the opposite direction from where my parents had gone. The corridor was dimly lit, so Gabe used his phone’s flashlight. “I know of a secret exit, and there’s a car waiting out there for us.” We turned a corner, and as we did, a baton swung out. Gabe and I ducked just in time, but the man swung again. Gabe let go of my hand and lurched for our assailant. He managed to gain the upper hand and straddled the man, punching him in the face until he passed out.
Gabe stood, out of breath. “Dad must know that I’m working with Arthur.”
I shook at the thought that inside these walls were guards who knew we were not on their side. We carried on down the corridor, reaching a door to the servant’s quarters. Gabe placed his hand on the knob and turned it. I stood behind him, checking around and behind us.
When he swung the door open our father was standing on the other side. The look in his eyes was sinister. “You little ungrateful bastards,” he spat as he grabbed Gabe by the throat, pushing him to the floor. Gabe tried to claw at him, but Charles was stronger. I tried to step forward to help, but a cloth covered hand closed over my nose and mouth, pulling me back. I wanted to fight it, but it was all in vain. I heard Gabe shouting, his voice was sounding farther and farther away. I tried to stand, but my feet gave in. As I was falling into darkness, the last thing on my mind was my brother.
