I watch as the oversized monster bound her hands and feet to the bed just like they had mine. I honestly thought the worst thing I would see was him taking her, but I was so very wrong.
The flash of red had my eyes widening as it hit home. My brain was scrambling to put it together even as he poured the contains of the gas can all over her. Each drop that touched her felt like it was touching me.
It was like watching your own death before it happened. The girl’s lifeless eyes just stared straight up at the ceiling it was almost like she had completely checked out and all that was left was this moving animated husk.
Was this mercy? No! Burning her alive was so not mercy. These sick bastards needed to die for what they’re doing. Every single one of them needed to be wiped from this earth. They were like an epidemic that needed quarantine.
I was hoping they would take me from the room so I didn’t have to watch the horror that was about to befall this poor woman. There was something I needed to know. Not just for me, but for her.
"What’s her name?"
"Her name, little girl? Do you really care?"
His cruel laughter echoed around the room, causing an involuntary flinch. She deserved to be remembered. She deserved to be free and the only way I could help with that was remembering her name for as long as I existed in this world.
Tears sting my eyes as the oversized monster lit his zippo. The flames danced as he drew closer to his goal. My eyes slammed closed as I turned my head away from the most gruesome, horrific thing I’ve seen in this world.
Fingers wrap around my chin pinching and digging in hard. I hated this man I really did. Opening my eyes, I glare at him trying to send every image of death his way that I could.
"Look, little girl. You’re going to miss the best part."
No, please, don’t make me watch her die, not like this. My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth. Words fail me as the gasoline ignites. Shadow man kept my face turned in her direction and no matter how hard I pulled and shook my head it remained in the exact place he wanted it.
I watch the flames caress her skin almost like a lover’s touch. Her screams would haunt me for the rest of my days. The smell of her flesh burning was a smell I will never forget. I wanted to close my eyes, but they wouldn’t close.
They were glued to the withering form on the bed. Her voice was gone now all that was left to show her pain was her mouth open in silent screams. Sobs wracked my body as it all sank and every breath, every move, the smells and sounds hit me and hit me hard.
This was going to haunt me. Her death will always be a part of me. She died for me, literally.
Chapter 23
Danny
It was over. They all believed I was dead at this point. Just yesterday I would have wished for the same thing. I’m pregnant and this changes everything. I was prepared to die I wasn’t prepared to fight for my life.
After watching her... I couldn’t even think of the word. I couldn’t think of what happened yesterday at all, at least, not in the form of words, but the sounds, smells, the very images were there to haunt me the moment I closed my eyes.
The old doctor was here a few hours ago, with the news of my upcoming motherhood. Shadow man looked down right freaked at the news. I laughed in his face when it sank in he had to tell his boss about said pregnancy.
Yeah, I was at the right age to have babies just not his. What was I going to do now? I was once again bound to a bed. My chances of escape looked pretty slim. Fear twisted my stomach into knots.
Think Danny! You need to think. This baby was depending on you and you alone. No one was coming for me now it was time to accept that. It seems captivity has done me wonders. I could feel the weak Danny sinking into the shadows as the Danny, the real Danny, rose to the forefront.
I thought I had lost her the real me, that they had killed her, but I was so very wrong. This was the girl Jesse fell in love with. The strong woman he needed to stand by his side. His life wasn’t an easy one.
Something has been nagging at me since I walked through the door of the club house. Now that I think about it, where was everyone? Almost all the elders were gone. Was I so self-absorbed that it took me this long to figure it out?
"You’ve been a very naughty girl."
The dark voice had my flesh crawling and fear coating me. He was here! The man who bought me. The man who ruined my life. The very man who destroyed that poor girl.
"I have, haven’t I?"
Goading him seemed to come from nowhere. What the fuck was wrong with me?
"Listen here, you little bitch! You need to learn your fucking place. Did you not get the example I sent to you yesterday?"
Oh god... images flashed like a deck of cards being shuffled. Her screams of pain, the smell of her burning flesh seared into my nose.
"Go fuck yourself!"
Danny what are you doing? Are you crazy? Remember, you need to survive not beg for death. The sound of feet hitting the floor had my eyes focusing on him. His black hair and pitiless eyes. Are the first things I see. I was looking into the face of the devil himself.
The very devil I have faced over and over again over the years. His face use to haunt my every waking moment. His voice was a nightmare filled with screams and pain. Looking at him I feel fear, yes, but I also feel anger and hatred.
"I find it so amusing you ended up where you did."
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me. The feel of him between my legs is something I will never forget. Magical."
"Fucking whore! I will wipe them from this fucking earth just like I did their daddy’s! I promise you sweetheart after I bring you Jesse’s head on a spit I will own that body of yours."
I couldn’t take it his laughter had shudders wracking my body. Closing my eyes, I wish for the world to swallow me. How could I not have noticed? They were all gone. The air was sucked from my lungs as my eyes opened.
He was leaning over me. His putrid breath was caressing my face. The feel of his lips pressing against mine had anger like nothing I have ever felt before taking over. He took everything from Jesse he is trying to take everything from me.
Opening my mouth, I smile into his kiss. My teeth sinking into the soft, spongy like flesh hard enough to have my teeth meet in the middle had my eyes dancing in merit. He was trying to remove himself from me without pulling and I was refusing to let go.
I knew if he pulled back his lip would be mine. His fingers sunk into my cheeks pushing hard. I could feel his nails digging into my flesh, causing blood to well under their tips. Ignoring the pain was something I was good at.
I wanted him to see it, to read it in my eyes. I suffered for years with no reward. But this, this was worth the pain. My reward would be great. Giving a little tug I feel the skin tearing. His black eyes darkened in anger.
I felt this sense of pride at the pain I could read there. He hurt me, terrified me, killed Jesse’s family, and that poor girl. I could only guess at what she endured. This was for us, all of us! Releasing my grip on his lip after another hard tug had laughter rushing from my mouth.
Slamming my head into his was both sweet and painful. Sure, I was still tied to this bed, but I couldn’t bring myself to care, as I locked eyes on his face. Blood flowed freely from his mouth and chin.
His nose was broken. It was off to the side already bruising, blood flowed like a stream from both offended parts. His hand connecting with my face had my head snapping to the side with enough force to cause whiplash.
Blood filled my mouth. Turning back to him I can’t help but laugh. His lip was tucked in slightly the new hole I made was showing his lower teeth. The second slap to my face had dark spots dancing before my eyes.
I tried to shake them, but they just got bigger and bigger until I could see no more. I was floating in a sea of black.
Chapter 24
Jesse
Days have lost their meaning. What was today? How long has it been? It feels like just moments ago, I
walked into that room and found the end to the rest of my life. How do I continue breathing?
She was gone and there was nothing I could do to fix this, any of it. Devastation was like a black hole it sucked me into its never-ending vortex. Images of our past, of just a few weeks ago, swirl around me.
They keep saying it’s time to put her to rest. Like the Vikings, we burn our dead. If I let them do this, then she will be truly gone. This is something I don’t think I could live with. My body was no longer my own.
Pain has taken it over. I feel like I’ve been run over. Everything feels broken and discombobulated. I could no longer connect to myself. Even my dreams have become nightmares. I watch her burn and nothing I say or do could save her.
The smell of the smoke was strong, so strong I could almost taste it as I inhaled. Her screams of pain surrounded me. I was helpless to stop, to move, to scream even. Tears coat my face as the flames consumed her. This was my future.
Chapter 25
Danny
The cold has settled around me telling me I was no longer in that room or on that bed. Moving was impossible. Opening my eyes, I look at myself, the best I could considering my whole body was strapped to a metal table.
My pants were gone, all that was left was my shirt, bra and panties. I was thankful I could still feel the phone pressed to my breast. My skin has started turning blue. I was so cold it hurt. My body was both numb and screaming in pain as my blood fought to flow through my veins.
Terror has taken over as it all sinks in. I was completely helpless and there was not a single person left in this world who would come for me. If I wanted to survive this, then I need to fight with all that was in me.
The sound of feet hitting the floor echoed off the walls.
"Ah, you’re awake."
The sound of his voice was slightly off. I guess almost ripping his lip off had some effect. The thought of his pain brought a smile to my face.
"Oh, dear, how fun it will be to break you."
Shudders wrack my body. He would not be touching me and I will never let him break me! Something silver flashes in front of me accompanied by his laughter.
"Ah, this will be perfect for the first. Don’t you think, dear?"
The glint of a small scalpel in his hand had my heart freezing in my chest. My mouth refused to work as terror consumed me. I have never been so terrified in my life. Closing my eyes, I pray to all that would listen to give me strength to survive this.
The feel of the cold blade touching my upper thigh had my body jerking uncontrollably. His hand slams down hard. Holding my thigh in place. The warmth from his hand had needles and fire igniting in the spots he touched.
It was like staying outside in the cold too long and then coming in and holding your hands under hot water. It was excruciating, at least I thought so until the very moment the blade slid into my skin I could feel it cut through the thin layers of skin and then the tissue. I was afraid he was going to go to the bone.
The blade stops suddenly, but the pain continues. I could feel my blood slowly leaking out of the wound. The blade acted like a plug of sorts holding in most of the flow. That was until it moved.
The blade slowly made a path down my thigh. The blood pumped slower due to the cold, but with each slow beat of my heart a little well of blood would leave the wound. Screams echoed around the room.
I thought the sound of her screams as she burned were bad, but someone was actually louder than her. Whoever she was must be going through something painful. I felt for whoever she was.
She didn’t deserve what was happening any more than me and the girl in the fire did. My throat started to burn. It felt dry and raw. That’s when it hit me. Those screams were mine, not anyone else’s!
Tears leaked like a river from my eyes as he cut into my leg over and over again. I tried to stay in the here and now. I would NOT let him control me in any way not now and not ever! It was a promise I kept repeating until the pain became more than I could handle it was that or the blood loss.
Darkness was coming for me. It was sinking into my body dragging it under. The bliss and safety it promised was like a chocolate to a junkie. It was almost a need. I fought it back the baby needed me.
But the battle was lost before it began. You can’t fight what your body doesn’t want to. The pain drifted off as the darkness caressed my body. Then, nothing, absolutely nothing.
Chapter 26
Danny
Time has lost all concept. I have no idea how long I’ve been hiding in the darkness. Honestly, the pain was just a dull throb here. As the light invades my haven, the pain makes itself known.
I could feel the thread as it slid through my skin.
"I want them close and tight we don’t need any ugly marks marring her skin."
My stomach rolls as his voice fills my ears. He was here. How long has it been? Everything hurt. It felt almost like he rubbed salt into the wounds. How many times did he slice into me? My eyes open at the feeling of a needle sliding into my eyebrow. As it pierced my skin over and over again followed by a tugging from the thread.
Forcing my eyes closed, I take stock of my body. Both thighs, arms and my eyebrow had been cut into. The stitches tugged and pulled as the skin protested being forced back together. I felt like Frankenstein’s bride. I needed to get out of here! I need to escape!
I know I won’t survive if I stay here. My baby won’t survive. This may be my only chance. I needed to think. Keeping my eyes closed I fight the pain consuming my mind. Now was not the time for that.
I pray to whatever deity out there that I would survive this that my baby would survive this. I couldn’t end up like her the girl who died for me. Fighting the pain trying to cloud my rational thoughts I once again take stock of my body.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn’t tied to the bed like I normally was. Actually, I wasn’t tired at all. Forcing my body to go slack was difficult, maybe if he believed I was still out he wouldn’t tie me up.
The sound of feet retreating filled my ears. The door closing echoed off the walls. Holding my breath, I strain my ears listening to see if I was alone. The blissful silence was only broken when I released the breath I was holding.
Slowly opening my eyes, I scan the room. My pants were missing. Was I really going to let that stop me from escaping this hell? No!
Sitting up was difficult. But I don’t let it slow me down. Rushing to the window I take in the two-story drop. The door wasn’t an option. The window was my only escape. Focusing on the tree a few feet away was my only hope.
It was too far away to just step into. Slowly sliding the window open I hold my breath and beg and plead it would be quiet. Relief washed over me as it opened silently. Slowly climbing onto the window frame, I crouch like a frog.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Leaping from the window with everything in me, I swallow the fear that wanted to take me. My hands hitting the tree branch burned like a thousand needles piercing my skin.
I struggle to get my legs up onto the branch. Blood was flowing freely from my cuts, but the stitches held. Slowly I pull myself into a sitting position Slide down the branch to the tree itself was difficult. The pain in my hands, arms and legs started to become more intense.
Once my hands touched the tree, climbing down from there was like riding a bicycle. The closer I got to the ground the faster I descended. The very moment my feet hit the grass I was running. Legs pumping hard, causing pain to shoot through my body. Freedom was close, so close I could taste it on the air.
The grounds were open. I could find almost no coverage. Yes, there were bushes neatly trimmed and spaced apart perfectly so people hiding in them would be difficult. I could see the road just beyond the large black metal fence.
A moment of defeat hit me. No! I refuse to give up. Pumping my legs harder I hit the fence full force scaling it like a soldier scaling a wall at the obstacle course. I thought about jumping over the top, but hitting the ground would
only hinder me.
Slowly, I turn and slide down the fence. The grass was always greener on the other side, now that saying made perfect sense to me. It was defiantly greener here. As swift as my stiff skin would let me I was in the road and running into the tree line.
Reaching into my shirt I pull out the phone. Please, please work. The screen lit up showing a battery life of six percent. Quickly dialing Ella’s number, I pray she answers it.
"Danny?"
"Ella! Please help me."
Sobs racked my body.
"I hurt Ella and they’re coming for me. I may not make it, please find me."
"Danny hold on we will find you I promise."
"Ella, I’m pregnant. I don’t know how much longer or how much more I can take."
Her sobs filled my ears. The pain was intensifying to the point I couldn’t move. I was slowing and no matter how determined I was or how hard I pushed I couldn’t go any further.
"Find me, please."
Darkness was coming for me the spots danced along my vision.
"Ella, he killed your family. The man who bought me killed them."
Her sobs were becoming quieter, almost from a distance.
"Please don’t leave me."
"Danny stay with me. Danny!"
Blissful darkness has come for me. I didn’t want the peace I wanted to keep going, but I didn’t matter what I wanted it took me, anyway.
Chapter 27
Ella
We were prepared to burn her. To give her peace for the first time in years and then she calls. Like she wasn’t wrapped in muslin in the other room. My heart stuttered at the realization she was alive and has been.
Who was that in the other room? What happened to her? The thoughts race through my mind at lightening speeds as I rush into the main room.
Jesse: The Son's Of The Apocalypse MC Page 6
