by Marie Wathen
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to me either,” Marcus says, slowly running a hand through his hair. He keeps watching me and I know it’s because he’s expecting me to freak out. I don’t want to tell him that I’ve already been there and done that.
“Marcus, I’m really okay. You can stop looking at me like I’m going to break into a million pieces,” I say, pulling my hand away from his.
“It’s not that I think you will break, Breesan. It’s just a lot to take in. I’m having a hard time with this so I know you must be really confused.” That’s odd. He practically said the same thing Casandria said earlier.
“Yeah,” I nod, studying him. “I need to find out the truth. I’m just not sure I’m going to like it very much.”
“I doubt you will either,” he agrees, tilting his head a little to the side with a crease forming in the middle of his brow. He lowers his voice and stammers as he asks, “Are we…okay? You seem upset with me.”
I search his beautiful green eyes, noticing that the sparkle he left with this morning isn’t there. It has been replaced with deep-rooted worry. Something has happened to dim his happiness, and now it has me concerned. Reaching up, I cup his face before leaning in and placing my lips on his. He runs both hands up my neck and turns my head so that he has better access to my lips. He kisses me madly. I grip his hair tightly, digging my fingers in and pulling him closer. It doesn’t take long before we’re both panting hard, but neither of us wants to stop this kiss. Being apart is doing something crazy to us. Finally, slowing our movements, he softly glides his swollen lips over mine before pulling away to rest his forehead on mine. I definitely feel better after that kiss.
“I missed you,” he whispers, watching his thumb stroking along my bottom lip.
I nod while staring at his mouth, too. “I’m so glad you’re back. It was a fast trip, but with everything that went on here, it feels like forever since you kissed me.” His dark red lips curl up into a sexy-as-hell smirk and I lift my gaze up to meet his entrancing eyes, finding that sparkle again.
“So you missed me, too?” he leads. He acts like it’s so difficult to believe, but then I remember how messed up his relationships have been, so I back off with my attitude.
“Yeah, I missed you, too.” I smile and he kisses me again.
“After the shock that you just went through, I don’t want to overwhelm you with everything I learned, but I won’t keep it from you either. We have a lot to talk about. You just tell me when you’re ready to hear it.”
“Thank you. I want to know everything, but I think I need to deal with her first.” I glance toward the door indicating the woman claiming to be my mother, roaming freely through my house. “I’m not sure where to start.”
His eyebrows are furrowed and a frown bends his lips. “What information did she give you on where’s she been? I’ll do some digging into her story.”
I sigh. I don’t want Marcus to feel like he needs to rescue me all of the time. I want to prove to him that I can do this myself. Standing up, I walk across the room slowly, thinking about exactly how to tell him. I sit on the edge of my desk and look back at him for a long moment.
“Breesan?”
I bite down on my lip before answering. “Marcus, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, everything you do. It’s quite literally and sadly the most anyone has ever done before.” I smile, embarrassed by my confession. He returns the gesture, more pleased with my admission than me. Rising off the bed, he walks toward me. “But.” He has a hand raised midair, reaching for me, and halts when I add, “I really feel like I need to do this myself.”
“I don’t understand.” His smile falls along with his arm and he asks, “You don’t want me to check into her story? Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know what to believe,” I sigh and shrug. He moves closer and I place my hands on his chest. “I just need you to have confidence in me to handle this.”
“I do, but you don’t have to do this alone.” He clamps his thick hands over mine and stares hard, glancing back and forth between my eyes. “For too long you had to do everything that way, but I’m here now and I want to help. Don’t shut me out, Breesan.” His voice is strong, but I can see weariness and apprehension brewing in his eyes as they darken into a forest hue. He’s so strong all of the time and I’m responsible for making him weak. It’s not fair to him.
Straightening my spine, lifting my chin and giving him a sweet smile, I say confidently, “Oh, I know that you want to be my hero every day, and that means so much…” I pause before adding, “You have things that you need to handle, and if she really is my mother…” Hearing myself actually saying that word out loud almost makes me believe that it’s true. My mother is alive and here.
“Breesan?” Marcus’ warm breath brushes against my cheek as he lowers his face so that we’re eye level. “Where did you go?”
I sigh. “Marcus, she could be my mother. We’ve been robbed of so much. Give me some time and when I do need your help, I will let you know.” Running my hand up his chest, I cup his jaw. “I promise. For now, please just keep searching for Anna and Waverly.”
Thinking about the girls reminds me that I need to explain my situation with working at Club Toxic to Casandria and the importance of not letting anyone know that I’m here. My location and identity can’t be revealed until after the girls are found and returned home safely. I’m sure that with all the crazy stuff Casandria is going through at the moment--losing her sister, discovering that her dead daughter is actually quite alive, and being back in her former lover’s house--she has a lot of questions, too. I guess it’s time she gets to know her daughter.
Chapter Four
Anna
“Waverly?” My whisper echoes loudly in the small cavernous hole, which we’re being held prisoner in. She doesn’t respond. She hasn’t been responding for hours now. Waverly. Anxiety worms its way into my gut and I am jittery as heck. Sitting on the dirt floor with my knees bent and elbows propped on them, I push my trembling hands into my hair. Nervously, I rock back and forth, but I don’t mean to do it. It’s just that while my mind is distracted trying to block out the memories that keep flooding through, I have become a bundle of nerves and it’s an automatic reaction. Waverly, please wake up and help me.
Today feels like it has been three days since Tox came to see us, but I can’t be certain. Time in this dark and gloomy place has stalled. He doesn’t even seem to care that we don’t have a bathroom--well, there is a toilet, a filthy sink and a pipe sticking out of the wall for us to shower under, but being out in the open and so exposed isn’t cool. Plus, I really don’t want to touch anything here; it isn’t sanitary, even the water trickling out of the lead cylinder looks murky.
Someone left food a couple of times while I was sleeping. I guess it’s him, but it could be one of the other guys that took us. And what the freak does he think is so funny about leaving me hooker clothes to wear? Seriously, Tox? Leather and lace is so not my style. Oh, it’s Toxic Goth-style clothing, but I do not dress that way–ever!
“Waverly.” With my hand on her shoulder, I give her another small shake, but just like all the times before, she doesn’t budge. Freak! What is wrong with her? A noise outside the door startles me and I leap up, rushing over to the small window. Peeking out between the bars, I can’t see anything down the long dark corridor past the glow of the burning lamp hanging on the wall beside the door.
“Hello?”
Another sound, possibly a scraping noise, from somewhere far off, echoes through the corridor, followed by a loud bang. I listen intently hoping that I hear footsteps, but the cave is silent again. Turning around, I lean my back against the door and my eyes lower to the floor. “Please, let us go,” I whisper into the dark room.
“Anna,” Waverly moans. Oh, thank goodness. I rush over and kneel down beside her.
“Hey, I’m here,” I move to sit down and grasp her hand in mine.
“Oh, shit,”
she moans, wrapping her other hand over her forehead. “How long was I out this time?”
I huff, “I can’t tell day from night, Waverly. It could have been hours or days.” She nods, holding tightly to her head and wincing. “There’s food. You need to try to eat something.”
She moans softly, “Probably not a good idea with my head splitting open and my stomach feeling like it’s twisting like a damn tornado.”
“But…” I stop myself from reminding her that she may fall asleep again. “Okay,” I resign arguing, but move over to the bag and pull out a couple of pieces of fruit. Shuffling back down beside her, I peel half of the orange and bite into it.
“Weird way to eat an orange.” Waverly chuckles lightly.
“Mmm, it’s good though, and I don’t think I can put it in my mouth if I touch it first,” I reply around a big bite. “Even after washing my hands, just being in this gross place makes them feel disgusting. Luckily this has a natural wrapper.”
Waverly chuckles louder while pushing her body off the floor weakly. “Give me that,” she demands, reaching for the bag. I sigh, thoroughly disgusted watching her pull out an apple, wipe it on her dirty shirt and with her nasty fingers gripping it, she chomps off a piece too big for her mouth. “Did Tox come back while I was out?”
Shrugging, I take another bite and then cough violently with renewed excitement, needing to ask. “You remember him?”
“No,” she states flatly, like it isn’t a big deal, but it’s a huge deal.
We stay quiet, eating our fruit, and I feel better seeing her keeping it down. I’m not sure I’ll be able to deal if she pukes.
“Stop staring at me, Anna,” she whines. “I’m better now. Thank you.”
“How do we get out of here, Waverly?” I ask, setting the orange on the ground beside me. “I don’t think I can stay here much longer. I feel like I’m going crazy. The memories are getting worse…” My voice drops to a weak whisper. “They seem like they are getting more…realistic.”
“Anna,” Waverly twists her head my way and pierces me with a serious glare. “The only thing I can think of isn’t something I think you would be willing to do.” She smirks when I narrow my eyes on her. “And I don’t know if I can stay awake to help.” She takes a deep breath and screams while squeezing her hands into tight fists and shaking her head wildly. “This is fucking crazy!”
Her words reverberate numerous times into the darkness, down the narrow, cavernous corridor. We stare at each other smirking and then we explode into an unruly laughter. She sways my way, bumping her shoulder against mine playfully. Draping my arm over her back, I grip her to me until our giggles recede. Through another couple of minutes of broken chuckling, we take several deeps breaths, clearing the remnants of our silliness out.
“I hate this,” she confesses, shaking her head before turning toward me with sad eyes. “But, thank God you’re here, Anna.”
Watching her eyes glistening over with tears, mine automatically begin mimicking hers. “No,” I beg with a whispery voice, shaking my head. “Don’t… please, I need us to keep it together while you’re awake.” I sigh hard and my chin quivers, threatening an all-out breakdown. “When you’re asleep, my nightmare’s…” I trail off, gulping down the pain.
“Okay, I’m sorry.” She pushes me sideways with her shoulder and then orders, “Stand up.”
“What?”
“We need to move around.” She stands, but her legs go weak under her weight. “Dammit!” Grabbing my arm tightly, she widens her eyes and extends her other arm out for balance, trying to regain her equilibrium. “Okay, lesson learned. Maybe I should eat more before trying anything else.” She slides back down onto her butt and then reaches into the bag of food. I join her sitting, but skip on eating.
“So, Tox,” I start and she glances up at me. “You don’t really remember anything about him?”
“I guess not,” she admits hesitantly with a shoulder shrug. “Remind me, how I’m supposed to know him?”
“Well, you told me the story about meeting Morgan at Club Toxic. If we talk about that night again, you might remember him.” I smile encouragingly.
“Morgan, huh?” She murmurs, smiling back at me before glancing off toward the door. “I definitely remember that night.”
“Oh,” I whoosh out all the air I’ve been holding since asking her about forgetting Tox. “Thank goodness.”
“Mmm hmm,” she hums, her smile growing longingly thinking about the man who stole her heart. After a couple of seconds, she drops the expression and turns her focus on refueling, quietly eating another apple.
A loud noise coming from the corridor breaks our lighthearted moment. While the tension builds drastically, we stare at each other, waiting to see if someone is coming to save or torture us some more. Clacking heels on the stone floor indicates that someone is definitely here.
Waverly pats my hand before putting her folded hands against her face and whispering, “I’m going to pretend to be asleep. Get him talking.” I nod, hoping I can do as she asked, but suddenly my heart leaps with fear. What the heck am I going to talk about with an abductor? Why can’t she do the talking and let me pretend to be asleep?
Before I can ask her to trade roles, a loud clank of the bolt sliding to unlock, echoes inside the small space and then the heavy door thrusts inward. Entering the small room with us, Tox carries two bags in his arms. Seeing that it is at least someone that I’m familiar with, but still not really happy to see, I swallow hard and steady the wild butterflies in my stomach.
“Hey,” he says, stepping a couple of feet inside and glancing from me to Waverly. I ignore his greeting and nervously glance down at her, too. Lying on her side with her mouth partially open, she appears to be sound asleep. Did she pass out for real? I cut my eyes toward the doorway, not really wanting to look at him and see his eyes shift toward me. “Is she okay?” Tox nods his head down toward Waverly and I shrug my shoulders petulantly. He asks, “Are you okay, Anna?”
Really? I scoff, “No!”
“Fair enough,” he replies, dropping the bags near the door, the usual place for his special deliveries, and then he shuts the door without locking it. Apparently the large hook bolt on the outside is the only form of lock keeping us hostage in here. On the first night inside, I found out the hard way that I can’t reach the darn thing. My arm got stuck between the narrow bars and Waverly had to help pull it free. That hurt like heck.
Watching him walk straight to Waverly, currently playing opossum, I whisper with a panicky voice, “Tox?” He stops a couple feet from her and twists his head my direction. “I…um,” Oh, dang it. What do I say to this prick head? With a frustrated sigh, I ask, “Do you think…Can we get some other clothes?” I blush thinking about the skanky attire he brought us. Why am I embarrassed? It’s not like I care what he thinks about me or how I look dressed that way.
He grins naughtily. “You didn’t like what I brought you, Anna?” His eyes roam over the ragged clothes that I’ve had on since waking up in this dirty room. I’m still wearing the blue party dress, covered with Tristan’s blood. “There are more clothes in one of the bags I brought that might be more appropriate for you, Princess.” He smirks, pleased with his cockiness.
“Not nice,” I pout, offended by his rude tone and that uncalled-for insult. “I don’t think of myself that way.” I straighten my spine and jut out my chin defiantly. “But, you wouldn’t know that, would you?” Folding my arms together, I holler, “No! Because you don’t know anything about me.” Not waiting for him to respond, I surmise, “If you knew me, you would agree that I am anything but a princess.”
“Whatever,” he chuckles, holding a hand up for me to stop. He drops it quickly before turning back toward Waverly and stepping closer.
“Leave her alone,” I growl, moving over and blocking him.
“I’m only checking on her,” he replies back kindly. “I don’t want her to die. Has she eaten anything?” His eyes, filled with tru
e seriousness, lock onto mine and my heart ratchets up a notch.
Stunned, my mouth falls open and I’m momentarily thrown off by him actually appearing concerned for my friend, but then just as quickly I remember that he’s the one who dragged us from our real lives and then threw us into this pit of hell.
“Don’t bother,” I growl, pushing past him and kneeling down in front of her, preventing him from getting any closer.
“Anna,” he snaps and then sighs. “I won’t hurt Waverly. I’ve already explained to you that I saved both of your lives.”
Shaking my head, I counter, “Lies.” I glance down at Waverly and stroke my hand over her short blonde hair. Rampages of emotions brim over and my heart breaks for her fading memories, again. “She’s not well.”
“Fucking move,” he growls angrily, bending down next to Waverly and pushing her hair out of her face. “She’s clammy, but...” He lets out a soft breath, appearing truly relieved. “When was the last time she was awake, and did she eat anything?” Facing me, he rolls his eyes when I refuse to answer. He begins to rise up, as if he’s going to leave, and I panic.
I must keep him talking.
“Wait,” I whisper, reaching over and placing my hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry, Okay?” I glance down at Waverly and then back to Tox. “She was awake earlier and she ate some of the fruit, but she was too weak to stand and she nearly fell.” I pull my hand back, disgusted by touching him, and my eyes wander over to Waverly. “I’m worried.”
“Her exertion explains why she’s sweaty. I’m sorry, too,” he offers before standing and moving over toward the door. My shoulders sag dejectedly. I hear the rustling of the bag and then feel Tox next to me again. “These might work better for you.” Glancing up, I see a stack of sweats thrust toward my face. He winks and I reach up, taking them from him.
“Yes, thank you.”
