by Nikki Ash
“You need to shut your fucking mouth!” He backhands me so hard I almost blackout. “I can’t wait until you turn twenty-two so I can get rid of your fucking whore ass!” Twenty-two seems to be the magic number. For what? I have no clue, and while I have no clue how long I’ve been down here, I imagine I have at least another year or so until I turn twenty-two. I close my eyes and wish for the drugs he refused to give me. If he would have given them to me, I would be somewhat numb during this horrific nightmare.
Take.
Take.
Take.
Even without the drugs, I’ve trained myself to escape my mind during his torture. For several long moments, I am free.
Free from the pain. Free from the darkness. Free from him.
Smack!
My escape has been short-lived. With one hard slap, I’m right back with him.
Weston is done with me though. The essence of his crimes against me are smeared against my inner thighs, a sticky reminder that I’ll never fully escape.
He grabs my face and turns me to face him. He smacks me again across my face and then walks back up the stairs. Once the door is shut, I go to the small bathroom that’s down here to rinse off. I use a small amount of soap unsure if Weston will replace it once it’s all gone. I’ve had the same bottle of soap since he kidnapped me and locked me down here. Once I’m done rinsing off, I dry my body with the one towel I have. I don’t have any clothes, so I can’t get dressed. I take a few sips of the sink water to wet my parched throat then go back to bed. Closing my eyes, I try to imagine my future, what my life will be like if I make it out of here alive, only my visions are no longer clear. The longer I’m down here, the blurrier my future looks.
A little while later the door opens again and I hold my breath praying it’s Derek. Hearing the soft footsteps padding downward, I know it is, and for a short-lived moment I allow myself to sigh in relief. “Do you have something for me?” Derek looks at me with sadness in his eyes. He has never said it, but I don’t think he wants to be a part of Weston’s plans; however, that doesn’t stop him from carrying out the orders. I don’t necessarily blame him for what his boss is doing but at the same time, he hasn’t stopped him or turned him in, either.
“I do.” He places the pills on the nightstand. There are five pills total. He usually brings me the pills twice a day but this morning he didn’t come down, leaving me shaking and in need of the numbness. The escape I crave more and more each day.
“Anything else?” Sometimes Derek will bring me down some coke; not often enough, but when he does, I’m able to escape for a bit longer than I do with the pills. It kicks in quick—only a minute after I snort the white powder into my nostrils I can feel myself floating away to a place where I’m no longer held prisoner.
“Not today.”
“Thank you, Derek.” I grab all the pills and swallow them dry. I have no idea what they are and I never question it. I know Weston isn’t going to give me something that is going to kill me. At least not until I turn twenty-two that is. I imagine they are Xanax or Oxy. I’m not sure but they work. For a little while my body and mind can escape the reality of this horrific nightmare.
He leaves the room and I stare at the ceiling, at the fan whirring around and around, until I finally fall asleep.
Available on Amazon and free in Kindle Unlimited: Bordello
Acknowledgements
Kari March: Thank you for creating this beautiful cover of Knocked Down.
My editor, beta readers and proofreaders: Krysten, Brittany, Shawn, Lisa, and Ashley: You guys are amazing. Giving up precious reading time, time with your family and friends to read my books is so completely selfless. I am so grateful to each of you for always treating my books with such care as if they were your own.
Andrea: Thank you for committing to me until the end.
Lisa: Thank you for just simply being you.
My readers: Every book I write, I get to this part and I am always at a loss for words. Thank you for taking a chance on me. You are the reason I keep writing.
Fight club members: You make my days brighter. Your love and passion for my books means so much to me.
Kristi Webster: Thank you for your friendship.
My children: You are my purpose in life. I love you.
About the Author
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and writer by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to latest single parent romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Allyn
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
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