It was the unknown that scared me, I could mentally prepare myself for what he had in store for me when I knew what he was using but tonight, I didn’t have that advantage.
Greg mumbled in his chair and his head moved. “Ahhhh, how nice of you to join us, Greg,” Dane said happily. Greg lifted his head and blinked furiously against the lights. His focus set on me, broken, filthy and bloody, hanging from a hook and chain in the middle of the room. I wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by my nudity, my exhaustion and mind-set was too numb to care.
His eyes widened and he gasped. “Jesus Christ.” His eyes flitted from me to Dane. “Fuck Dane, what have you done to her?”
Dane walked over to him and pulled back his arm, punching Greg forcefully in the face. “Don’t fucking talk to me, you fucking cunt.” Greg’s head snapped to the side and he recoiled. Dane crouched down in front of him. “Ava and I have some entertainment for you tonight Greg but I must first give you the rules,” he sneered. “You keep your eyes open at all times, you do not look away. You watch every little thing Ava gets. Do you understand?”
Greg frowned severely at him. “What the f . . .” He didn’t finish when Dane’s fist smashed into his face.
“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?” he bellowed and Greg nodded quickly.
“YES!”
“Good boy.” Dane patted his cheek then walked behind me presumably to prepare tonight’s entertainment.
My eyes caught hold of Greg’s troubled ones. He scanned my broken body and grimaced. “Are you okay?” he mouthed and I nodded resignedly.
My nose wrinkled at a strange smell, I couldn’t work out what it was, it smelt similar to something burning and my heart beat sped up. I didn’t like it, I had a bad feeling. I frantically twisted my hands, trying to get free even though I knew it was impossible.
I frowned as the smell grew stronger. My heart pounded and my body erupted in goose bumps. I tried to turn to see what the smell was but I was fixed securely so I couldn’t move.
“You ready Ava? You’re gonna love this.” Dane chuckled and my throat hurt from the lump that had wedged in it.
‘Old king Cole was a me . . . . . . ’
I couldn’t hold the scream in this time. It exploded loudly and violently at the searing pain that tore through me as Dane branded me with a red hot poker.
Greg was screaming at Dane and struggling in his chair. “FUCK DANE!” he cried. Dane walked round to him, the poker in his hand. I had slumped against the chain, barely conscious, as the extreme pain tore through me.
“You fucking talk to me again and I burn her tits! You got that?” Dane snarled at Greg. Greg’s expression was filled with horror and astonishment, his eyes snapping from me to Dane frantically. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?” He thundered. Greg swallowed but nodded.
Dane nodded once and returned to the rear of me. “Right Ava, are you ready for some more, sweetheart? This is really turning me on, you are gonna get such a good fuck tonight,” he chuckled but I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t.
He walked round to the front of me and cocked his head. “Answer me!” he demanded and I opened my eyes.
“Yes, Sir” I croaked exhaustedly.
He smiled, “Good girl.” He walked back round and I tightened my whole body in preparation.
‘A merry old soul was h . . . ’
I screamed again, the pain was excruciating. My eyes flung open and I focused on Greg. “Look at me, Ava,” he mouthed as he held my eyes. He smiled painfully and nodded. “You can do this sweetheart” he mouthed again.
I sucked on my lips as a tear slipped free and shook my head at him. “I can’t,” I mouthed back. The searing heat blistered my back and I screwed my face up, trying desperately to stay focused on Greg. He nodded encouragingly as I swallowed back the scream.
My lungs were struggling to work against the intense pain that was charring my back and the nausea was surfacing. I puffed out a breath as the singeing returned and I could smell my flesh burning and sizzling. My skin cracked and tightened and I couldn’t hold the vomit back as my stomach exploded the sandwich all over the front of my naked body.
“Oh for fucks sake, you stupid bitch,” Dane cursed as he came round to face me and shook his head. “Now look at the state of you. What do you say, Ava?”
I was struggling to focus and my body was frantically trying to shut down. I felt the heat of the poker against my stomach and my eyes shot open. “I’m sorry, Sir,” I mumbled swiftly.
He nodded in satisfaction and took a deep breath. “Think you can manage one more without being ill this time?” he asked calmly and I winced.
“Please Dane, I can’t . . .” I cried out as the poker rested against my stomach. I recoiled, urgently trying to move away from it.
“DANE!!!” Greg shouted and he spun round and cocked his head.
“Now what did I say, Greg? You have just cost Ava her beautiful tits.” He shook his head in disappointment and tears filled my eyes at what was to come.
“Dane please, let me swap with her,” Greg begged hastily.
“Now, where’s the fun in that?” Dane scoffed and turned to look at me, “I’m very sorry about this Ava but you can blame Greg. He didn’t follow the rules.” I tensed and exhaled loudly.
‘He called for his pipe in the middle o . . . .’
I choked on my vomit as I frenziedly tried to stop it from escaping when the red hot iron settled at the swell of my breast. A sob erupted as the darkness enveloped me and I welcomed it, grateful to it for taking me to somewhere peaceful and serene.
* * *
I groaned and opened my eyes, finding myself back handcuffed to the bed. “Ava?” Greg whispered in the darkness from the other side of the room, “Are you okay?”
I didn’t know, was I? “Yeah,” I rasped.
“Jesus Ava, he’s lost it,” he breathed out and I snorted.
“Oh yeah.”
“Has he been doing this to you since he got you here?” I mumbled a confirmation and heard him hiss. “I’m gonna get you out of here Ava, I promise sweetheart,” he whispered.
I sighed. “I . . . he won’t let us go Greg.” I sagged in resignation.
“Mason’s looking for you, he hasn’t stopped Ava. He won’t give up.” I perked up at his name.
“How . . . how is he?” I asked hesitantly.
Greg paused. “Crazy, frantic, devastated, feeling guilty . . .” He sighed and I knew by his sadness the answer to my next question.
“Has he . . . has he gone back to it?” I asked, knowing Greg caught the meaning of my question without me actually voicing it. He sighed heavily but didn’t answer, he didn’t need to, I already knew.
“How are my babies?” I asked with a smile, their beautiful faces giving me reason to keep breathing.
“They’re fine sweetheart, they’re being cared for, don’t you worry about them,” he reassured and I nodded.
“I miss them so much,” I sobbed. I couldn’t hold the tears back, the comfort and reassurance of Greg’s presence sought them out and brought them forward.
“Oh, sweetheart. I promise Ava, we’ll get out of here soon. I’ll get you out if it fucking kills me!” he declared but I didn’t share his confidence. I had been trying for nine days now and nothing I did helped. “Where are we anyway?” he asked.
“I don’t know, he shoved a cloth over my nose and then I woke up here,” I told him. “How did he get to you?”
He groaned. “It was my own stupid fault . . . Mason has been giving us orders and areas to check every day. Sam got a hit on one of Dane’s credit cards and I flew round to the area without waiting for a partner. I was down some alleyway behind La Roche when he bashed the back of my head. Then I woke up here,” he grumbled. “Fucking stupid . . .”
“Hey,” I reprimanded, “I’m glad you’re here . . . it helps, you know, but I don’t understand how . . . how Dane knew you would be there.” I gulped but he was silent.
“I know, it’s something I’ve been strug
gling to answer as well,” he whispered eventually. I tried to turn towards Greg but the skin on my back had stuck to the mattress and I hissed. “You okay?”
“My backs welded to the fucking mattress,” I cursed, rage coursing through me. “I can’t take anymore Greg; I can’t do this!”
“Ava . . . Ava, listen to me. You can do this. You can do this so your babies will see their mother again, be held in her arms and see her wonderful smile, Ava. They need you, hell! Mason fucking needs you, he’s a mess without you Ava and you need to get out of here. He needs you, Ava. Do you hear me? They all need you!”
“I don’t know what he has planned for next time Greg. He whips me, beats me, fucks me and I . . . I . . .” I swallowed. “I just want it to end, I’m so tired, so fucking exhausted and every fibre of my body is screaming in pain. I can’t . . .”
I silenced immediately as the door opened and light flooded the room. I blinked furiously against the brightness.
Dane walked over to me. “You ready for me now? You fucking passed out and I didn’t get to fuck you. What do you say Ava?” he growled.
“I’m sorry, Sir.”
He didn’t answer but picked up the bottle of water and held it to my mouth, watching my face impassively as I glugged, then he offered some to Greg who nodded.
“Please could you take me to the toilet, Sir?” I asked with regularity.
He sighed but nodded, “What do you say?” He approached me, gazing intently at me.
“You are my master and I must behave,” I recited efficiently.
He grinned at me. “Good girl.” He bent over me and I clasped my thighs together as he bit my breast. I praised myself inwardly as I managed to control my bladder again.
I could see Greg gawping horrifically at what Dane was doing to me. Dane stood up and looked at my groin. “Well done, Ava” he praised. He undid the cuffs and as I tried to get up I felt my skin peel off my back and the pain made me hiss.
He turned to me swiftly and frowned. “What?” he barked and I flinched.
“I just, it just hurt my back when I got up, Sir.” I grimaced. He studied me and I cringed as I expected the back hander but it didn’t come.
“Mmmm,” he murmured.
He led me into the bathroom and sat me on the toilet. I tried to urinate slowly, buying time before he took me back to the bed.
I glanced at the shower again, the filthy white tiles, the old fashioned iron shower head and blackening shower curtain looked disgusting but I was desperate for a wash.
“Please can I have a shower, Sir? I have sick all over me and I’m sure you would like me to be clean?” I asked cautiously.
The back of his hand cracked against my cheek and I bit my lip at the pain. “Do you ever listen to me? No amount of water can clean your stench Ava, the filth and dirt is inside you,” he hissed and I nodded.
An idea was starting to form in my mind and I desperately needed him to let me shower. “Please sir, I’m sure I would be better to fuck if I smelled nicer and I so want you to enjoy making love to me, Sir.” I clenched in preparation for the slap but it didn’t come again. I glanced at him and he was eyeing my body, a disgusted curl on his lip.
He huffed and regarded me. “How do you behave, Ava?” he asked and I gulped, excitement already building.
“You are my master and I must behave,” I said firmly.
He narrowed his eyes on me. “I suppose you do smell a bit rank but I stay with you Ava, in fact it might be good to screw you in there.” He pursed his lips in thought as he wobbled his head from side to side in deliberation.
My breathing was growing heavier and I was frantically trying to calm myself down. He pulled me over to the shower and powered it up. It spluttered to life. It obviously hadn’t been used in a while and I grimaced at the dark brown water that spurted through it.
Shit!
I needed him to shower with me.
Dane curled his lip at it in revulsion but it started to run clear and I silently thanked God.
I swallowed back my nervousness as he stripped, still handcuffed to me. He frowned when he realised his shirt sleeve couldn’t be removed unless he set my hand free.
Keep calm Ava . . . let him figure it out!
I chewed on my bottom lip to stop my body trembling in anticipation as he studied me. “I need to remove the cuff Ava, what do you do?” he barked.
“You are my master and I must behave.”
He eyed me sceptically. “And will you behave?” he asked dubiously.
I frowned in fake bewilderment. “Of course, Sir. There’s nowhere for me to go, Sir. I promise to behave,” I lied but held his gaze. My heart sped and my hands poured with sweat as he sighed and dug the key out of his pocket.
Calm Ava, keep it together!
I stood still and rolled my wrist, relishing the looseness and freedom. Dane watched me like a hawk as he stripped but I stood still, biding my time, needing the perfect time. “In,” he barked, nodding his head towards the shower and I stood against the opposite wall of the shower head.
Breathe Ava, breathe slowly and calmly.
He joined me, stood opposite me and his eyes perused my filthy body. “Yes, I think you do need this, you dirty cunt.” I nodded as he stepped towards me. “You really are stunning Ava,” he breathed in my ear as his mouth started licking the skin behind my ear.
I swallowed the nausea away and placed my hands in his hair, feigning intimacy. “Oh you feel good,” I forced out and he chuckled.
“I knew you’d come round Ava, I always knew you wanted me not that fucking bastard. I can do so much more for you, Ava. I can give you the roughness and hardness you crave.”
I stroked his hair and pushed my body into his as though I wanted him. I needed my fury now, needed it to bubble inside, needed it to take over but I couldn’t find it, it had been gone for so long.
Katie, help me Hun, find it for me.
I brought the visions of her horrified face to mind as she burned in front of me, I forced the torturous screams into my ears, remembered her scorching flesh in my nostrils.
There it was; the tiny spark bubbled in the pit of my stomach.
YES!! COME ON!
Dane was now licking across my collarbone and I pushed that little bit further into him, needing to get him back another inch. “Mmmm,” I murmured as I called on my rage, brought it up, forcing it to surge through my veins.
I closed my eyes and welcomed it. My breathing steadied, the white calm enveloped me and I fed from it, devoured it. “YES!” I growled but not at Dane’s actions.
I could feel it surging to life, filling me and embracing me, powering me and eating away at the fear in me, fortifying me. My fingers tightened in his hair. I opened my eyes and focused on what I needed to do.
I inhaled deeply and gripped his hair. “Oh Dane,” I breathed. The pure ice and malevolence in my voice caused him to frown and lift his eyes to mine. I smiled at him, the malice evident in my eyes.
I gripped his hair harder, and then pulling at my strength I slammed his head into the tiles. I screamed in rage and did it again.
His hands came to my throat but I was too far gone to feel them. I smashed his head again and again, my rage powering me. I pulled at the shower head and ploughed it into his skull, over and over. Blood splattered everywhere.
“Ava?” Greg shouted.
I yelled and bashed him again as he crumpled to the floor. I kicked him in the face, one last act of revenge as I dashed out to Greg.
“Shit Ava, are you okay?” Greg asked, his eyes wide at my appearance. I frowned but nodded. “You’re covered in blood, Ava” he said as I skidded to his feet and frantically untied the ropes around his ankles.
“Quick Greg,” I cried and scooted round to his hands, pulling and tugging at the ropes and thankful to god for making the knots big enough to undo.
He wriggled out of the last part. “We need to hurry Greg, I don’t know how long he’ll be out.” He pulled his t-shirt over
his head and handed it to me. I slipped it on as we raced through the door and skidded down the stairs.
We both looked around wildly for a door out. I flung up my hands in frustration. “Fuck, where’s the door?” I yelled and Greg shouted to me from another room.
I shot towards his voice and found him in a kitchen, yanking at a door. He slammed his body against it when it wouldn’t open. He tried again and it wouldn’t budge. I joined him, my rage was still flying through me and my power shattered the door.
He stilled and stared at me wide eyed, shocked at the sheer force I had. “Go!” I yelled at him as I looked around madly for a familiar location. We were in a back garden behind a rundown house with boarded up windows.
I grabbed Greg’s hand and pulled him along a path at the side of the house. “Come on,” I cried and we emerged on a residential street.
We raced a few houses down and ran up a path and banged furiously on the door. “Come on,” I yelled as I scanned the street behind me, “Come on.”
The door swung open and a middle aged man stood in the doorway, uncertainty and shock on his face.
“Please help us!” I begged, still manically looking around but he just stared at me. “Please. I’ve been held hostage for nine days and I need to phone the police from your phone, please,” I pleaded.
His confused eyes swept over my body and he sucked his lips, debating if I was a serial killer.
I cried out in frustration. Greg swore and pushed past the man, entering the house and pulling me behind him. “Lock the door!” I shouted to the man as Greg hunted round for a phone.
He held it up to me when he found one and I observed the man, making sure he locked the door. “Lock the back door,” I demanded. He nodded rapidly, obviously thinking we were now holding him hostage.
“Police or Mason?” Greg asked quickly and I didn’t hesitate.
“Police,” I answered. He paused but nodded.
“Okay,” he said as he dialled.
I stood to the side of the front window, scanning the street for any sign of Dane. I breathed a sigh of relief as Greg connected with the police and informed them of our situation.
The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone Page 96
