If there’s anyone who can help me find her, it’s Zack.
I turn the car on and start driving towards my storage unit. It seems I’m going to be needingsome tools to help me find my girl— and kill the son of a bitch who’s trying to take her away from me.
I speak into the emptiness that is my car, almost like a prayer. “I’m coming, Cherry. I will find you.”
Chapter 22
No Notes
Leyla
Igroan as I come to, blinking my eyes. I don’t know what to expect around me. Thankfully for me, and stupidly on his part, he didn’t notice that my arms had gotten loose from the restraints. They are still in the ropes, but they are loose enough to easily maneuver. Alright, my progress hasn’t been undone— time to figure out what’s next. My head hurts like a bitch, so when I move to look around, I move slowly so as to not irritate it anymore.
“Well, well, you’re awake again.” Simon’s irritating voice echoes in the room and I can’t suppress the shudder that racks my body.
“What do you want from me, Simon?” I hoarsely reply. I’m going to have to play his little game. All I want is to not be here with this creep of a man, and being in Cameron’s arms would be pretty sweet, too.
He scoffs as if I’ve said something utterly ridiculous. “I want you, Leyla. Like I told you already— I have always wanted you! I love you even when you never saw me!”
Simon’s eyes burn with a hunger that even Bundy couldn’t replicate. I’ve never seen Simon in that light, the light he wants me to. And I honestly have no idea what he means by‘I never saw him’. Did he mean in group? I don’t even remember group, I barely remember anything before high school thanks to my mind locking it up and throwing away the key.
He’s looking at me expectantly, as if waiting for me to burst into tears and confess to countless times of turning my nose up at him. And the more moments that pass that I don’t, the deeper the anger sets in on his face.
I’m blurting out anything that comes to mind. “Simon, I’m sorry, okay? I was just a kid when we met! You expect me to remember all the way back then?” My voice betrays me, I try to sound confident but there’s a tremor in it that I try to force down.
“You’resorry?“ Simon growls as he prowls towards me, his hand gently caresses my cheek. I yank my head away but he grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“Simon, please,pleasedon’t hurt me.“ My confidence is quickly waning and I’m certain that I won’t be able to get out of this alive. I’m going to die in this fucking storage room by a man who’s apparently loved me since we were kids and is pissed off that I’ve been blowing him off all this time when I hardly remembered his existence. I close my eyes as his grip on my chin tightens.
“I won’t hurt you. No, no. Cherry, baby,” Simon purrs. Every ounce of malice is gone from his voice, and he is practically cooing at me. “I’m just going to make sure you know how much I love you!I’m going to show you what you’ve been missing out on. Simon and Leyla forever… and ever… and ever.” he trails off as he suddenly snaps his gaze toward me.
I don’t want this, fuck knows I don’t need this happening to me, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.
“You love me?” I hear myself say, though I feel disconnected from my mouth.
I need to play his game, I remind myself. “If you love me so much Simon, can you do me a favor?” My voice is saccharine sweet knowing that I can get anything I want from him. I’ve known people like him before.
“Anything for you, Leyla. What do you need?” his voice betrays the look in his eyes. His thoughts seem scattered and his movements jittery with excitement. “I knew you’d see things my way, because of course I love you Leyla. I knew you’d see past that scum of a manCameron.“ He spits out Cam’s name like it’s painful for him.
“I need some water, please?” I look at him through hooded eyes, his face brightens as he nods. “Maybe some food? I haven’t eaten all day and if you want me to be yours, you’ve gotta keep me alive. Can you do that for me? I know that you’re so big and strong, but I really need you to be my hero and get me something to eat, okay?”
Simon nods like a bobblehead, and gently kisses my cheek, as he caresses the other with a trembling hand. “Anything for you, my love.” The words and the touch burn me, but I make no movement. I show no reaction to him.
“Thank you, honey. I’ll be here.” I put a smile on my face, knowing that he’s falling for my performance. He’s so desperate to hear what he’s been waiting all these years for, that it only takes an inkling for him to latch on.
Without any more hesitation, he turns and hurries for the exit, muttering to himself as he debated what he should get me to eat. I can’t help but keep that smile on my face, quite pleased with myself— that is, until I hear the three locks clicking into place as he walks out and traps me in this room. When I hear a car pulling away, a sigh of relief escapes me. My shoulders sag as I finally let myself cry, again. I can’t do this.
I quickly pull my hands out of the ropes and pull the knife out of my shoe, and finally begin cutting the ropes that were around my ankles. My hands shake nervously as I finally get free of all the bindings and stand up. The blood rushes to my head and I sway with the pain that is rushing through my body. I need to get out of here.
Whereverhereis...
As soon as I get my bearings, I start running around the room, banging on the door and walls screaming, just hoping that there’s someone, anyone around. I press my ear to the door and there’s nothing. There’s not a single sound that I can hear.
My heart sinks as I realize there’s nothing I can fucking do. I take a deep breath and sigh, sinking to the ground, pocketknife in my hand while I hang my head into my hands.
“Cameron… Please, find me.” I whisper as my sobbing overtakes me.
Chapter 23
