Page 35 of Arseni
Promise.As if I would ever trust his promises.
Still, the carrot looks delicious.
I run five miles on a treadmill every morning, not because I love it, but because a single woman my age can’t let a day pass without thinking about appearance.Beauty is pain, but only when you’re over thirty.
Now, all that pain might actually bear fruit.I might be able to outrun him.
But could I fight him off?
Time ticks while I consider it.
I’ll have to take my chances.
“Please, Arseni.”I mock pout my lip.“Pretty, pretty, pretty pleeeassse take me outside.Oh, I want to go so badly.Plleeeeaassse with a virgin’s cherry on top?”
He grins as he laughs, low and evil-like.I’ve never forgotten that malevolent smile of his.
“Muchbetter.Much, much better.But there’s just one little thing…” He pinches his thumb and index finger together while squinting.“I want you to call me a nice name.Something that makes me feel like you respect me.”
I roll my eyes.“Jesus Christ, do you want me to call yousir?Seriously?Will that make you feel like a man?”
He shakes his head, that evil smile on display.“Not sir.That’s too formal.I want you to call me Daddy.”
I rear back as my jaw drops.For at least two seconds, I’m stunned.“Oh,fuck you.”
He shakes his head.“There’s plenty of time to fuck later.I want this first.”
I jerk my head to the side, my hands bunching the skirt at my knees.My lip curled, I sneer.“I fucking hate you.”
There’s silence for a moment.Good, peaceful silence.Like maybe he’ll shut the fuck up.Maybe he’ll just go away.This time, I won’t stop him.
“The opposite of love is ambivalence, not hate.So, I guess this means we’re making progress.”
I scoff but when the weight on my ankle shifts, it feels heavier, and my stomach gnaws.If I asked him for food, I have no doubt he’d laugh at me, not letting this go.
I’m hungry.I’m tired.I can’t stop thinking about Molly all alone, whining about her missed dinner.She has kibble automatically deposited into her bowl while I’m at work, but that’ll only last a few days.My hope for her is Austin showing up to my house, but he’s never shown an interest in Molly.He probably wouldn’t notice her starving to death.
AndHim…He’d set her on fire just like he threatened.Arseni would probably drown the old girl if I brought her up.
I close my eyes and inhale a shaky breath, feeling a new round of crying coming on.I try to stop it, keep everything inside of me, because if I’m going to cry, it won’t be in front of Arseni.Not again.
My itching nose settles as I swallow, pushing the emotion down to fill my empty stomach.
“Arseni, please,” I whisper, one last shot at mercy.
His fingers snap.“Yes.That, right there.That’s perfect.Just replace Arseni with Daddy and you’ll be golden.”
The humor in his voice makes me flinch.I can’t hear any humanity inside of him.None.I don’t think I ever have.
I should’ve shot him when I had the chance.Why do I let myself feel pity for him when he’d never show me the same?
Inhaling a deep breath, I look Arseni in the eyes, my tone flat as I speak.“Please take me outside, Daddy.”
13
ARSENI
She really does have a beautiful pussy.
