The only thing more unbearable was the quiet.
I tried doing things to fill the silence. Pulling my nails down surfaces to listen to the different scratching sounds various textures made. My favorite was the dull throb the black chair in the corner made.
It smelled good too. The luxurious scent of leather was a welcome relief. Any scent other than my own would be welcome.
But the thing I missed the most, was the presence of other people. I was never a social butterfly. Actually, I avoided human contact most times. I’d never realized how comforting knowing I wasn’t alone really was.
Singing to myself didn’t help drown out the desire to hear another voice. Neither did talking to myself. It didn’t matter how many stories I told, or how often I changed my tone, I still longed for companionship.
I even started looking forward to my abductor’s visits.
He touched me. Sucked my lip in his mouth. I could still feel the heat from his tongue sweeping over my skin. The way his breath washed over my face, and how his heavy hand sat on my back.
Would it really be so bad if I touched him back?
“No Kya.”
“Angie?” I called back, searching the dark corners of the room.
My sister wasn’t there. Just the monsters growling in hungry anticipation. I could feel them, hiding in the shadows and waiting for me to break. My sister wouldn’t do that. She would tell me to stay strong. But I wasn’t strong.
The lamp beside the bed clicked on. I tucked my burning eyes in the crook of my arm and held my breath. He was coming. That’s what the light meant.
Except this time, it wasn’t fear that had my heart pumping. It was the anxious anticipation of seeing another face. Even if it was his.
“Hello, Pet.”
I practically moaned at the deep baritone ringing through the room. It felt so good to hear someone else. So much so that I uttered back, “Hello, Sir.”
“Your solitude has done wonders for your manners. Still not quite right though.”
Enzo wanted me to call him Master. The sad part was, I almost did. My desperation to not be cast back into darkness, was quickly outweighing my need to hang onto some semblance of dignity.
The title he desired sat on the tip of my tongue, ready to fly out if my captor decided to leave. Thankfully, I didn’t have to stoop that low.
“I’ll forgive your indiscretion this time.”
Was it bad that I breathed out a sigh of relief?
The soft squeak of wheels rolling against the floor caused my stomach to growl. It was feeding time. How pathetic was it that, that was the highlight of my day? I enjoyed the sweet smell of chicken soup, because that meant I wouldn’t be alone for a short time.
I sat up and looked at the red chair, where I knew my captor would be. Sure enough, there he was. Cozied into the red velvet backing.
He appeared different today. The ice-blue eyes watching me were more beautiful than scary. I tipped my head and followed the angles of his jaw. Tracing over the dark stubble of his chin, and up to his black hair, neatly styled. Which was when embarrassment heated in my cheeks.
How long had it been since I’d had a shower? I must look terrible. I glanced down at the white silk covering my body. It felt like I’d been wearing this thing forever. There he was, looking all casually sophisticated in black slacks and a white dress shirt. And here I was. A giant sad, pathetic, mess.
My fingers went to my hair, trying to comb out the tangled locks, before a voice shouted in the back of my head.
Stop it Kya! Who cares what you look like.
Enzo smirked when I snapped my arm back down. “I don’t have all day, Pet.”
I didn’t hesitate. Just pulled myself off the bed and got down on my hands and knees. It was so demoralizing, crawling across the floor like an animal while he watched.
Did he get off on this? Could he feel my dignity slipping away with each hard dig of my knees into the wooden floor?
I told myself to concentrate on other things. Like the warmth I’d get, while perched between his legs. It was so cold in here, I’d do just about anything to chase away the chill in my bones. Even cuddle up to Ralph.
