Page 42 of Scarred in Silence

“What do we have the rest of the week?” I ask.

“We have San Antonio, TX tomorrow, El Paso, TX Thursday, and Tucson, AZ on Friday. We will head back Saturday.” Dante looks at me as if I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown, and I am.

“Friday night. We leave Friday night,” I say.

Dante tilts his head to the side, studying me.

“Fine. Friday.”

I nod.

“Get out,” I snap.

He stands, raising his hands in the air above him.

“Don’t have to ask me twice, asshole,” he says as he leaves the room.

The door closes behind him, and I can be alone with my thoughts. Finally.

The only thing I don’t understand is my sudden urge to be around my little Siren all the time. I was fucking disgusted by her when I brought her back. Fucking whore.

Then yesterday morning in the bathroom, I remembered how great she feels. How great it feels when she trusts me. When she is loyal to me.

I’m not fucking desperate, though. I will wait until Saturday to see her. Then I think it’s time to put her loyalty to the test. If she passes, maybe she will get some of that precious freedom she lusts for so badly.

16

Astra

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The sound of leaking water echoes off the cement walls. The seconds tick by.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

My heart thumps slowly in my chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The voice in my head chants violently.

Run. Escape. Run. Escape.

There is no hope. No one can save me here.

I hug my knees to my chest tightly as I sit in the corner of the dungeon-like room. Earlier, I swear I heard a rat. I am going insane. There is no light. No noise. Just me and my thoughts.

My jeans are wet, and my t-shirt is dirty. I’m disgusting. My skin crawls as if bugs were eating me alive.

The door creaks open, offering a sliver of light. My eyes burn from the light, causing them to water.

I never thought I would miss the light glaring over me each morning when Lucien held me prisoner. I didn’t know the darkness would be worse.

Boots stomp into the space, splashing trace amounts of liquid with each step.

I flinch. My spine stiffens, and my palms go clammy as the figure comes into focus.

Varek.