Page 60 of Scarred in Silence

I head upstairs and get Astra from the office.

She sits in the corner, staring off into space. Her jaw is swollen.

How the fuck did I not notice that when I saw her? It’s possible that her hair was also completely different, so I didn’t notice.

I love her either way, though.

I scoop her up into my arms and place her in the passenger seat of my car.

“We will make you better, okay?”

She looks at me with hopeful eyes.

She nods.

I will make her better after I destroy whatever curiosity lurks inside of her. She might hate me at first, but then… then shewill be perfect. The perfect wife. Loyal. Loving. And my whore.

I must destroy her to fix her.

24

Astra

Lucien brought me to a facility that he has at one of his compounds. He said it’s where Dr. Marlowe works. I know I am being crazy, but he seems overly emotional. I’m the one who has my fucking mouth wired shut, and he is the one screaming and lashing out. I don’t get it.

I hate playing a victim, so I don’t. I let everyone else see me as the quiet one, but internally, I’m screaming. The day I blow up is the day I’m waiting for. It feels like that day is coming sooner rather than later.

I walk down the hallway of the facility, and he brings me into a doctor’s office that resembles more of an operating room. Large machines are in the corner. A cabinet filled with medicine and tubes is on the back wall. It looks like you need a code to access it, though.

The large table in the center of the room makes the hairs on my body stand on end. The air is frigid, and it matches Lucien’s demeanor. Cold.

“Dr. Marlowe is getting some stuff together. Get up on the table.” His words flow seamlessly through the air as if he has been rehearsing them.

I slowly sit down on the table, remembering Lucien is safe. He said he would make me better.

I lie back and take a deep breath.

“He is going to have you strapped down for the procedure. I’m going to secure you now.”

Sweat beads on my forehead. I nod.

I have one particular memory of being strapped down on a table that fights its way in, but I suppress it.

He slowly takes the straps from under the table, trussing me. My bones ache, and panic settles deep in my chest. I take a deep breath.

He stands over me, stroking my hair.

“Remember… I love you.” He places a kiss on my forehead before he walks over to the door. I hear a click.

He locked us in. I want to scream, but I can’t.

“Now, we need to clear the air.”

He stands above me, watching my eyes swell with tears.

“Did you ever find Victor attractive?”

My face reddens. I did, but only because he reminded me of Lucien.