Page 17 of Scarred in Silence (The Twisted Trilogy #2)

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 darkne ss 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.

“I told you that you were too beautiful for my cousin. Didn’t I?”

I bring my hands to my ears, covering them so his words can’t hurt me. I don’t know why the fuck I’m here, but I know I’m not putting up with this shit.

He leans down, gripping my hair tightly as he forces me to look into his soulless eyes.

“It’s my turn to see what all the fuss is about,” he says in a low tone.

I lift my foot, kicking his knee backwards with all of my strength. He releases his grip on my hair enough for me to get to my unsteady legs. I don’t think. I fucking run.

I bolt out of the door and head to the left, unsure of where to go. My heart races in my chest as adrenaline fuels my escape.

The rooms all look the same. There is moaning from one or two cells, and my hairs stand on end.

I find a stairwell at the end of the hall, and the only way is up. I scale the stairwell when my ankle is grabbed. I am launched backwards down the stairs. Pain takes over my entire body. My head smacks off the concrete, and I feel sick. My vision blurs.

He walks towards me, but there isn’t one of him. There are two of him? Or am I seeing things?

He stands before me. I can’t move. My body screams at me. I try to stand, and he rams his boot into my side, knocking the wi nd out of me. Fuck.

Varek lowers himself down in front of me, and he grabs my hair. My scalp feels as if it’s on fire.

“Stupid bitch.”

He slaps me across the face and releases me. My face falls to the concrete and I stare at the ground under my face. Blood pools underneath my head.

The room is spinning. I.. I can’t… pass out… I must…. Esca….

* * *

The lights are bright, shining over me. I shiver as the cool air hits my bare skin—lava courses through my veins as I try to sit up. But I’m stuck. My wrists are tied to the top of the bed, and my ankles are secured at the bottom. I’m tied in an X position on a bed.

My heart rate spikes as I thrash against the restraints.

There is nothing else in the room. Just me. Naked. Exposed.

“Finally. It’s about time you woke the fuck up,” a familiar voice echoes throughout the room. No.

“Here I thought you were faking it. You were always good at bullshitting, you know?”

I squirm around, trying to free my legs, my arms, anything.

“You thought you were always so anonymous at Club Muse.. No?”

“Let me go!” I scream. I’m done being ignored. Unheard.

He chuckles in response.

“I tried to take Evelyn, you know. Gave her my card after her erotic solo performance… but she never called.”

His eyes narrow on me. His eyes raking up my bare body, leavin g a searing pain in their path.

“I thought she would work well, but you… I missed that perfect fucking mouth.”

He walks around to the foot of the bed, taking in the view of my legs spread.

My stomach twists in knots.

“She is too timid, but you…”

He runs his calloused hand up my leg, and I tense. Screaming out into the void.

“You are a fighter.”

His fingers dance around my clit. I try to ignore the sensation. Fuck.

“I know what you like, remember?”

“Stop… P-please…. stop,” I cry out. Tears roll down my cheeks.

“You know I love it when they cry.”

He continues moving his fingers, and I fight hard to keep myself from caving to the pressure.

“I will always be your grim reaper, Astra.”

He removes his hand and unzips his pants. I turn my head to the side, unable to look at him. Fucking prick.

I hear him spit into his hand. The wet sounds of him coating his cock send bile rising to my throat.

The bed dips down, and I try to squeeze my legs together, but I can’t.

He hovers above me, taking my jaw in his hand, and he forces me to look at him.

“Look at me, while I fuck you.”

My tears roll out like rivers merging into the ocean.

I cry to myself as he violently forces himself into me. My body welcomes him, despite my own desires.

Lu cien is going to fucking kill me.

He thrusts himself in and out of me with ease, as sobs rack through my body.

“Such a good fucking whore.”

His movements are relentless. His sweaty body rubs over me, making me gag. It feels like an eternity that he uses me. I lie there on the bed. Sobbing. Disgusting. Lifeless.

Miles Holloway silenced me not once, but twice.

I hope Lucien finds me. I don’t want to live like this anymore.

I’m loyal. I promise. I can be loyal.