Page 78 of Tear Me Down (Descent to Darkness Trilogy #2)
Chapter thirty-four
Ashia
‘The End Of The Dream’ - Evanescence
As much as I want to look down and assess the damage being done to me… I won’t. Strength and determination are coursing through me right now, and I’m intent to hold out as long as possible. Damien is coming. He would never just leave me here and expect Hugo to let me go when he’s through.
But how could he possibly know where I am?
I don’t even know the answer to that. Dranan has given no inclination of our location, or anything other than degrading insults as he slices into my skin—repeatedly saying that Damien will see me as broken, and he’ll make sure I stay that way this time.
That Cooper was nothing compared to what he’s going to do to me if Damien doesn’t comply.
Though, I’ve refused to react. His words are empty, and while I know that, deep down, my self-doubt is starting to creep in.
Damien accepted me once, scars and all, but they were covered—healed and replaced with new skin by the time I met him.
How will he feel when he runs his hands over my body after this, only to feel the newly deformed tissue from another man’s hands? Filthy hands…
No.
No, don’t think like that. I’m letting him get to me…
“Look at me!” Dranan screams as he grabs a fistful of my hair and jerks my face close to his.
“Fuck you!” I scream at him, angry with myself that I would ever think of Damien being revolted by me. It feels like a betrayal—a doubt that he doesn’t deserve.
He snarls and moves the knife to my rib cage, dragging it deeper as he pushes down and continues slicing into me.
I can feel the burning, scraping pain that follows as it bumps over my ribs and down my side, but I refuse to react to the pain.
I'm going to make this as difficult as possible for him. It could be from being strung up for so long, but I start to feel dizzy, and the blood dripping down my body starts to itch on the places that don’t burn with ache.
I can feel the wound from my shoulder drip down my body, and the sensation makes me shudder.
My body is starting to become more sensitive to the torment, and I can feel myself slipping into response.
I look at him dead in the eyes, wanting him to feel the conviction behind my words.
“When he comes for me, and you watch my Angel of Death storm in here, I wonder what your last thoughts will be,” I taunt, already imagining the horrifying ways Damien is going to make him suffer.
He walks behind me, sending a shiver down my spine as I lose sight of him.
Suddenly a sharp bite from his blade attacks the top of my right shoulder, and the piercing pain lingers as he drags it down my back—soliciting a small gasp that only manifests as a squeak.
“I'll be thinking of how I ruined you for him. How he’ll try to rid you of every touch, but I’ll be ingrained into your scars for eternity.
Every time he’ll look at you, he'll think of my hands on you.” I shakily gasp again and tear up as I feel his hands dip into my shorts, tracing the line of my panties just before he rounds the curve of my ass.
“You better not piss me off. I might have to release my anger another way.” He walks back in front of me and wipes the rogue tear running down my face with the flat side of the knife, smearing more of my blood across my cheek.
“Is that what gets to you? The thought of him being repulsed by you? You know I’m right, don’t you? He’ll be sickened by the thought.”
“FUCK YOU!” I scream again, and he forcefully grabs my throat. His grip tightens enough to cut off my air, and he points the knife to my stomach, turning it menacingly against my skin as a threat.
Please, God no…
“You better shut that pretty mouth of yours before I get too ahead of myself!” he screams, and just as he pulls his hand back, I desperately nod—willing to degrade myself in an instant.
I have to submit to him if it’ll keep him from sticking that knife in my stomach…
More tears finally fall over my eyelids and run down my cheeks, and I can feel as they combine with the mixture of dried and wet blood, making me cringe.
“You submit so beautifully, no wonder he likes you so much. Such an obedient little toy.” I exhale heavily as he moves the knife away from my stomach, but I quickly suck it back in as he moves it down to my vagina.
“I wonder if that’s not the only reason.
” He dips the blade into the hem of my shorts and panties, and yanks down, tearing them apart before he pulls them from my body.
I want to scream, sob, call out for Damien so devotedly that it manifests him here… But knowing he’s watching all of this, it would kill him…
I have to hold on… I have to hold on…
He moves the knife to my right side, just under my ribs, and deliberately pushes in.
While I can feel that it’s not far, it also feels so intense, and much sharper than the wounds before this.
I whimper at the pain, and no matter how hard I attempt to hold back, a cry slips from my lips as the tears flow more freely.
I can’t hold back much longer…
“There it is. The sensitivity the blood loss causes. You'll lose control soon enough.” I feel myself getting drowsy, like the room is starting to spin, and I can’t tell if I’m going to pass out or not.
The strength in my neck disappears, and I finally drop my head, witnessing the horror that covers my body.
I don’t see any color left on my skin… Just blood, several cuts, red and raised skin that already starting to bruise in some places, and his handprints marked by my blood …
The room continues to spin narrowly, and I attempt to focus my vision on something that isn’t red.
“Sir?” the second man from earlier calls out, and Dranan grunts in annoyance—clearly agitated at having to pause his little game.
He walks over to the voice and speaks in hushed tones, clearly not wanting me to hear.
This is a moment I know I won’t get again, so I take advantage, inhaling a deep breath and conjuring any resolve I have remaining.
He angrily steps back over to me and I pick my head back up to show my defiance.
“It looks like things have escalated. Now I have to prove my point.” He twirls the knife in his hand expertly and thrusts forward and up, shoving the knife into the back of my left shoulder as he comes in close to me.
I can’t help but scream, and my throat burns with the strain of it.
All of the pain from the past, I’m not sure how long, finally catching up with me.
I can feel his disgusting, wet breath on my cheek as he leans in close again, only to run his revolting tongue along my jaw.
A silent gag boils in my throat, but I thankfully hold it back despite his revolting saliva wetting my chin.
He moves to slide his hand between my legs, but I clench my legs together, desperately trying to keep him out.
In retaliation, he twists the knife in my shoulder, making me cry out and falter.
His large hand forces his way through, and he pushes his fingers inside of me, causing me to cry out at the burn.
“So dry? You seemed like the type to like pain with your pleasure, or I was assuming so from the love marks on your neck.” I try to thrash and kick him away, but the pain from my wounds and the knife in my back keeps me mostly stationary, wincing at the slightest movement.
Just pass out… Please, just let me pass out…
“You should have listened Damien, and now I have to keep my word.” I feel his fingers move in and out of me painfully, and a sob unwillingly slips from my lips.
“Go on, dear. Call out for him.” he taunts.
“No…” I choke out before he removes his hand and uses it to unbutton his pants…
“I said, call out for him!” he screams.
“NO!” I use every ounce of strength I have left to kick at him through the pain in my shoulder. The knife moves inside of me and a guttural screech flies out of my mouth, but I fight back anyway, refusing to go down so easily.
The second man finally emerges from the darkness and runs behind me, instantly jerking my head back by my hair and twisting the knife even more.
I shriek, pushing through the hoarse feeling in my throat, but refusing to scream Damien’s name.
His demonic hands painfully grab my thighs and force my legs open, leaving my weakened state no chance to fight back.
He takes no time to violently thrust inside me, purposely making it as painful as possible to appease his sadistic torture .
I immediately bite my cheeks to keep myself from screaming any more, and a rush of copper liquid floods my dry mouth.
Giving him another one of my screams is not an option for me, and I can’t torture Damien like that.
I refuse… I wish I could contain my tears the way I contain my screams, or beg some malevolent power to turn the camera off… He can’t be watching this…
Think of something else… Anything else…
The tears streaming down my face remind me of the lake.
The night we laid out on the dock and watched the thunderstorms in the sky.
Harsh thunder sounds through my mind, and I swear I can hear it—the memory doing little to take away the pain between my legs as he forces his way in and out, but I cling to the reminiscence and let my mind run away with our little escape.
Rain drops barely make its way under the gazebo, onto our faces and barely covered bodies.
Damien’s holding me here. His large, gentle hands are running up and down my back, soothing away a pain that wasn’t there at the time.
Grey skies and pattering water lay out in front of us, providing a perfect ambiance for peace.
Grunts and groans echo all around us, but I swear his grip tightens, pulling me closer to shield me even more.
I can almost feel his lips on my forehead, and the way he presses them lightly in what was once a soft display of affection, but now I can’t help but interpret as a kiss of death.
A chilling warmth that entangles with past and present, pulling me back into limbo, but refusing to let me fully cross to the side of reconciliation.
More disgusting noises float through the air around us, but his poke through—forcing its way to the front and standing as one last attempt at a barrier between my sanity and the destruction around me.
“I’m coming for you, little wolf…”
Then just like that, the fantasy is gone, and I'm dragged back to the moment when I feel his thrusting intensify, rocking me harshly in place… I want to go back to the lake… but I can’t picture it anymore.
The only thing in my sight is the dust and cobweb covered ceiling of this warehouse—shoving me back to reality in a violent push.
I begin to feel drowsy, lightheaded, and sick as Dranan stills, and his warmth fills me, tainting me as one last groan escapes his mouth.
I feel the acid climbing up my throat, and both men release me in just enough time for me to fling my head forward.
In a show of how much this retched man disgusts me, I’m sure to vomit on him.
A disturbing roar flies out of his mouth, and I’m greeted with another slap to the face.
Pain explodes through my cheek, and I don’t hide my cries anymore.
Sobs escape, and as weak as I feel for allowing that to happen, I can’t stop it.
My whole body shakes with each sob, straining each cut and gash and making me cry harder.
I make a point to keep my head down, not daring to look at that camera again.
Suddenly, a loud boom screams from outside, compelling me to look up.
They fling their heads towards the door at the sound, only to be followed by waves upon waves of gunfire ringing out like applause.
Their eyes widen, and the second man actually takes a step back, clearly not expecting that type of activity.
Dranan’s hands tremble as he tucks himself back inside his now vomit covered pants, and while the sight is utterly disgusting, my sobs turn amused, and I can’t tell if I’m laughing or crying anymore.
“You’re fucking pathetic…” I manage to say through the sobbing laughs, and I lose the strength in my neck again. My heavy head hangs lower, but my amusement doesn’t stop. I can feel him here now, and just like he promised…
He came for me.
More laughter escapes my lips as I hear forceful steps come towards me once again, and a large hand grabs my jaw painfully, pushing my head up.
The horrid man I just endured stares at me, and while nothing but hatred and fear glisten in his eyes, all I can imagine is what the love of my life is about to do to him.
“What is so fucking funny?” he screams as his face contorts, turning a shade of red that I can only describe as pained.
“My God of War is here…” I laugh again, either becoming hysterical or finally succumbing to the pain. “I'm curious… Have you thought of your last words yet? Because I guarantee you won’t have the chance to say them…”