Raven
Iwoke, pain the first conscious feeling. Terror was my second. Caution, the third. My head ached, my body was sore, and my cheek felt as if it was on fire. I slowly opened my eyes, only seeing blackness. The ground beneath me was cold, damp, solid. I tried to flex my feet and hands, surprised to find them working. Something cold and heavy was on my neck, and I lifted my hands, shocked to feel a thick metal collar around my throat. I traced the edges, feeling the weight of the chain it was attached to. Tamping down my fear, I carefully sat up, dizzy and disoriented, my stomach lurching as I moved. There was a wall behind me, and I leaned against it, wetting my dry lips and swallowing. Struggling to remember what happened. Desperately trying not to scream. I knew it would bring someone running, and I was certain I didn’t want that.
Taking Cindy to the bathroom was my last coherent thought. Rinsing my hands off in the sink, hearing a noise, and glancing up, shocked to see an older man behind me. “I think you have the wrong restroom,” I said. “The men’s room—”
He smiled, an evil, twisted smile, and raised his arm. A wooden mallet was the last thing I saw before pain exploded in my head. The feel of the cold, hard porcelain sink hitting my face was all I remembered before the dark claimed me.
I hadn’t recognized the older man. I shook my head as a shiver ran through me.
Who was he?
I had my answer a few moments later. The scraping of a heavy door echoed in the room, and dim light spilled in. Lifting my head, I blinked, trying to focus. Through the pain and the tears in my eyes, it was difficult. Until he spoke, and ice ran through my veins.
“Well, well. What have we here?”
Andy.
I stifled a sob, too frightened to speak. To make a sound.
“Tsk. Cat got your tongue?” he asked snidely, advancing.
I curled up as tightly as I could, unsure what he was going to do next.
He hunched down, his face close to mine. “You treated me like a dog, Raven. Threw me a few scraps and ran, leaving me hungry.” He lifted the chain, pulling on it. “I thought I’d give you a taste of your own medicine.”
I couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped my throat.
“Not so tough when your bodyguard isn’t around, are you?” He laughed, the high-pitched sound making me grimace.
“Please, Andy, don’t do this,” I begged, my voice hoarse. “Let me go.”
“After all the trouble I went through to get you?” he asked. “No.”
“Damien will find me. He will punish you. If you let me go, I’ll make sure he doesn’t touch you.”
He laughed again, shaking his head. “Still lying. I’ll cure you of that.”
“He’ll find you. He’s going to be so angry,” I said, trying to sound threatening, but instead, my voice was weak. Pitiful.
“Not going to happen, Ms. Raven,” he mocked. “You can’t find what doesn’t exist.”
I frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Exactly,” he spat. “None of you did.” He tugged on the chain, sending me to the ground, the chill seeping into my skin.
“You are going to stay here and rot until you learn to love me. By the time I’m finished with you, I will own you. Every single inch of you. Forget about everything and everybody else, Raven. Your inept bodyguard will never find you. No one will. He’ll forget and move on. You’ll be mine once you accept the darkness.” He strode to the door. “And me.”
The sound of the metal slamming sent shudders through me.
I shut my eyes, letting my tears soak the ground.
“Damien,” I whispered. “Please. Please.”
Another sob escaped.
“Find me.”
* * *