Drowned In Silence

24. Tuesday

Tuesday

Elliot

The car ride back to our rental was quiet. Spencer was visibly upset and I was just trying to keep me and Dynah alive. She’s so stupid! Why would she jump into the water after I told her not to? I mean, fuck what I have to say, but why would she do that anyway?

We pull into the driveway and Pen turns off the car. He turns his head, throws his arm over the back of the passenger seat, and stares at me.

“What. The. Fuck. Why were you two fucking swimming? What possessed you to jump in when it’s fucking snowing outside? And where the fuck is your car?!”

“I’ll explain everything after I get us warm. Just please… Try to understand the situation I’m in, bro,” I reply, pulling Dynah into my arms and getting out of the backseat.

“Fine, but I will expect real answers later. Oh, and take off the fucking mask would ya? That thing is fucking weird, and it will probably scare her more than anything.” He opens the front door for us, and then heads off to his room, leaving me and Dynah freezing cold and soaking wet in the middle of the entryway.

“Come on, Dynah. Let’s get us into the shower,” I tell her. She is passed out in my arms after coming-to in the car and freaking out. I calmed her down with quiet words, telling her that she was safe and everything was alright. She must not have had enough energy to put up a full fight, because she passed out soon after without a second doubt.

When I walk into the bathroom and set her down on the floor, she starts to wake up again. I crouch in front of her, waiting for her to open her eyes to my masked face.

“What the fuck?” She whispers, rubbing her eyes and pulling herself up more. “Where are we? And you …”

“Good morning, Little Raven. Quite a trip we had. I was just about to get us in the shower so that I could warm us up,” I say with a hint of amusement behind my voice.

“What? No! I’m not doing anything with you! I’m not… Why did you fucking save me?!” She half yells, half sobs.

“I told you, Darling. You are mine, and you're not going anywhere without me. That includes the depths of hell. Now, are you going to be a good girl while I shower you, or am I going to have to drag you in there by myself?” I tilt my head, waiting for her answer. She takes her time, shivering from her still wet hair, and looking around the room.

“You would force me?”

“If I had to, yes. So answer the question,” I demand.

She sits there for a while longer, staring at her bruised skin. She really is like a bird, trying to fly and run off at the first sign of danger.

“Well, I don’t think I can stand on my own, and I might freeze to death sitting here,” she mumbles. Crossing her arms, her shoulders slump, giving into me .

I turn around and turn on the shower, not too warm, but not too cold. You never want to warm yourself up too quickly after being so cold.

“I’m going to pick you up now. No biting.”

“Why would I bite you? You probably taste like stale asshole,” she says.

“Do you always have this much attitude?”

“Why? What day is it?” She asks.

“It’s tuesday?” I say, questioningly.

“I only have this much on days ending with Y.”

I laugh at her backhanded comment, but slide my arm under her legs, supporting her upper body with my other arm. She winces in pain, but allows me to touch her. We’re both half dressed, but I don’t think she cares and neither do I. When I walk her into the warm shower, I can feel her body tense up.

“Is it too hot? I can turn it down if you need me too.”

“No, it’s fine. I just don’t do well with… men and water. Just don’t try to kill me. Please…”

“I don’t know what kind of bullshit that is, and I won’t be killing you. But if it’s any consolation to you, it’s a deal.” I set her down on her feet, holding her around the hips so she doesn’t fall over. Her back is pressed against my chest, leaning against me for support. “If you turn around, it might be easier,” I suggest.

“If I turn around, I’ll have to look at myself in the gaudy ass mask. No thank you. I’m fine how I am… I just want to get this over with.”

“If you wanted me to take it off, all you had to do was ask,” I whisper in her ear. Her arms break out in goosebumps when I touch my nose to her hair and tighten my grip on her waist. “Don’t be afraid to ask me for things, Little Raven. I’ll do anything you want me to. With pleasure. ”

She turns around slowly, grimacing at her reflection in the mirrors. Reaching up, her hand runs down the mask before she slips a finger underneath it at the chin.

“Anything I ask of you? I’ve never had that,” she whispers the second half under her breath, almost like she’s talking to herself.

She pushes the mask up over my face and it falls to the shower floor.

“Anything,” I growl. Her pupils dilate and I can’t tell if it’s from my voice, or what she sees. I reach a hand up and grab her by the chin with two fingers. “You want me on my knees begging? So be it. You want me to let you pull the reins? So be it. The only thing I won’t do is leave your side. There is a lot of history between us, Little Raven, and you have no idea what I’ve done to get to you. And you don’t know what I will do to stay here.”

Flushed. That’s the only word to describe her expression. She keeps looking me in the eyes as she dips her head back into the water.

“I don’t know what I want. How can I trust that you won’t play mind games and you’re just fucking with my head? I don’t even know you,” she says and turns back around, swatting at my hand and forcing me to let go of her.

This girl really will be the death of me. She is a firecracker, and I can’t wait to set her off.

“You think I play games, Darling?”

“I don’t care if you do or you don’t. You said you’d beg— and before we are through, just maybe you will.”

I growl at her once more before bending over and biting her shoulder lightly.

“We’ll see. I’ll give you my slippers when we get out of the bathroom… As long as you don’t use them to run away. Ag ain. I know your feet are cut up, and you probably just want to get some rest.”

“I can barely move, so I’m not running anywhere. No one has ever come to my rescue. The least I could do is stick around and see what happens. At least for a day or two. I’ve seen what you're capable of, and it makes me nervous. I’ve been around shitty men all of my life, and I don’t have time to deal with another one.” She shuts off the water without me hardly getting any. I almost scoff, but she starts undressing. First her shirt, and then her pants. She makes a show of it too, bending over at the waist and letting me see everything.

When she’s butt ass naked, she opens the shower door and gets out. She wraps a towel around her body, flings her hair over her shoulder, all without glancing at me. Almost like she doesn’t even realize I’m standing here watching her. She sure knows how to put on a brave act, but I see right through her. She’s terrified.