11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
STARLET
* PRESENT *
“ L a-la-lalala-lalala..” I swear I’m going to die of boredom. Lying on the worn-out mattress, I absentmindedly twirl the thin blanket between my fingertips, feeling the rough fabric against my skin. I haven’t seen Zavier all day—well, if I’m honest, I’m not even sure if it’s night or day anymore. Everything has just seemed to blur together at this point .
But it has been hours since he was down here with me. Which is odd, because ever since I tried killing myself, he has been keeping an eye on me like a hawk.
That day was a blur. Zavier’s paranoia consumed him, keeping me confined in this basement, suffocating me with his unnerving presence. I wasn’t allowed to go back upstairs after that. Instead, he would sit here for hours with me, either raping me all over again or sticking his dick down my throat. As if that wasn’t torment enough, he twisted our shared history, distorting it into a twisted justification for his actions. I cringe at the mere thought of hearing him repeat how much he loves my hair. It’s enough to make me want to tear every strand from my scalp.
Sitting up, I pull up the fabric of my pants, revealing the scarred ‘A’ etched into my thigh. My fingertips graze the rough skin, tears welling up in my eyes. In this moment of despair, I find myself yearning for an end to it all, just so I can be with him. It’s a twisted realization, but he has become a twisted necessity in my life .
Yes, he was a creep, but he was mine. I don’t regret inviting him into my life and I cannot wait to see him in the next.
Suddenly, the door slams shut, jolting me out of my thoughts. Zavier stomps down the stairs, his face drenched in sweat, his complexion pale like a ghost. Furrowing my brows, I slowly rise from the mattress, wrapping the blanket tightly around my trembling frame.
“What’s going on?”
“Uh, nothing. I, um, have to go see someone… business related.” His response comes out in a stammered rush. He hastily hands me a takeaway bag before storming back up the stairs. I watch him, perplexed by his behavior, and then a realization hits me. I didn’t hear the door close.
Placing the bag down on the creaking wooden floor and tossing the worn blanket next to it, I take cautious steps toward the staircase. As I gaze up the dimly lit stairs, my heart skips a beat, my eyes widening in surprise as I notice Zavier’s forgetfulness in leaving the door ajar .
The anticipation surges through me. This is my chance, my ticket to freedom. After what feels like an eternity of captivity, I can finally escape this place. With each thump of my racing heart echoing in my ears, I silently pray that this isn’t some cruel trick. I stand there for a few moments, contemplating my next move, before summoning the courage to ascend the stairs, taking slow and deliberate steps.
As I reach the top, my trembling hands reach out to push the door open, and a rush of cold air slaps against my face, snapping me back to reality. With a mixture of fear and determination fueling my every move, I swiftly climb the second staircase, my body shaking with adrenaline.
Coming to a sudden stop, I find myself staring at the door above my head. This must be the door hidden beneath the couch in the living room. Without wasting a second, I gather all my strength and shove it open, the rusty hinges protesting with a low groan. The door slowly lifts, creating a narrow gap, and I squeeze my body through, my breath ragged and labored.
Exhausted and breathless, I scan the living room and kitchen, straining my ears for any sound that might indicate Zavier’s presence, but the silence is deafening. With a sense of urgency pulsating through me, I sprint towards the front door, throwing it open and exposing myself to the crisp, invigorating scent of the outside world. As I take in my surroundings, I realize I am surrounded by a dense forest, towering trees stretching as far as the eye can see.
As I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, a sense of excitement fills me, and I sprint out of the cabin and into the unfamiliar forest.
The forest, a mysterious sanctuary to others, becomes a labyrinth to me. Yet, fueled by determination, I stumble through the tangled undergrowth, guided by the fading glow of the setting sun. My focus remains fixed on one goal—finding a road. Despite the rough terrain scraping against my bare feet and the exhaustion threatening to overcome my legs, I press on, refusing to surrender. I have come too far to give up now.
After what felt like an eternity, I strain my eyes against the fading light and a surge of hope floods through me as I spot a road emerging from the dwindling trees. The distant hum of an approaching car snaps my attention, and I push myself to keep going.
“Help!” I scream with every ounce of strength, wildly waving my arms, but the car zooms past just as I reach the road. It was starting to get darker, the sun on the verge of disappearing completely. Gasping for breath, I press on until I stumble onto the road, the tears on my cheeks stinging with despair. And then, like a beacon in the night, another car materializes on the shadowy road. Summoning my last ounce of energy, I raise one trembling arm, desperately flagging down the passing vehicle.
At first, I thought they also didn’t see me, but as I glanced back, the car screeches to an abrupt stop. Relief washes over me, only to be swiftly replaced by fear as a realization dawns upon me—what if it’s Zavier? What if he came back?
Please, no.
The driver’s side door swings open, and my world spins violently, the sight before me sucking the very air from my lungs.
“Argent?”