Chapter Three
Eliza
I winced, pain shooting through my face as my fingers brushed against the bruises. Damn, he really let loose on me this time. Dad’s fists were no joke. I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, but I knew it was pointless. He was the sheriff, untouchable. Who was I going to report him to? Everyone in this town thought the man was perfect. The ones who knew of the darker side of him wouldn’t help me escape.
“Fuck,” I whispered to myself, standing in the dimly lit room that was supposed to be my sanctuary.
My eyes surveyed the aftermath of my father’s wrath, taking in the shattered pieces of what were once my things. It wasn’t much, but every broken trinket and ripped photo was a reminder of how messed up my life was. I was trapped in this hellhole, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
“God, I hate him,” I muttered under my breath, picking up a shard of glass from my favorite picture frame. The image of Mom and me when I was just a kid, her smiling face all crumpled and torn, made my heart ache.
Keep it together. There has to be a way out of here . But how? How could I escape the monster who had all the power and control?
“Think, Eliza, think,” I mumbled to myself, trying to focus on anything other than the pain and fear that were eating me alive. “You’re smarter than him. You’re stronger than you know.”
Except… was I really? If I’d been so smart, why was I still here? It wasn’t like I was a child anymore. I could have run. Left town and never looked back. And yet, there’d always been this fear that he’d track me down, drag me back here, and my life would be even worse than it was now.
“Maybe,” I admitted to the empty room, glancing around at the wreckage one last time before I curled up on my bed, defeated. “But maybe not today.”
For now, I would bide my time, wait for my chance to break free from this nightmare. And when that day came, I swore on Mom’s grave, I’d never look back.
The rumble of engines broke through the silence, making me jump. I scrambled to my feet, wincing as my battered body protested. The sound grew louder, and something inside me urged me to take a look.
“Who’s out there?” I whispered, inching closer to the window. My heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Was it the Underland MC, or the same bikers I’d seen before? The ones who weren’t part of a club. I had no way of knowing if those other men were just a friendly group who enjoyed riding, or if they were something more.
As I peered through the glass, I saw them -- the Underland MC, riding past in a tight formation. Their leather vests made them look like some sort of army. Each one of them was a towering figure, muscles bulging under their vests. They were nothing like the weak, beaten girl I’d become.
“Damn,” I breathed out, my eyes glued to the sight. Hatter, the leader of the pack, caught my eye. He looked like a man who knew pain but somehow had survived it all. If I could beg them for help, would it do me any good?
Who’s that ? My gaze locked onto one biker in particular. He had this mischievous grin plastered on his face. My heart picked up its pace as I watched him ride past, captivating me in a way I’d never experienced before.
As I watched him, I wondered if he was the one they called Cheshire. Something about this man had me hooked. My stomach twisted into knots as I kept staring, wondering what kind of life he led, if it was anything like the hell I was stuck in right now.
“Eliza!” I heard my father roar from downstairs, pulling me back to reality. “Get your ass down here!”
“Coming, Daddy,” I called back, dread churning in my gut. I tore my gaze away from the bikers, wishing I could hop on one of their bikes and ride away from this hell forever.
My thoughts remained on the bikers. Did they have their own code of honor? Or did they protect everyone equally? If I could just reach out to them… in their world, maybe I wouldn’t be a victim. I could be strong. Free.
Snap out of it Eliza! Stop dreaming .
“Eliza!” My father’s voice boomed again, making me flinch. The bikers, their engines still roaring, began to fade into the distance, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
“Maybe one day,” I murmured, clenching my fists as I headed for the door. “One day, I’ll find a way out of this mess.”
For now, though, I had to face the music. With a heavy heart, I stepped out of my room and descended the stairs, hoping that someday, I wouldn’t have to fear what lay beyond my own front door. Or on this side of it either, for that matter.
“Eliza, get down here!” My father’s voice echoed through the house. I knew I had to go downstairs, but my mind was still racing, filled with questions about Cheshire and the Underland MC.
Were they happy? Could they -- no he -- be my ticket out of this nightmare?
“So help me God, if your ass isn’t down here in the next three seconds, you’re going to regret it!” I trembled in fear as I hastened to my father’s side. Would I ever find the courage to escape? If I did, would the Underland MC be the key like Maria seemed to think?
* * *
The door slammed shut behind me, blocking out Daddy’s growls. My room was a mess, like always, but tonight it felt more suffocating than ever. Pain throbbed in my face as I made my way to the window. I needed something to take my mind off the hurt.
“Damn it,” I muttered, clenching my fists so tight my knuckles turned white. “I have to get out of here.”
You think you’re gonna leave ? Daddy’s voice echoed through my head, making me shudder. You ain’t going nowhere, girl .
“Shut up,” I whispered, drowning him out with my own voice. “I’ll find a way.”
Stupid girl , he taunted, and I shook him from my thoughts, focusing on the street outside instead. I watched the empty road, hoping for some distraction -- but there wasn’t anything.
“Cheshire,” I breathed, remembering the biker who’d ridden past earlier. He had this air about him, like he didn’t give a damn about anything. Maybe he could help me… or maybe not. But it was worth a shot.
I knew if I stayed, I’d end up dead. But if I ran… yeah, I could die faster. Once my father caught me, he wouldn’t hold back. I’d gotten off easy after going to Maria’s. He’d threatened me, beaten the hell out of me, but I was still alive. I’d call that a win for now. Not that it felt like he’d held back at any time, but I knew differently. If he hadn’t, I’d have been dead long ago.
Maybe the sheriff couldn’t cover up the murder of his own daughter. Not when he was the one to blame. Most people didn’t know what he was like, but the ones who did… like Maria… maybe one of them would speak out against him if I died at his hands. At least Maria was safe for now. But if she helped me again…
The sharp sting of pain jolted through me as I shifted on my bed, the bruises from earlier screaming out a cruel reminder. Daddy always knew where to hit so it hurt the most. Lying on my back, I stared up at the cracked ceiling, letting my mind wander back to those leather-clad bikers riding past my window. It felt like they were reaching into my soul and awakening a long-lost hope.
“Maybe there’s more for me out there,” I whispered, my heart racing at the idea of breaking free from this hellhole. The thought made me shiver with a mix of fear and excitement, but I knew I couldn’t just walk out of here without looking back. Not yet, anyway. I had to be smart, patient, and find the right moment to make my move.
I closed my eyes and thought about what my rescue might look like. I’d hear a voice outside my window…
* * *
“Hey, kid,” a voice called from below, snatching my attention. “You look like you need a friend.”
My heart skipped a beat as I peered down and saw Cheshire standing there, smirking up at me. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw you watching me earlier. Thought I’d come back, see if you needed some help,” he replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, what’s the deal? You in trouble or something?”
“Something like that,” I admitted, glancing back at my wrecked room. “But there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“You sure about that?” Cheshire challenged, leaning against his bike. “I’ve been known to work a few miracles in my time.”
“Really?” I asked, skeptically.
“Really.” He nodded. “Now, how about you come on down here and tell me what’s going on? Maybe we can figure something out together.”
“All right… but just give me a second,” I whispered, hoping Daddy didn’t hear us talking. “I’ll be right down.”
“Take your time, sweetheart.” Cheshire smirked. “I’m not going anywhere.”
As I slipped out of my room, my heart raced in anticipation. This was it! I’d finally be free.
* * *
I sighed and stared up at my ceiling. There was no use in dreaming about an escape that might never happen. And the biker from before certainly wasn’t going to show up and save me.
I’d have to save myself. It was a daunting thought, but one that I knew was true. No one was coming to rescue me -- no knight in shining armor or biker with a mischievous grin. Only I could pull myself out of this hellhole.
I forced myself up from my bed, wincing at the pain that shot through me. My gaze landed on my mirror, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize the girl staring back at me. Bruised, battered, and broken -- I was a ghastly sight. But behind those haunted eyes, I saw something else -- a spark of determination, an ember of hope.
Grimacing from the pain, I started to formulate a plan. A daring escape into the night, toward freedom and safety… It was a risk, but anything was better than enduring another night of Daddy’s wrath. I didn’t know if he had people watching the house, if he’d hidden cameras, or anything else. But if I didn’t try again, then I’d be stuck in this house, used as his punching bag, until the day I died.
The moonlight crept through the gap in the curtains, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Fatigue pulled at me and I lay back down. My eyelids fluttered closed, and I felt sleep dragging me under, but I fought it for a moment longer. Cheshire’s eyes, that mischievous grin, they were all I could see as darkness swallowed me whole.
Even in my dreams, he helped me escape from this miserable life…
* * *
“Eliza,” his voice echoed through, smooth as silk, “come with me.”
“Where are we going?” I asked, looking around at the strange landscape. Everything was blurry, like a watercolor painting left out in the rain.
“Somewhere better,” he answered, a coy smile playing on his lips. “You don’t have to live like this anymore.”
“Promise?” I whispered, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. Was this what hope felt like?
“Promise,” he said, taking my hand, and the warmth of his touch sent shivers down my spine. We raced through the dream-world together, leaving the pain and fear behind like dust in our wake.
But then, just as we were about to crest a hill, something pulled me back, an invisible chain yanking me away from Cheshire. I reached out, but he was already fading into the distance, his fingers slipping from mine.
“Wait!” I cried, desperation clawing at my throat. “Don’t leave me!”
“Find me, Eliza,” he called back, his voice growing fainter by the second. “I’ll be waiting.”
“Cheshire!” I screamed, but it was too late -- he was gone. And all that was left was the aching emptiness inside me, worse than any bruise or broken bone.
* * *
I jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. It was just a dream -- but maybe it was a sign too. Maybe Cheshire really was the key to my freedom, the one who could help me break these chains.
The darkness closed in again, heavy as a shroud, and I let it take me. But even in the blackest depths of night, the image of Cheshire’s mischievous grin remained, a glimmer of hope that refused to be snuffed out.