CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Anya
I wake up with a jarring headache, my vision blurred by darkness. As I try to bring my hands to my head, I realize they’re tied behind me. Panic sets in as I take in my surroundings, which are dimly lit and unfamiliar. I remember Lana was with me, and I call out her name softly. “Lana?” My voice echoes faintly in the dark, but there’s no response.
I try to make sense of where I am. The room seems to be cluttered with what looks like a workbench and scattered tools. I attempt to move my feet, but they’re also restrained by something—definitely not handcuffs, but the material feels like rope. I hear a faint groan to my right and my heart skips. “Hello?” I call out a little louder, the desperation in my voice making me choke up.
“Anya?” The voice is weak but unmistakable—it’s Lana. Relief floods through me, mingling with the anxiety. “Lana, oh my God, Lana! Are you okay?” I can barely keep the tears from spilling.
“Anya! Yes, my head is pounding and I’m tied up too. Are you alright?” she responds, her voice tinged with the same fear I feel.
“I’m as okay as I can be. Did you see who took us? I mean, it must have been someone, right?” My voice trembles as I speak, the gravity of our situation sinking in.
“No, I didn’t get a good look. I tried to fight back, but he had someone helping him. I think that’s who knocked me out when they grabbed you,” Lana explains.
“Could it be Caleb? Do you think he escaped?” I ask, my mind racing.
“I don’t know. It’s possible he escaped, but the guy who grabbed you was really tall—maybe as tall as Jacob, but I can’t be sure,” she says, her voice filled with uncertainty.
“So, it was a guy?” I ask, trying to piece everything together.
“It must have been. I didn’t see any female figure in the shirt. Where are we, anyway?” Lana’s voice is strained, but there’s a note of curiosity.
I strain to take in my surroundings again. “Well… I can smell dust and a hint of freshly cut wood. It reminds me of Jacob’s brother-in-law Tom, who makes wooden furniture as a hobby,” I say, trying to ground myself with familiar details. As I wiggle my hands and fingers, I feel what seems like dirt or sawdust around me. “The floor feels cold, like concrete, but I’m not entirely sure. The air is cold too, but not freezing, so I’m guessing we’re in a house, maybe on the ground level like a basement.”
I call out to Lana again. “Lana? Lana, are you there?”
The moonlight filters through a small window to my right, casting a faint glow over the room. I spot Lana, slumped against the wall with her eyes closed. “Lana! Wake up!” I shout, my voice cracking. She stirs, her eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. Her hands are tied behind her, and I notice a rope around her legs—so that’s what’s binding me too.
“Lana!” I shout again, more urgently this time. She finally wakes up, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and relief.
“What’s happening, Anya?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice shaking. “But we need to stay calm and think. We have to find a way out of this.”
As we stood frozen, a loud thumping suddenly broke the silence, followed by the slow creaking of a door. Heavy footsteps echo down the stairs, each one echoing louder in our ears. We can feel the presence of someone standing in the doorway, but their identity remains a mystery.
“Who are you?!" Lana's voice breaks through the tension, but all we hear in response is a menacing laugh. But I know that laugh, it couldn't be...he's not supposed to be here. My heart races as my worst nightmare steps into the light. His sinister smile sends shivers down my spine.
"Well well well, look who's back," he says with a twisted glint in his eye. I try to compose myself, but my throat tightens and I can't speak.
"Who ARE you?!" Lana demands again, her courage shining through her fear. He turns his gaze towards her with a cruel smirk.
"Anya knows exactly who I am, don't you baby?" he taunts, bringing his attention back to me. My mouth goes dry at the sound of him calling me "baby". I feel like I'm going to vomit as his stare locks onto me.
Just then, Nana's ghostly figure appears before me, blocking my view of him. "My sweet Anya, it's normal to be afraid," she whispers. "But don't let it consume you. Don't let him break you." And just like that, she vanishes.
He leans down towards me, ready to touch me and claim me once again. But instead of giving in to my fear, I spit in his face.
"I AM NOT YOUR BABY!" I seethe with rage. He loses his balance and falls back.
"You fucking bitch!" he yells as he charges towards me again. I brace myself for impact, feeling the force of his punch causing my head to snap to the right. But as he continues to attack, I close my eyes and focus on controlling my breathing.
"Hey asshole!" Lana's voice breaks through the chaos. "I'm not impressed by your macho act." I can hear the anger in her voice, but it only seems to enrage him more.
"No! Don't!" I plead desperately, knowing what she's trying to do. But it's too late, he turns his wrath towards her and begins punching and kicking her relentlessly. Blood pours from her nose and mouth, and I can't bear to watch.
With tears streaming down my face, I turn away and take a deep breath. "HEY!" My voice trembles with fear and anger as I try to keep my focus on him. "It's me you want, right?"
But before he can respond, Lana screams in agony. "Lana! Shut up! Please!" I beg, finally turning to look at her. "I know what you're doing and I love you for it, but please...don't make me watch him hurt you like he hurt me."
Tears flow freely down her swollen face as she lowers her head in agreement. "Promise me something Lana," I plead with a cracked voice, "promise me that no matter what he does to me, you won't watch."
She squeezes her eyes shut and nods, her tears falling faster now. "No matter what happens, keep your eyes closed and your head turned away," I continue, my own tears staining my cheeks. "We'll survive this together."
"Aww isn't that sweet?" he taunts mockingly, pouting his lower lip. "But don't think this little show will make me go easy on you Anya...I've been searching for you for two long years."
"Just get on with it Paul!" I snap with annoyance, meeting his menacing gaze. He gives me a chilling look before responding, "with pleasure."
"Now, we'll see how much you really missed me," he sneers, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. I can feel my heart race at the sight of him.
"Enough!" I shout, frustration and fear heated in my voice. "Just do it already!"
With a sudden burst of anger, he lunges at me, his fists clenched and ready to strike. I brace myself for the impact, my mind screaming "close your eyes, close your eyes!" But I can't, I can't let him win.
The first blow lands with a jolt, pain shooting through my body. My head jolts back, I bring it back to face him, I refuse to give in. I look deep into his eyes, a fire burning within me, a fire that he cannot extinguish.
"You were never good at following directions Anya” he sneers. “You just left without a word! But I always knew where you were, until I didn’t! he says. “But now I have you again! You were a gif-
I felt a surge of anger and defiance rise within me. "Is that all you have?" I interrupt him, my voice shaking with determination. "Two years of rage and hate, and this is it?"
He pauses, taking a deep breath and holding my gaze, as if searching for something in my eyes. "You think you're strong, don't you, Anya? You think you can just walk away and start a new life," he spits the words out as if they're poisonous. "You can't escape me, Anya. I am a part of you, forever."
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I refuse to let him see fear in my eyes. "Yeah, I can walk away. I can start over, and you can't stop me," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"We'll see about that," he growls, taking a threatening step towards me.
I don't flinch. Instead, I raise my chin and stare him right in the eye. "You can hurt me, you can try to break me, but you can't change who I am," I proclaim, my voice shaking with resolve. "I'm not the same girl you hurt two years ago, Paul. I'm stronger now."
There is a moment of silence. A moment of stillness that seems to last for an eternity. My breath hitches in my throat, and I can feel the sweat trickling down my back. I don't know what he'll do next, but I know that I can't back down now.
Paul's cruel chuckle sends a chill down my spine, like icy fingers creeping up my back. I steel myself for his next attack, but instead he kneels before me, his eyes glinting with malicious intent. I try to kick him, but he easily holds my bound legs in place with one hand. My heart races as he lifts my dress and his hand snakes up my inner thigh. Panic rises in my chest - not again. "Do you remember this?" he taunts, his grip tightening on my leg. "I remember how much you begged for me," he adds with a sickening smirk. The nausea rises in my throat, but I swallow it down, determined to stay strong. "You want to rape me again? Go ahead!" I spit at him, the fire of anger burning in my veins. "But know this - those moans you heard were nothing but lies!" My words cut through the tension like a knife, and I feel a spark of triumph amidst the fear and disgust that consumes me.
With a sinister tone, he replies, "Let's see if those words hold any weight." His hand sneaks under my panties, ready to penetrate, when a loud boom echoes in the room.