Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
SCAR
Present Day
Day number fuck knows how many. I’ve not moved from this dark cellar since arriving. As I walk continuously around this room, not seeing daylight or the feel of fresh air on my skin has me feeling like I’m slowly losing my mind. I think back to the girl with red hair: Elsie. I fucking hoped she would come back, and not just for the fact that she gave me some water and an apple. Her scent reminded me of an orange grove, of fresh sunshine and citrus.
I sit down on the mattress on the floor, my thoughts filled with her: Rhea. I don’t regret exchanging myself for Acid. Seeing the devastation it had caused her, the pain, I knew I couldn’t let her live with that. I wanted her, but the truth of it was she was never mine, and by fucking her I was only fooling myself in thinking I could ever be in with a chance, that she would ever feel the same way for me as she does Acid. I should have stayed away from the start and let them be, let them explore each other together, but tasting her and fucking her was a temptation I couldn’t stay away from.
The door opens and light pierces in through the darkness. Squinting my eyes, I use my hand to cover my eyes. I don’t need to see her to know that it’s her. The scent of her perfume hits me before she is even fully in the room. She creeps in, coming closer this time, the light creating a halo behind her. I blink and my eyes quickly adjust to the dim light as I try to make out her features.
“Elsie,” I say. Her name comes out on a rasp due to my throat being dry and coarse, after not having a drink of water since yesterday. She places a water bottle and a plate down with a sandwich and an apple on it. I’m starving, so I don’t bother checking what’s in the sandwich. I practically leap for the plate and shovel it down, barely chewing.
“Careful, you’ll choke,” she warns in a delicate voice.
I finish chewing, then reach for the bottle of water. Taking a large gulp, the cold liquid soothes my dry throat. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand before speaking. “Sorry. I’ve not eaten in...” I pause, trying to remember. “I’m not sure. With no natural light, I have no idea on time or days,” I state. Pausing, I chew on another bite. “Wait, you haven’t poisoned this, have you?” I ask sceptically.
I’m so stupid. Why else would she be bringing me food?
“No, I wouldn’t do that,” she answers.
I’m so hungry that I continue eating. “I guess I will just have to take your word for it,” I state between mouthfuls. A moment of silence passes. “Who are you?” I ask.
“I’ve told you, my name is Elsie,” she answers. The room goes silent again.
“You’re not going to tell me more than that, are you?” I sigh.
She shakes her head no, and the only reason I can see her doing that is from the dim light outside the door. “So Elsie, whoever you are. Any chance you could let me out of here?” I ask.
“No, I can’t,” she answers with what sounds like sadness in her tone.
“Worth an ask,” I snort. “Okay what about a light, a ball, or something to read, and a shower. I would fucking love a shower.” I groan.
“You have a bathroom, to the right,” she answers.
“Elsie, I’m guessing you don’t come down here very often, but through there is a toilet and a sink. The tap dribbles water, and with no light, that took me hours to find. I guess I should be thankful the cunt isn’t making me shit in a bucket,” I sigh.
“I-I didn’t know,” she stutters. “I can try and talk to him, see if we can make it nicer for you down here,” she offers, her voice full of hope. “But then he would know it was me coming down here,” she trails off.
“So, he doesn’t know you’re doing this?” I ask.
“No. One of his men Layton, is supposed to be bringing you food and water down every day, but I know he hasn’t done it on some days because I overheard him bragging about it,” she informs me. Her voice is laced with hatred when mentioning his name.
“I know the fucker,” I mutter. Silence passes between us as I finish the sandwich and down the rest of the water. “For what it’s worth, I prefer your visits to his. Your voice is a lot nicer on the ears and you smell a lot nicer, too,” I say with a wink, then I realise she probably can’t see me winking.
“How can you still be happy, when you’re stuck down here?” she asks.
“Not happy darlin’, just refuse to have my spirit broken, and whether I die in here or I get out, I know every single one of my brothers will gut Eugene and his men,” I seethe, feeling the rage I have for him bubble through my blood.
She bends down and grabs the plate. “I’ve got to go,” she says on a hurried breath.
“Wait, when will you be back?” I ask, unable to hide the desperation in my voice. Being locked in here without anyone to talk to, she has become my sanity. I hate to admit it, but the sad reality is that I am hanging by a thread.
“I will come back soon,” she assures me before closing the door behind her.
I sigh and lay back down, wondering if she will visit again.
I have no idea how long passes. The sound of the door opening jolts me awake and I’m ready to be on my guard. I watch, waiting, when something is just pushed through the door quickly, then it shuts again. I frown and get up, walking across the space. Even though I’m surrounded by darkness, I’ve figured out the area. Stopping just by the door, I bend down and feel around with my hands. Finding a box, I bend down and pick it up before I walk back to the mattress. Lifting the lid, I dip my hand in and feel what’s inside. A smile spreads across my face as I pick up something and feel for the switch. Light beams across the room; a torch. I aim it at the box and continue to go through it. I swear I nearly cum in my pants when I see a candy bar. Eagerly tearing off the wrapper, I take a huge bite, moaning at how the sweet chocolate ignites my taste buds. I continue to go through it and notice a book, and as I turn it around to look at the cover, I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. A fucking romance novel. I place it back and see an envelope. After tearing it open, I pull out the letter to read.
I guess this is like the care packages loved ones send to their relatives in the Army.
Anyway, I’m not sure when I will be able to make it back. Everyone is here right now, and they will know if I go missing for that amount of time, so I’ve included a notebook and a pen. Slide a note under the door not before midnight and I will come by and pick it up, and I will write a note back to you as often as I can. I have put in a watch, and I’m sorry it’s a ‘My Little Pony’ digital watch. It was mine when I was little, and it is the only one I could find to give you.
I will try and drop you some food when I can, but you need to hide the boxes, all of it. If they find out... Well, I’m not sure what would happen.
Good night,
Elsie
X x
I place the note down and pick up the ‘My Little Pony’ watch. Looking at the time, I see that it’s 1 am. There is no way it would fit around my wrist, so I slide it into my pocket. I continue to eat the candy bar before I lift the corner of the mattress and place the box under it. It will have to do for now. I pick up the book and start reading while finishing the candy bar.
Hitting halfway through this book, I’m surprised how filthy it is. Is this what women like to read? Shit, and they think men are the perverts. Hearing heavy footsteps approach, I quickly move, turning off the torch and hiding it as best as I can under the mattress. The door swings open with force and as soon as I see the booted feet I know it’s that prick Layton. He hasn’t come on his own, he rarely does, because he’s a fucking pussy that knows without his cronies by his side I would kick his fucking ass, even with months of surviving off nothing. I have enough anger and rage running through my veins that I would fucking destroy him.
“Well, well... I guess I’ve been so busy the last couple of days, I forgot to bring you some food. Ooops, my bad.” He laughs, and his two fucking idiot friends laugh next to him. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a candy bar before throwing it at my chest.
I don’t flinch. Instead, I clench my fists at my sides, glaring at him. I look forward to the day I get to slit his fucking throat.
He steps closer to me, a sneer across his face. “You’re nothing but a pathetic little biker boy, who without your club are nothing.”
“What are you without your friends there? You ain’t even got the balls to come down here on your own,” I retort, smiling.
His jaw ticks and his eyes glare with fury as he steps closer. “You don’t—” He’s made the mistake of getting too close, and I quickly swing my fist forward, slamming it into his face. He stumbles back and his pathetic friends catch him.
I laugh and brace myself, knowing that he will want to kick the shit out of me for it. “Come on then, you piece of shit,” I goad, beckoning him with my hand.
“Hold him,” he orders as he wipes the side of his mouth. His eyes flare when he sees blood on the back of his hand. His men approach, trying to grab hold of my arms to pin me down, however I move too quickly for them. I retaliate, slamming my fists into each of their faces.
“Come on, you mother fuckers!” I roar with adrenaline. Whether it’s my insanity now exploding out of me from being cooped up in this hell hole, or the candy bar that Elsie gave me. I don’t know, but I don’t give in easily. I know I will end up on the floor getting my ass beaten. After all, there are three of them and only one of me, but if they think I’m going to go down without a fight then they are fucking wrong. One of them manages to land a hit in my gut, knocking the air out of me. That gives the other one just enough time to regain his composure and lands a hit right across my face. I fall to the floor, bracing my weight on my hands and knees.
Layton stands over me, his bloody mouth smiling down at me. “You are going to pay for that,” he spits.
I look up at him, feeling blood trickling down the side of my face. “Oh no, I’m soooo scared,” I mock before laughing, hiding every bit of pain from him.
He clicks his fingers, and the 2 fucking morons take turns in kicking me, their heavy booted feet stomping down onto my side, my ribs, and even though I manage to lift my arms to protect my face, they still manage to kick it. After what feels like forever, Layton gives them a sharp whistle, like he’s calling off his dogs and they stop. My body is screaming in pain, every muscle and bone hurting.
“Good night. Dream of me.” Layton laughs as he leaves, slamming the door shut behind him.
Laying on the cold, concrete floor, surrounded again in darkness, I groan as I try to move. I try to get to my feet, but I don’t have the strength, so I claw myself back to the mattress. The pain in my body makes me want to throw up. I make it to the mattress and after propping myself up against the wall, I reach behind and pull the torch out. Looking down at my already stained T-shirt, that is now covered in blood, I slowly and stiffly lift it off. After pressing it against the cut under my eye, I clasp the torch in the same hand and reach for the book she gave me to take my mind off my current agony.
I force myself to smile. “Fuck, that was fun,” I mutter sarcastically. Maybe I am going insane, because fuck it felt good to let off some steam, even if that meant me getting the shit kicked out of me.