Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CELESTE
“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Ican’t even tell you how long we’ve been stuck here.
Time doesn’t exist, only the painful chants and exhausting drowning.
I keep thinking the next form of punishment will come and he will move to something more intense but I’ve been drowned several times due to my unfiltered, taunting mouth.
Today he decided that I needed a break because he moved on to Monroe.
She didn’t stay under as long as I did but she had her fair share of rounds and desperate gasps of air.
He’s left Samantha alone as if he forgot she exists. Good.
I watch as he drags the horse trough over to Monroe and fills it with never-ending water.
My mind goes completely empty as I watch the water flow through the hose, lost in the abyss.
The running of water shouldn’t make me feel as calm as I do, especially when I know what’s to come for the other person chained on the other wall.
Surprisingly, she doesn’t beg for mercy but remains calm and silent as she too watches.
She won’t repent nor answer him, which makes him all the more furious.
He wants us to speak, but then gets pissy if we do.
Then when the silence fills the room, he gets utterly frustrated.
He doesn’t know what he wants to be honest. We aren’t like the others who would beg and plead for their lives.
We let the demons take course, or at least I do.
Monroe seems to pick up on it or she’s as petty as I am to not bow down to his demands.
Each round she received had four dunkings, all about twenty seconds long back to back.
After the second round, he pulled her to the surface, shoving her to the floor.
She coughs up water and lays back down staring at the ceiling.
I can start to see life seep out of her eyes as if she’s ready to give up.
She can’t take any more punishments. She wasn’t made for this and I’ll gladly take it all for them.
It’s my fault she’s here and she won’t endure anymore.
No matter how much she annoys the shit out of me, I have this urge to protect her, shield her from him.
He paces back and forth speaking to no one in particular.
His hands twitch like he’s fighting some sort of possession.
A screech leaves his mouth and he starts pounding at the side of his head, which causes Samantha to flinch.
“Pain. Suffer. Repent.” He repeats over and over again before he disappears up the stairs, locking us away in our chamber of hell.
I wonder if anyone is looking for us. Our plan went to utter shit considering he caught onto the tracker and was way more prepared than we thought.
We would be out of here by now if we’d done things differently.
Of course, Monroe getting caught up in the mix has created a shift as I now am responsible for getting another body out alive.
Why did she have to be so damn nosey and follow me?
I know better to doubt if anyone is coming.
I know my cousin will be fighting tooth and nail to get to me, but I wonder if Alaric is fighting along with them or if he’s caught up with the agency looking for Monroe.
There’s no doubt they know she’s missing as I assume it’s been days with no word.
Has he noticed my absence was due to being captured as well?
The one thing that’s kept me sane here is picturing that I’m in his embrace.
The feel of his hands and the way he holds me as if I’m going to disappear at any moment and it’s our last. I try to remember his scent to ground me and keep me stable.
Will our last moments be at the club, where I had teased him with a whisper of a kiss?
He’s the one thing that’s made me feel alive, he’s the one thing that’s kept me from drowning deeper in the dark.
It felt good to be truly wanted and worshiped as if I meant something to him.
All I knew growing up was the love of my father but even that was tainted with violence, training, and ruthlessness.
Blinking, I bring myself back to present and look over at Monroe who hasn’t moved from the spot where he left her. She’s still alive as her chest rises up and down. She’s soaking wet, shivering from the cold air that keeps our bones stiff.
“Monroe, are you doing okay over there?” I break the silence, turning my head in her direction, noticing she’s finally pushing herself up at the sound of my voice.
“Considering I was just nearly drowned to death, I’m just peachy.” She pushes toward the wall causing the chains to rattle.
Sobs catch my attention and I turn my head in the direction where Samantha is held.
I can’t see her fully because the lighting around her is dark but I see a silhouette rocking back and forth.
She went from a happy, lively woman to a scared, broken girl and it breaks my heart to see this version of her.
Because of everything she has endured before we got here, I’m afraid she’s going to be lost when she gets home.
Maybe the only thing that will bring her back is the little girl who longs for her mother.
The sweet reflection of Samantha in a child form.
So full of love, kindness, and warmth. If that doesn’t work, I’m afraid we’ve lost her.
I’ll be damned if she goes through any more pain because if she does, she might be lost forever.
“He won’t touch either of you again. I’ll make sure of it. Stay silent, be ready because I’ll get us out of here, I swear it.” I give them a promise that I’m determined to keep.
Time goes by as we sit in silence. I manage to get a little sleep as my body gives in to sheer exhaustion.
Sleep has been nonexistent with the chains rubbing me raw, the horrible bed, and waiting for the second he comes back.
I know I need some, though, in order to fully function to get us out.
He hasn’t come back with our water or food like he normally does which is odd for him.
Either something happened out there, or he’s planning the next punishment.
Like clockwork, the locks click and the door creeks open causing me to jolt upright.
Lights flicker on and slow, elaborate steps descend down the stairs casting an eerie feeling.
My body stiffens as I notice him stop at the bottom of the steps flipping a knife in the air over and over again catching at the base of the handle each time.
His head turns to each of us as if he’s trying to figure out which one of us is next.
He turns towards Samantha and her chain rattles as she tries to push away from him.
She gasps as he stops in front of her. I can hear her breathing pick up.
He bends down, grabbing her chains, causing her to be yanked forward, landing face down onto the concrete floor.
Her forehead hits the ground causing a cry to leave her lips.
Bending down, he presses a knee to the top of her shoulders to hold her down as he rips the back of her dress.
My heart begins to race; she’s his next victim.
I need to act fast before he begins his assault. If he wants evil to come out and play so he can teach it a lesson, then I’ll give him one.
“The demon inside me tells me you’re going to suffer a gruesome death. The taste of your blood is going to be so sweet upon my lips,” I purr at him, causing his head to snap in my direction.
He rises to his feet, relieving the pressure from Samantha and tilts his head to the side, nostrils flaring.
He mutters something under his breath that I can’t fully understand but I’ve caught his attention.
I force my body up to a standing position and walk forward towards him but am immediately stopped by the chains that bind me.
“He says that your day is coming and no god will save your demented soul. You belong to him in the deepest part of hell. Join us, Oliver.” I let out a cackle that would scare you shitless.
Without a warning, he launches forward, grabbing me by the neck and slams me back into the wall, raising me up where my legs leave the ground.
I smile at him, bait him to give me the punishment.
I wasn’t lying when I said he’ll have a gruesome death, because when the time comes, I’ll watch as the light leaves his eyes.
His hand squeezes around my neck, cutting off my airway.
I embrace it because I know if I fight, it’ll get worse and also because I know he won’t kill me at this moment.
He’ll want to fulfill his urge for torture.
I feel the pressure lessen and the next thing I know, I’m on the ground face down, pinned.
His knee digs into my shoulders as he uses his weight to hold me down.
My face is positioned towards the wall away from the girls and the cold cement bites against my skin.
He rips the fabric exposing my back and runs the tip of a blade, featherlike down my spine.
I can’t help the shiver that runs down my back in anticipation for what’s to come.
This isn’t going to be like drowning, it’s going to be painful and brutal.
I switch my mind to the void and let myself drift into nothingness before his torture begins.
It will be the only way to endure the pain.
My father’s words echo in my mind as if he’s here watching but unable to help.