Chapter 14 #2
“Oliver?” It's got to be an ancestor of his.
The resemblance is uncanny. It's impossible to be him, the scars are missing as is the cloth that kept them shrouded.
The thought of the gashes carved into his face angers me all over again, bringing back the glimpse I got before I blacked out from heat exhaustion.
I found myself with more questions—the list growing the longer I linger here.
Standing there… photo in hand… questions forming clouds so thick a butter knife wouldn't cut through. Another blood-curdling scream rings out, frightening me, causing me to jump and pulling me from my thoughts. It’s the same scream I heard earlier, only this time it emanated from behind me—from the only door that remains shut.
I swivel facing the door that potentially conceals this poor soul, pleading for help.
More questions entangle themselves in my head.
Who is this poor soul?
Should I help?
Placing the frame back on the dresser, as I migrate towards the sounds—low moaning, the faintest scratching, and a rhythmic pounding every so often.
My entire body is screaming ‘this is a bad idea.’ I reach for the handle when my wrist is grabbed, and I’m spun on my heels.
Oliver is looking down at me, his face hidden once more.
His deep blue eyes bore into me like tiny daggers, each hitting a pressure point.
Jerking my wrist to his chest, he draws me closer, no words—he didn’t need them, though, the pain in his eyes and brooding vibe was enough.
Not to mention, his body language was loud and clear.
He guides me out of the room, giving a slight glance at the dresser.
Is he making sure nothing has changed?
I never break my gaze—not even once. As we pass through the threshold of my room, he stops. “What were you thinking?” His deep voice breaks the silence.
Stumbling with my words, I reply, “I—I heard someone screaming.”
“And that gave you permission to roam about?”
“Well, no, but-”
“But nothing, Emory. Something terrible could have happened to you. You do NOT know this place, and you were told not to venture into the West Wing.” His aura is radiating betrayal, But why? I stand there muted by my confusion, as I listen to him, “What even gave you that idea in the first place?”
He turns from me, facing the balcony. “Nevermind, that isn’t what is important right now.
Do not go wandering about anymore. Do you understand?
” I hear him but I am still stuck on the way he said my name.
That is the first time he said my name, and not the little pet names he is always calling me.
I stand there for a moment, enamored by his use of my government name.
“Did you not hear the...” I fumble my words as he stalks toward me. It doesn’t, however, keep me from continuing. “Scream?”
He interrupts again. “Do. You. Understand?!” Emphasizing each word. I let out a long, drawn-out breath.
Rolling my eyes to the back of my head, “No,” I respond. “I do not understand.” Putting as much accent on the word as I can.
He straightens his back and looks down his nose at me. “Are you being... defiant?” He pauses, giving the end of his question an ‘oh really’ inflection.
“Again, no.” I straighten my stance, convincing myself of my confidence on this matter, “Defiant would mean you owned me, and last I checked... no shackles are holding me here.”
The noise that left this man's body in response was alone, enough to discredit my statement. “They may not be physical. But mentally—I have you.
Hook.
Line.
And sinker.”
He is in my face now, his nose mere millimeters from mine, “I am the only one who knows where your sister is.” Deviance flashes in his eyes adding a charge to the electric blue they adorned.
He lets this statement sink in, before he steps back.
“However, if it’s restraints you want, little bird. I can fucking give them to you.”
Just like that, I forgot about the screams I heard.
My mind hyper-focused on the image of me being chained at his feet.
A plate of grapes beside him as he sits on the chaise like a king does his throne, feeding me like a captive Egyptian princess.
Then, the image flutters—all the information my brain has received in a span of an hour, skips from one topic to the next.
I get whiplash from the extensive emotions that rush through my system.
Ugh, can my body, please make up its mind. Hot from the way he speaks to me. Bothered by his hesitation to elaborate on my sisters’ whereabouts.
Finally, I can convince my thoughts to focus on the images I had of my sister slumped in the alley, and the image that sent me on this path.
I burn them in my brain, trying to form a constant reminder of why I came here in the first place.
Squinting my eyes, I try to remember the differences in her face, but the only thing that comes to mind is her weary smile, barely visible in the dim overhead light in the car the night of the accident.
“Now that we have settled back on common ground...” he waits for me to come out of whatever trance I was in, then continues, “What all did you hear, or see?” The cloth dances on his face, as I imagine him licking his teeth—waiting for my answer.
Hesitantly, I do just that. “Common ground?” His words do more then pull me from my stupor, they infuriate me, “What makes you think anything you said put us on ‘common ground’.” His head tilts with one raised eyebrow.
Fuck, this man can read me like a book, and he knows just how spicy I like them.
I sigh as I surrender, “I heard someone screaming and followed it to that room.” Stopping as I felt him shift closer, “Not seeing anyone, I took advantage of the situation and went for the door. That's when you found me.”
“Screams, you say?” I feel his hand brush my cheek, “Was there anything else you heard?” Holding that same hand in front of me, he smears the tear he collected, between his thumb and forefinger.
I didn’t even realize until now that I am crying, “Yes, in fact, there was.” I raise my hand to my face, using my wrist to clear the rest of what little liquid remains. “Scratching. Moaning. Who was on the other side of that door?”
He relaxes his shoulders. “Please, get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us.” He turns on his heels, right before he saunters out the door, without another word or answer to my question.