Chapter 24 #2
Ben yanked on my hair, my ponytail firmly in his grip. “What the fuck are you doing, you bitch?”
I clawed at him.
“Let me go!” I screamed, digging my nails into whatever part of him I reached.
“Ow! What the hell!”
His thick arms banded around mine, pinning them to my sides and pulling me back against him.
I stomped on his foot. He groaned, and I wriggled in his hold. When he didn’t release me, I kicked my heel back.
He cursed and dragged me away from the golf cart. “You had to make this difficult, didn’t you?”
My eyes widened.
With each step to the Round Tableau, blood rushed past my ears. I shouted for help until my throat seized and my voice cracked. Gasping with each inhale, I screamed bloody murder as he pulled me up the stairs to the wooden doors.
I didn’t know if I was overreacting, if Ben really had brought me here for an approved session, but I didn’t care. He’d creeped me out from day one, and the risk of him using his time to teach me a lesson was too great.
I needed to get away from him.
But the Round Tableau doors slammed shut behind us.
Fear corroded my insides. And when Ben whispered in my ear, my gut roiled and I tasted bile in the back of my throat.
“Sorry. But you’ve become a problem for the wrong people, pretty Maiden.”
I froze, my arms going limp in his hold.
When I flattened my hand against my thighs, I drew in a shaky breath at my first sign of hope.
Eyes darting around the entryway, I scanned my surroundings. With a new plan to get away, I stopped fighting and took in everything I might be able to use if—when I got away from him.
My gaze snagged on the statue, hiding in the alcove where Max had appeared the first night.
Ben pushed us forward before I looked closer. As he half carried me through the cleared-out party room, I didn’t find anything that might help me escape him.
I had one shot.
Through the side door I’d been led through at the Maiden Selection, he led me down the tunnels and to the Round Tableau rooms. I forced myself not to panic.
Not to think.
Barely recognizing my voice, I said the only thing I could.
“Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
“I’m not the one who wants you.” His vicious snarl came right before the searing swipe of his tongue along the shell of my ear. “Although it wouldn’t hurt to play before they arrive.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, choking down the bile rising in my throat. “You win. Alright? You win, and I should’ve left. I’ll leave. If you’ll let me go, I’ll do whatever you want.”
Teeth sank into my earlobe. I bit my tongue to stop from crying out. Blood flooded my mouth.
“You’ll do whatever I want regardless, pretty Maiden.”
He forced me inside a room, and shoved me onto the bed.
It was fitted with silk sheets.
“Turn over,” he barked.
Finally unrestrained, I slid my hand inside my pocket. Wrapping my fingers around cool metal brought a pulse of relief. I tugged the blade free. Clenching it tightly in my palm. Following his instructions.
And lying back as I swallowed my fear.
He reached for his belt buckle. “Poor girls are always wild in bed. Like you’re desperate to prove something. Eager to be worthy of what you can’t have.” His eyes gleamed, glazing over as he conjured up the memory. “You never see it, either. How pointless it is.”
Leather slid through denim belt loops in a rush. He pulled the belt free, but he didn’t toss it aside. Tightening his grip on the strap, he smirked.
I stared at him, gauging my best chance to get away. Sure of his next move, I had to act quickly.
“Scoot to the edge of the bed.”
Holding the knife under my back, I flipped open the blade as I sat up. My fingers trembled as I gripped the knife.
With the blade pointed up behind me, I pressed my fist into the mattress. I pushed with my legs to scoot forward. My arms shook as I concealed the knife.
When I got to the edge, I waited.
As I barely breathed, he stepped between my legs.
I gritted my teeth, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.
He stared down at me, a far-off look in his eyes. As if it wasn’t me he saw in the moment. As if a different girl lay before him on the bed.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Even though you know you’ll never be good enough…” He held his hands out for my wrists. “Be a good girl and put effort into it. I’d hate to have to hurt you.”
I gave him my empty left hand. He gripped my wrist so tightly I whimpered.
It drew a low, chilling chuckle from him. “Ohhh, I liked that. Maybe I want to hurt you…”
Winking, he squeezed tighter, and he groaned as I cried out.
He dropped his head back, eyes closed, as he whispered, “It’s so much better when you scream.”
I swung my arm around my body. Using his distraction. Slamming the knife into his side.
And yanking it out just to do it again.
My eyes widened as blood sprayed.
His fist connected with my side, but I barely felt it.
Only the need to escape existed. It was the only thing that mattered. I had to get away from him.
I had to protect myself.
And I’d kill to do it.
I tugged the knife free and jabbed it straight into his gut.
Ben’s bloodcurdling scream pierced the silence. Echoing off the walls, it rang loudly in my ears.
I reared my legs back and then kicked him away.
He clutched his side, stumbling backward.
Gaping in horror as crimson seeped through his shirt, he swayed on his feet.
And I froze, shellshocked, as it bled through his fingers.
“You fucking bitch.” Croaking out the words, he spat blood with them. “You’ll pay for this.”
His body sagged into the wall, eyelids drooping. They rolled back in his head.
I didn’t know if I’d killed him.
And I didn’t care.
Scrambling off the bed, I darted for the door and ran.
Adrenaline coursed through me, pushing me forward.
Sweat coated my palms, my neck, my temples, but I didn’t let go of my knife. I stumbled through the dark tunnels, fighting to retrace our steps. Grateful I’d committed it to memory.
But I made a wrong turn.
The tunnel ahead was too dark. It descended where I expected a rise.
I backpedaled, whirling around to find another surprise.
My face slammed into a hard body. Hands clamped down on my shoulders.
A muffled voice filtered through the heartbeat pounding in my ears. “There you are.”
I couldn’t breathe.