17. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Skyla

E ach lash against Asher's skin leaves a new welt, and with one more crack in the same spot, the skin splits open, blood slowly running down his back from each mark. I leaped for him after the first crack of the whip, earning a punch to the stomach from my father before he covered my screams and held me back.

I tried to turn away, but he didn't allow it, whispering that this is my doing, that I'm responsible. I'm not sure if he actually thinks that or just wants me to suffer with the guilt. Regardless, each lash does feel like my fault, and the fight in Asher's eyes leaves with each one.

Christopher is in a rage, I don't think he could stop even if he wanted to. His eyes are black as night, an evil sneer donning his face. Honestly, it looks like he's enjoying it. Asher's moans and shouts become quieter as the sheer pain no doubt begins to consume him.

Nasty gashes, welts, and cuts blending together litter his back. I know that he won't be able to handle much more. In a move that I can only describe as stupid bravery, I stomp on my father's foot as hard as I can. His hold on me weakens as he howls in pain, and I'm able to break free before I bolt towards Asher.

Just as Christopher is reeling back his arm for another lash, I practically jump on top of Asher. My legs hook around his as my chest presses against his bloody back. I wrap my arms around his torso, holding on as I feel the first sharp snap of the whip.

An agonizing scream rips out of me as Asher's defeated body seems to be reinvigorated.

"Skyla! No! Get off! Run!" he shouts as the whip comes down on me again.

Another pained scream echoes through the house, but my hold on Asher tightens, intent on not letting go. Again and again, the white-hot burn from the whip tears at my flesh. Nonstop, Asher is practically sobbing, begging me to get off him, to protect myself. I can't, though. I can't stand by and watch him be tortured any longer.

I feel Asher shake the chair from side to side like he's trying to shake me off, but with his hands tied, and me wrapped around him, he doesn't have much range of motion.

"Please, Princess! Please get off. Please," he cries as my moans of pain rattle the walls. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'm so fucking sorry! S-so sorry,"

"It's o-okay," I say, my words morphing into a scream.

"Disobedient little fucks!" Christopher snarls before a final lash cracks across my back. This one is easily the most painful, and my vision actually spots for a moment, everything turning bright white as my body attempts to process this sort of pain.

Without another word, two pairs of footsteps are heard exiting the room before heading deeper into the house. I don't know how long I stay there; my body sluggish and unmoving. It feels as though my head has been submerged under water, and I don't know how to resurface.

A faint sound registers in my ears, and I try to focus on it as best as I can, but it's proving to be more challenging than I had hoped.

"Skyla!" a muffled voice shouts.

"Princess!" It bellows again.

"Baby, sweetheart, fucking PLEASE!" Asher's voice screams, finally shaking me out of my haze.

Slowly, the pure pain radiating from my back and arms shakes me, and I can't stop the cry that escapes me.

"Oh god!" I groan the pain just from a simple breath making me wish death would just come already.

"Princess, please get off me. Please," Asher begs, his words tight and choked like he's been crying.

"Gotta protect," I moan as my words break off into a sob.

"There is no one to protect me from, Princess. They're gone. We're safe. Please get off, untie me so I can get us out of here. Please!"

It takes everything in me to let him go. I don't know how I held onto him through all of that. Adrenaline, maybe. Slowly, I'm able to unwind my arms, but I'm not able to stop myself from slumping to the ground. At first, I land on my back. The pain in my back amplifies, and I quickly roll to my side.

"Ahhh!" I shout as my blurry eyes look up to see Asher frantically watching me.

"Princess, please! Please, please, please! Just untie me, untie me, and I'll make everything better, I promise."

I nod numbly, dragging myself across the floor to his tied hands. My hands are shaking so hard it's almost impossible for me to undo these knots. They keep slipping just as I almost have it, frustration and fear taking over. Sloppily, I'm able to loosen the rope enough before Asher's hands bust them apart.

His arms stretch out, a groan escaping him as his back flexes before he drops to the ground beside me. He lays there for a moment, seemingly breathless, before his hands begin frantically brushing my hair away from my face as he holds on to me.

"Princess, talk to me!"

"It hurts," I whimper, causing a crestfallen look to come over his face.

"I know, Princess, I know. I'm gonna get us out of here. I don't want to carry you and hurt you more than you already are. Can you walk?"

Shaking my head, I feel tears begin to pour down my face.

"Hey, hey, hey," he says, his thumbs quickly swiping the tears away. "Yes, you can. You're so brave. I need you to be strong for me, just a little longer, and then we can fall apart together, okay? Can you be my brave girl?"

Something in me thumps at that. I don't know if it's my heart or what, but I find myself slowly nodding my head. Asher blows out a breath in what seems like relief, pressing a long kiss to my forehead before pushing himself to his feet. The look on his face is agonizing, like it's the most painful thing he's ever endured, and I'm not ready to feel the same.

"C'mon, Princess. Together. Come on, brave girl," he says as he reaches out his hands.

I slip my own into his palms, and I'm grateful he does most of the work in pulling me up. I screech as my back straightens out when I'm on my feet, but Asher doesn't allow me time to wallow in my pain. Instead, he's practically pulling my arm out of its socket as we race out the front door as fast as our bodies will allow.

I feel the hand he's not holding wave desperately before a car door opens and shuts. Heavy feet pound against the pavement before I look up to see that familiar pair of dark blue eyes looking at us in horror. Wesley rushes over to us, his eyes running over me from top to bottom.

"What the fuck happened?"

"Just drive. Get us the fuck out of here!" Asher snaps, as Wesley reaches to pick me up.

Asher grabs his arm quickly, stopping him on a dime.

"Don't touch her back!"

Wesley looks behind me, his eyes so wide they look as if they were going to pop out of his head before a thunderous look takes over his face. He turns on his heel sharply, opening the back door for us.

"Get in the fucking car," he says, his eyes trained on the house behind us.

Asher doesn't waste any time hurrying us in, though I wish he would. He slides in all the way, groaning as his back touches the seat before he pulls me in.

"On your stomach, Princess."

I do so happily, feeling the only semblance of relief I've been able to experience yet. And when I say relief, I mean it isn't hurting more by the second for once.

"Ronan," I hear Wesley say into his phone. "Get the others and get back to the house. It's bad."

"Liam," Asher says into his phone. "Get a doctor and have them meet us at our house. It's Skyla."

I look up to see Asher watching me with a worried look, his eyes watery and red. So, I guess I wasn't wrong about him crying. Though, it definitely wasn't from the pain like my tears. His were from me getting hurt, from him unable to do anything but listen to my screams and terror.

I think Asher and Wesley both talk on the phone some more, but all I can focus on is the way Asher's hand runs through my hair, soothing me into a desperately needed sleep.