Chapter 18

SCARLET

18

Yesterday's session with Julian had me having tantalizing dreams that had woken me up all hot and heavy. I shouldn't have dreamed of him sneaking into my room and fucking me senseless, but alas, we don't get to control our dreams.

So I'd woken up horny as hell, and had even attempted to have some fun in the shower to no avail. I'd always needed a rabbit vibrator or dildo and vibrator combo to get off, so I was left wanting even more.

I'd opted to blast some cold water over my body to kill it off, not wanting to find myself seeking out Julian and proving him right.

By the time I wandered out, a headache had made itself known, probably from only surviving on snacks for the past several days with one proper meal.

I found Tyrone seated on the couch, sipping a coffee as he scrolled through his phone.

"New pot is made," he stated as I headed for the kitchen.

I bit my tongue from thanking him and instead poured myself a coffee and plopped down on the opposing couch. I hadn't seen Cristian since dinner a night ago, last night's dinner had consisted of only Tyrone, Julian, and me.

No one had commented on his disappearance, and I didn't ask. I'd happily accepted my free night off, being left alone by all of them for a remarkable change.

Perhaps they had other things on their mind.

I glanced at the stairs when I heard movement overhead, watching as Julian tromped down them with Kenny in his arms.

I frowned at the sky-blue harness Kenny had on.

"Heading out," Julian stated as he strode past us.

"With Kenny?" I remarked, and he only slowed to arch a brow at me.

"Of course, he's family. He needs to get out of the apartment sometimes too, gets cramped in here."

"Lucky him," I muttered, and Julian just winked before continuing out the door and stealing my furry companion.

"Julian and I will be gone for the night, food will be delivered," Tyrone stated, not glancing up from his phone.

"Like Uber eats?" I dared to ask.

"No. Our security will bring it up." His tone was devoid of emotion.

"What about Cristian?" I focused on my main concern, glancing at my still bandaged wrist.

"He's out. I have no idea if he'll be back tonight or not. Unlikely, I imagine." He frowned at his phone before sighing and standing. "Try not to burn the place down."

"No promises," I stated, causing him to finally look at me. He didn't show a hint of emotion or anything as he just gazed at me for a moment before he strode off.

Whatever, I'd embrace the freedom from the lot of them, just as soon as my headache eased.

I'd spent the day lounging around the apartment, nursing my headache with copious amounts of coffee and snacks. Being left to my own devices with the three of them out had been a poor move on their part.

I'd snooped around the place, annoyed to find their rooms all locked up tight. I'd rifled through all the drawers and cupboards I could find to no avail, finding nothing of interest to entertain me.

My headache had finally dissipated thanks to yet another cup of coffee by the time the sun began to set, and I wondered what food would be delivered.

I moved to stand by the window, staring out at the other buildings and people below. Free to do as they pleased, not a care in the world.

Lucky bastards.

I turned and strode to the fridge, snatching out one of the remaining cupcakes to enjoy.

As I took a bite of the sweet goodness, I couldn't help how my mind strayed to Julian, of his lips on my breasts, his dick pulsing inside me as he worked the vibrator?—

A brisk knock on the door yanked me from the wicked memory, and I darted for it, the thought of trying my luck at freedom making my blood surge.

Too bad I rounded the corner just as a man in a suit dumped a bag of food on the floor.

"Wait!" I called out, his bald head flicking up as he gave me a displeased look.

And proceeded to step straight back into the elevator and close the doors.

"Fucking dick," I muttered as the elevator beeped and went down.

I strode over, snatching up the bag of food, my stomach grumbling at the aromatic feast.

Whatever it was, it smelled good.

I dove into it, discovering it was some deep-fried chicken tacos with some sides, and I helped myself until I was stuffed.

I proceeded to sprawl out on the couch, the cityscape now a darkened glow around me as I stared out at it, my cheek squished into a pillow.

Honestly, it was a stunning view, this entire place was amazing, but I couldn't appreciate it. Not with the entire held against my will thing going on.

"Just two more weeks," I muttered to the silence around me. Give or take, but two weeks was all that was left until I was free from this nightmare.

So why did I have a sinking feeling in my gut at the thought? Would they hold up their end of the bargain?

I closed my eyes, not wanting to dwell too much on it and spiral. I had to remain positive in order to survive this.

I'd only just started to drift when the elevator dinged, and I sat up to glance over the back of the couch.

Cristian stormed in, his hands fisted at his sides, and I narrowed my eyes.

So much for a night of peace and freedom.

"There's still food on the counter," I called out as he spotted me, my voice echoing in the empty apartment. He grunted, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor as he made his way towards me. His deep brown eyes were stormy, and I could see the fury simmering beneath the surface.

"That bad of a day, huh?" I commented, trying to lighten the mood.

He ignored me, his gaze hardening as he stalked closer. I bit my lip, a knot forming in my stomach.

"Cool, great talk," I muttered under my breath as I sat up straighter and looked out over the cityscape. What were the odds he'd wander to his room and leave me alone? "What'd you say?" he barked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Great talk." I repeated, my voice steady but laced with sarcasm.

He stormed over, his eyes blazing with anger, his movements quick and predatory. I could see the wild look in his eyes, and I knew I'd regret mouthing off already. I should've stayed quiet.

Again, I didn't know when to keep my mouth shut.

He grabbed me by the throat, his fingers digging into my skin. I gasped, my eyes wide as I struggled to breathe, my heart hammering violently. There was a wild look in his eyes, and I wished I'd just stayed in my damn room.

He threw me to the side, and I scrambled to get away, but he pushed me down on the floor with his foot.

"You're getting too comfortable. You need to learn your place," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

I glared up at him defiantly, a stupid move on my part, but hey, in for a penny, in for a pound. I was sick of his treatment.

"I know my place," I spat back, my voice shaking. "I'm just here for you all to rape me."

I stiffened as he pulled a knife from his waistband, my heart nearly stopping at the specks of blood on it.

What had he done today?

He dropped down on me, and the scream caught in my throat as he held down with one hand while he ran the blade down my navel. I glared daggers at him, wishing all sorts of horrid things upon him.

"You're a psycho," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Yeah, I fucking know it," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with pleasure. "Takes one to know one though, firestarter."

I swallowed, not wanting to prod him with another retort, not when he had the tip of his blade perched precariously over my belly button.

Those dark eyes burned into mine, wickedness flickering through them, although I could've sworn I'd seen a hint of turmoil as his sneer fell.

"Undress," he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

I did as he commanded, hating how my body trembled beneath him. He didn't make the task easy, refusing to rise off me properly so I could wiggle out of my clothing, but I got it done.

He smirked as he trailed the knife over my stomach, and I dared not move, worried this psychotic man would disembowel me. I suddenly very badly wanted Tyrone or Julian home. They may have abused my body, but they didn't make me feel like they would kill me without a second thought.

I sucked in a breath, every inch of me frozen as the blade glided down over my pubic region, the cool tip skating down to my folds.

I stared at him, not willing to breathe let alone move as his gaze dropped to my nether region.

"I still haven't had you in red," he cooed, a wicked promise in that horrid smirk.

I whimpered as the knife dipped into my folds ever so slowly. One wrong move, and he'd slice me open.

I held my breath for as long as I could before drawing in shallow, frail breaths, the knife slowly delving deeper inside me.

This was so wrong, so messed up.

His gaze was locked on my vagina, focused with such a wretched look that it made me sick to my stomach. There was twisted, and there was him.

Was he going to mutilate me? Cut off my clit or something inconceivable? I thought I'd been playing with fire, but Cristian was nuclear. He'd destroy everything in his path and leave nothing behind, there'd be no chance to rise from the ashes and bloom when he was done with you.

The trembles started up despite my best effort, and my vision blurred as he started to twist the knife inside me. It didn't hurt yet, not with how slow his movements were, but I was just waiting for the cruelty to begin, for him to yank it out and slice me wide open.

"How does that feel, kitten?" he breathed, and a tear trickled down my cheek as I moved my gaze to the ceiling.

The blade stilled inside me, and another tear slid down my cheek as I bit my lip, not wanting to make a sound or move a muscle.

The blade inched out, and when it was finally free from my folds, I sucked in a shaky breath.

A startled cry was swallowed up as his lips crashed against mine, and I heard the knife clatter on the floor as he tossed it aside.

All the fear and terror morphed, and I snarled against him. I clawed with everything I had, chomping down hard on his lip, intending to bite it clean off.

His hand caught my burned wrist, clamping down on it with crushing pressure and making me cry out. The pain forced me to let go of his lip before I could bite through, and I slashed my other hand up. Satisfaction coursed through me as my nails clawed through his cheek, breaking the skin.

"Fuck!" he snarled as he caught my hand, slamming it down onto the floor and making me hiss, the pain shooting through my arm.

Blood trickled down his face and from his lip, dripping onto my chin and neck as he glared down at me.

Then the damn crazy fucker smiled. He actually smiled, blood staining his teeth before he laughed.

"Good girl, fight me, keep that fire burning."

I gritted my teeth, tasting the coppery satisfaction of my attack. But I didn't move a muscle, and his smile faltered.

"Keep fighting," he hissed, and I just jutted my chin out defiantly.

He scowled and yanked back, and I didn't get a chance to register what was happening until my head snapped to the side, pain flaring through my cheek from the slap.

He fucking slapped me.

What a little bitch.

"Fucking fight me!" he roared in my face, and I jerked my head straight, seizing the moment. I smashed my forehead into his nose, making him curse and sit back, releasing my arms.

Blood poured from his nose as he touched it, maniacal laughter ringing out as he stared at the blood on his hand.

What a fucking psycho.

I didn't hesitate as I sat up, slamming my hand into his throat and making him choke and wheeze.

He leaned to the side, holding his throat, and I used the moment to shove him off and scramble to my feet.

"Look at you go, kitten!" he called out like a goddamn crazy man as I ran for the stairs. Blood pounded in my ears, but I didn't even reach the first step before he barreled into me, slamming me up against the window overlooking the goddamn city.

He pinned my face against the freezing glass, and I sobbed as he pried my legs open.

I cried out as he drove into me, feeling my walls tear from the brutality as he raped me.

My body was jerked against the glass, and I stared out over the cityscape, tears streaking down my face.

I just wanted someone out there to come to my aid, to save me from this, from him.

"Fucking hurts, doesn't it? You think we've been raping you, bitch? This is rape, this is an attack. Learn your fucking place."

I cried out with rage, trying to twist in his grip as his hand fisted in my hair.

I threw my arm up, clawing at his face, hoping I'd take his fucking eye out.

He caught my arm, jerking it painfully, and I screamed as he bit down on my forearm hard, breaking through the skin.

He grunted and released my arm, his body stilling as he exploded inside me.

His warm body moved away, and I slid down the cool window, holding my bleeding arm to my chest.

"Go clean yourself up, bitch."

I closed my eyes, the sobs claiming me as I fell apart, all the fight and fire in me crumbling.

I stiffened as I heard him move closer, and I squeezed my eyes shut, curling in on myself against the glass as best I could, waiting for whatever brutality came next.

Moments passed, and I finally dared to peek, still feeling his presence.

He was crouched before me, his head cocked as he studied me.

"You're fucked up," I sobbed, my voice breaking, and he just shrugged.

"You don't know the half of it, kitten."

This was too much. He was crazy, balls to the wall fucking insane.

He sighed as he glanced over me, and then he was standing and striding away, leaving me a naked, bloody mess on the floor.

I sniffled, trying to rein in my emotions and fear, my arm throbbing profusely as I covered the bite.

God, it hurt. Now both my arms were wounded.

A part of me found that comical in a twisted way, but I just let out a wretched sob.

I stiffened when Cristian returned, my eyes going wide. I just wanted him to leave me the fuck alone, just for a few minutes while I tried to piece myself back together.

He crouched down, and I focused on my bite, not wanting to look at him.

"Give me your arm."

My gaze shifted to him, his tone both commanding and yet bizarrely soft.

I focused on the first aid kit he held for a moment, before meeting his eyes. There was something flickering in them, some glimmer of humanity perhaps. He'd cleaned up his own face, but his lip looked messed up, and his nose was still bleeding.

We looked a right fucking mess, I was just glad I'd fucked up his pretty little face. Those claw marks on his cheek weren't too pretty either.

"Give me your arm," he repeated, and I hesitantly did as requested, terrified that this was some inhumane trick, but he just opened up the first aid kit and started cleaning my bite.

I was too stunned and confused to say anything as he cleaned it up and then applied some gauze.

Did he get a kick out of doing this to me? Fucking me up then tending to me? What the hell was this?

My gaze moved to the sharp scissors in the first aid kit.

I couldn't tell you why I did it, was it the mix of emotions and the entire fucked up situation? Possibly, but I snatched up those scissors and drove them into his chest with all the force I could muster, a desperate part of me hoping beyond hope I'd somehow get close to his heart.

The air was knocked out of me as I was slammed to the floor and pinned down. He straddled me, snarling as he yanked the scissors from his pec, my attempt futile and nowhere near good enough. I was sure you weren't supposed to do that, but maybe the fucker would bleed out now.

He hissed as he tossed the scissors onto the floor. Those dark eyes locked onto mine, his teeth bared as he ducked down.

"If you're going to kill someone, don't fuck it up. Don't fucking miss," he hissed against my ear, and I flinched as the warm blood from his fresh wound dripped onto my chest and dribbled down the side of my boob and ribs.

"It could be the last mistake you ever make, kitten." He pulled back, his expression no longer as pissed. He looked more intrigued as he cocked his head at me.

"Being a fighter will keep you alive, Scarlet."

My breath caught as his lips pressed to my forehead, and then he rose and walked away, leaving me lying there, confused beyond belief.