Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

KARMEN

"T here's my precious," Andew says as he walks into view. He steps right over the dead body like it's nothing more than a fallen log. "I've missed you."

I stare at him wide-eyed, unsure of what to do next. My hands and feet are bound together so there's no way for me to run. If I try and fight, I'll end up getting hurt or exhausting myself. I need to wait and conserve my energy until I have the perfect moment to strike. Whatever reason Andrew may have for wanting me, it can't be good.

"Did you miss me?" he asks, and I try to search my mind for who he is to me.

The guys he just killed called him Andrew, and the name sounds familiar, but I can't remember why. All I know is that I'm scared of him. My whole body buzzes with fear because he's definitely not the man that I see when I close my eyes. His name is Daddy, but he is not my father. I may not remember anything, but I know to the bottom of my soul that he's not the one I need.

"Of course you did." Andrew pulls out a white handkerchief and wipes it across my cheek. "I'll need to clean you up."

He tosses the handkerchief, now stained with blood, onto the ground before reaching for me. It takes everything inside of me to not flinch, but I don't want him to think I plan to run.

"It will wait until we get home," he says, and my stomach fills with dread. I don't want to think about him cleaning me and what that will entail. Andrew helps me sit up and looks me over. "Are you still confused?"

I nod and then glance down. That's when I notice he's still holding the gun. He's got it down at his side and pointed to the ground, but it makes me terrified of what he might do.

"They said it could take some time for it to wear off completely." He appraises me, and then to my relief, he cuts the tie that has my ankles bound together. "You can walk."

It's not a question but an order. Looking him over, I'm not sure he has the strength to lift me, so I do what he says. When I step out of the back of the SUV, I look up. I don't want to see the two dead bodies on the ground. They were assholes, but I don't need that memory branded in my mind.

"You're Andrew?" I ask, confirming what I already suspect.

"I am." He takes my elbow and guides me over to a car. I glance around to try and figure out where I am, but all I see are trees.

Andrew is only a few inches taller than me and has a round belly. I think I might be able to outrun him, but would he shoot me? The guys that took me said he paid a lot of money to get me. Maybe I'm too valuable to him to shoot.

As if he knows what I'm thinking, his fingers dig into my elbow to tighten his hold. "In you go."

He holds open the door to the other car, and with no other option, I slip inside. Andrew goes around and gets into the driver's seat, and when he pulls onto the road I decide to try and get him to talk.

"Why can't I remember anything?"

"It can be a side effect of the drugs. It should wear off soon." He reaches over and pats my bare knee. When I tense, he doesn't like it.

"Don't be scared. I'm taking you home."

"Home? But I don't have a home." That thought comes to me, and I'm sure of it. I don't have a place to go, so I can't imagine where he's talking about.

"You do now."

As he drives, Andrew keeps his hand on my knee. It feels so wrong, and I know he's not supposed to touch me. He's going to get in trouble.

"Your mother sent me all of your things. I have your bedroom set up." When Andrew smiles at me, it sends a chill down my spine. It's freaking creepy. How am I the one that was in an asylum?

At the mention of my mother, a flood of memories comes back. I remember my childhood and how I was raised. It wasn't by my parents but by nannies and tutors until I was sent away to boarding schools. Every time I acted out, I was shuffled to a new one. I hate my mother. I know that much. My whole body tenses when I think about her. She has always been a shitty person, but with me it was a new level of terrible.

"It's okay. You only have to deal with her one more time and then she'll be out of your life for good."

"Are you going to shoot her too?" To be honest, I'm not sure if I care.

Andrew bursts into laughter. "Of course not. It's because of her that I get to have you." That creepy-ass smile stays plastered to his face as he says it.

Then I remember the last time he smiled like that. Right before I stabbed him. The memory flashes through my mind along with so many more. I glance over at his lap and see he's wearing a pair of black pants. I can't confirm if it's actually true or if my mind is playing tricks on me.

Andrew takes a sudden turn down a dirt path. Trees hang over the road, and it makes it all the more ominous. The rain is picking up once again, and I know that my situation is going from bad to worse.

"My mother is giving me to you?" I whisper. More pieces come together as my mind finally starts to clear. The fog is lifting, and I'm remembering everything.

"And you should be thanking me." He nods his head adamantly. "If not for me, she might have just killed you."

I gasp at this admission. I know my mother and I don't get along, but is what he's saying true? It always felt like my mere existence irritated her, but I learned to let that go. It was pointless to try and live up to what she wanted because I was never enough. Even so, it still burns that she would do something like that. Why wasn't just kicking me out of her life enough? There has to be another reason.

My mother values attention from men and money more than anything else. My guess is that this has to do with money. Why else would she give me over to this fucking creep?

A small building comes into view, and I spot a fancy sports car parked beside it. When Andrew pulls up and parks next to it, the metal door to the building opens. That's when I see my mother emerging. She appears completely out of place in her custom tailored designer dress and with her hair and makeup done flawlessly.

"Welcome home, my precious," Andrew says, and tears burn in my eyes.

I force myself not to cry because I won't give them that satisfaction. I also won't go down without a fight.

I just need to find another pencil.