Page 63 of All Your Hate
I’m not sure how long I’m sat here. Eventually, I hear a car pull up and I look up only when I hear footsteps in front of me.
Bones stands on the sidewalk. A dark shade come to collect my soul.
“How did you know I’d be here?” My voice sounds far away.
“Where else would you go?”
He’s right. There’s no police station around here. It was obvious I’d come looking for Summer straight away. I’m so stupid. If she was here I would have put her in danger.
“Are you ready to come home?”
I rise up, standing tall on the apartment steps. “This is my home.”
“It’s gone.”
My shoulders slump in defeat. He’s right. But I don’t want to admit that being with him is home now.
“Do you know where she is?” If there’s anyone that can find Summer, surely it’s Bones.
He’s silent for too long as he stands there flexing his knuckles that are now covered in blood. The sight of them makes my chest tighten.
“Bones, please, if you know where she is you have to tell me.”
His eyes soften as he steps towards me. “When I found out everything about you, I also checked into Summer. She’s missing.”
“No.” I quickly shake my head. “You would have told me that already.”Would he though?For all I know it was him that took her.
“How long has she been gone? Are the police doing anything?”
“Calm down.”
“I’ll calm down when I know she’s safe!” I shout, moving down to the next step so we’re eye level. Something dangerous flashes in his irises.
“The cops are corrupt. If you go to them you can guarantee they’ll hand you straight back to the monsters that took you.”
I didn’t think my life could get any more complicated. I thought that the horrors I’ve lived through would be the worst of my nightmares, but this…this is my deepest fear come to life.
"What about my friend Charlie? She lives in the apartment opposite mine, but she's not answering. Do you know if she's okay?"
Bones sighs and his chin dips slightly, making me think I'm in for even more bad news. "She's safe, but you should forget about her if you want to make sure she stays that way."
I hate to admit it, but I think he's right. If I stay away then Charlie won't get dragged into my shit show of a life and she can keep living her normal one.
“Now that you’ve got this out of your system it’s time to accept what we have. Running from me was expected, but I’m not goingto let it go without consequence.” Bones takes hold of my wrist and pulls me down the few remaining steps. I stumble at the bottom and wrench my arm free.
“Consequence? Running is a normal fucking response to being kidnapped.” I back away from him, unsure of where to even go. Being with him shouldn’t be an option, but with Summer gone I need someone with power and money on my side to get her back.
“Wynter, if you don’t sit your ass in the car I will put you in the trunk. Either way, this ends with you leaving with me. There’s no one around to help you, so do the right thing and don’t piss me off.”
“I’ll scream.” I know my response is contradictory to what I really want, but everything he does pisses me off. He’s worked his way under my skin and I can’t exist without feeling his presence. I want to tear him out of me and at the same time I want his gnarled roots twisting deeper into the dirt that makes me who I am.
“Make a scene and I’ll put something in your mouth to keep you quiet.”
My stomach tightens. His words awakening a need deep inside me. It’s not him though. It’s my fucked up body. All it’s been subjected to for months is sex and now that disgusting need is wired into my dna.
“Fuck. You.” I punch him in the stomach, but only end up hurting myself. The pain makes me feel good.Alive. As long as I’m feeling it then I’m still in control.
I hit him again and again and he takes it all. His solid stomach absorbing everything I throw at him. He doesn’t break a sweat, doesn’t move a muscle. Unlike me. Sweat drenches my forehead and it feels like I’m going to pop a vein if I don’t calm down. My entire body screams at me to stop.