Chapter 20

<Victoria Grayson>

The car comes to a jerking halt and I'm thrown forward one final time. I have an inclination to rub my temple where most of the impact had been but I'm soon reminded that my hands can't move from behind my back.

I let a small breath out of my nose and then I'm greeted with a pair of rough hands grabbing my ankles, pulling me forcefully out of the car. The person stands me upright and then two of the other men grasp my already bonded wrists. A third man pushes me forward with a jolting fist to the lower back.

I stumble forward towards a wrought iron gate which guards possibly the largest mansion I have ever seen. The mansion is white and brightly lit by large lamps. The front porch is easily the length of Jeffrey's whole house and is supported by columns. For the expanse of at least half a mile, there is nothing but green space, lightly bordered by massive trees on the left side.

My final captor punches a security code into a keypad by the gate and then the wrought iron bars slide apart, revealing a gravel path that leads up to the mahogany front door.

I get shoved forward again and practically trip over a rather large stone in the path. We walk in silence which heightens my fear. I can hear every noise my body makes; my own rapid breathing, the uneven beating of my heart and my flip-flops crunching on the gravel as I draw closer to whatever this place is.

The door is even more menacing up close than it was from far away. It has a twisted handle that stretches for at least three feet and an evil looking lion-shaped knocker. The doorbell is a long chain extending from the ceiling and makes a haunting, distant noise that can be heard echoing throughout the mansion.

There's a tense moment where I have little hope that nobody is home but then the door creaks open. I'm startled to see my mother standing in the doorway. I have half a mind to run away but I already know I won't get far.

A creepy smile spreads across her face as she ties her robe tighter around her slender figure. She looks much the same as the last time I saw her. The woman in front of me has the same judgmental gray eyes and condescending posture as my mother but her face is more rounded and, dare I say, happier. She looks happy...How can she be so happy when she's putting her own daughter through this hell? The woman twirls a piece of her graying hair around her finger as she gives me a once over.

"Bring her in. He'll want to come down and see her." My mother motions for my captors to drag me inside of the mansion.

My heartbeat speeds up faster than before as I look around the interior of Talon's hide-out. The ceilings are high and decorated with multiple chandeliers. There's a large wooden double staircase leading to the upper floors. My mother taps her slipper-clad foot on the marble floor and gives me a wicked grin. 

I avert my eyes and instead look at the living room where buttery leather couches are set up near a fireplace and built-in bookshelves are lined with dusty, worn novels. I hear a set of footsteps coming from upstairs, which causes my eyes to travel slowly back to the double staircase.

Silence ensues and then a figure appears at the top of the stairs, dressed in a robe as well. A sick smirk spreads across the figure's lips as they come down the stairs. My breath catches in my throat as Talon Tenebris comes and stands right in front of me. 

I begin to writhe around in my duct tape restraints but my captors hold me even tighter, trying their best to prevent my movement away from Talon. I wish I could just run. I wish I could leave this place and run for eternity because that's how long it'd take to get away from this nightmare.

"My, my, my, Victoria. How long it's been." He chuckles and inches closer to me.

I had been hoping to stay away from you longer in all honesty.

I fight to move away from Talon, to just get a few inches of space but my captors won't allow that. Talon grabs a fistful of my hair and twists it, just for kicks most likely. I yelp silently in pain and then glare into his eyes. They are just as brown and soulless as they were the night of my rehearsal dinner. Talon in general looks just the same except he seems to have put on some weight, probably due to his over enjoyment of island life. I cringe at the thought of him and my mom enjoying island life while my island life has been a living hell since day one. He drops the fistful of hair and instead tilts my chin up so I have the unfortunate disposition of staring into his disgusting eyes.

"You are not getting away this time." Talon whispers menacingly and then removes his fingers. "You and Gavin are going to suffer more than you ever have before."

Everyone in the room chuckles and prickly heat stings my skin as realization implants a painful feeling in my gut once again. The room is spinning and I feel suddenly nauseous. I wish I had my duct tape off so I could puke all over Talon's nasty floors. Talon, noticing my state, grins again and then claps his hands together slowly.

"Let's all take a trip down to the basement, shall we?" He asks rhetorically and then turns around.

I'd rather not. I don't like the sound of Talon's basement.

My captors remove their masks and shove me in line behind my mother who is following her ex-husband down to the basement. I look to my left and see Jeffrey walking beside his colleague. He doesn't meet my dagger-stare but instead chooses to look at the back of my mother's head. Talon leads our little group to an iron door that's at the back of the pristine looking kitchen.

The door is black metal and has a heavy knob placed dead-center. I bite my tongue as thoughts of what's behind the daunting door run through my mind. I watch as Talon pulls out a large key and inserts it into a hidden keyhole underneath the knob. The door creaks and takes considerable effort on Talon's part to open.

"I think the captured should go first." Talon mutters with a flourish and gestures for me to go down the staircase leading to God only knows where.

"Well, go down then." Jeffrey snaps at the people restraining me.

They quickly comply and roughly push me towards the rickety looking staircase. I give in and walk slowly down the crude wood stairs into complete darkness. They heave underneath the weight of everybody and practically collapse before Talon makes it down the stairs.

If only he'd fallen and broken something. Maybe then I'd be able to get out of this.

Talon pulls a lighter out of his pocket and lights some stumpy candles on a banister at the foot of the stairs. Once my eyes adjust to the low-lighting, I look around and am horrified at what meets my gaze. Calling this hell-hole a basement is repulsive. It's just a small step above a hole in the ground. 

The walls seemed to be made of some sort of dirt and the only things supporting the structure are a few well-place wooden poles. One small, barred window sits in the top-center of the wall to my right and is the only reminder that there's a world beyond whatever this place is. I snap my attention back to Talon when he begins speaking again.

"Strip her." He looks directly at me when he says that and then tosses a knife to Jeffrey who catches it mid-air. "But take the tape off her mouth, I want to hear her suffering."

My captors grin and turn to face me like a pack of hungry animals. They corner me and shove my body up against the wall, sick looks in their eyes. Jeffrey rips the tape of my mouth as Talon instructed and then I scream out in pain, the first sound I've made in hours. Jeffrey looks me in the eye as he comes closer, not a trace of regret in his features. His face is void of any emotion as he brings the knife in contact with my skin, making me tremble with terror.

Tears wet my cheeks as Jeffrey drags the knife down my torso, pulling apart the fabric my still wet t-shirt. A small line of scarlet blood trails down my chest, showing me where the knife had been. He makes a few more cuts and then the fabric of my shirt falls in a heap on the ground. I look up at the ceiling so I don't have to face the fact that I am officially half-naked in front of a bunch of criminals. I squirm and try to get away from the perverted men surrounding me; however, this only causes me to get nicked by the knife.

"How dare you sit there and let them do this to me!" I cry out and direct my hatred-filled eyes at my mother, if she should even be called that. "How dare you let them lay a hand on me like this; how dare you stand there and let me be defiled like this!"

I look down and see Jeffrey cutting off my shorts which fall down right on top of my tank top scraps and dignity. He backs away after stripping me and then throws the knife back to Talon.My cheeks blush furiously red as ashamed and humiliated tears cover my face. 

My mother just stares blankly at me like she doesn't know what to say. My captors on the other hand are much too interested in having their hands all over me. I scream in terror as one of them places their hand on the small of my back, chuckling darkly and then proceeding to bite my neck.

"Get the hell off of me." I squirm around and try to get away from the men surrounding me.

"What can you do about it, princess?" The captor to my left closes in, his hand dangerously close to my breast.

Oh I'll think of something, Prince Asshole.

I am absolutely appalled as I stare at Talon and my mother who are sitting by, serenely watching this whole thing unfold. Their child is being sexually assaulted and all they can do is watch? The men come closer to me, hands still all over my abundance of exposed skin, and I decide that that is their final mistake. 

I bring up my knee and shove it hard into the groin area of the man to my left. He drops down to the floor and moans out in pain. His friend slaps me hard across the face but that doesn't make the groin shove any less worth it. My captors slowly back up as if they don't want to cross the insane, half-naked girl.

"Jeffrey, chain up this naughty girl. I think she needs to be taught a lesson." Talon gives Jeffrey a harsh look before directing his glare back to me.

You take one step towards me, Talon and I shove my knee so hard into your groin that you'll be seeing stars until the day you're dragged back to hell; mark my words...

Jeffrey shoves his friends out of the way and comes towards me with the bloody knife in his hand once again. He cuts my duct tape apart and then drags me to a spot underneath the high window. I feel my heartbeat in my throat as I look down and see long chains protruding from the walls, ending it what is unmistakably handcuffs. Only Talon would have a torture chamber as part of his house plan. Jeffrey grasps one of my wrists roughly and clasps the handcuff to it. He does the same on the other side and then forces me to sit down.

"How can you live with yourself? You have a brother that trusts you with everything he has and you repay him by selling him out. I hope you're proud of yourself because no one else is, Jeffrey." I hiss as he stands up, face still void of any emotion.

"Some things are still beyond your realm of comprehension." He glares at me before turning on his foot and making his way back to Talon.

"Blood is thicker than water. No matter what Talon promised you, Blaze is still going to be your brother and he'll always be there for you." I drop my arms to my side and the chains make a slight jingling noise.

"Apparently I promised him enough if he's willing to sell out his family for it." Talon grins and walks towards me with a bat I don't remember him holding before.

"You would understand a thing or two about forsaking your family, wouldn't you, Talon?" I stare right into his eyes with more confidence than I actually feel inside.

"Don't you dare disrespect me." He spits on my cheek and then twirls the bat around.

"You do that enough on your own." I mutter with a loathing glare directed at him.

I use my wrist to wipe away Talon's saliva and then I untwist my bra strap, silence enveloping the atmosphere.

"You never know when to just keep your mouth shut, do you?" Talon bends down and uses his free hand to grab my neck.

He holds it tight and I feel the lack of air burning in my lungs. I begin to cough and sputter but Talon just grips me more intensely. I bring my hands up to my throat and try to pry Talon off but he won't budge. My vision becomes spotty and then suddenly the pressure on my throat is gone. 

I gasp for air as Talon stands up. My lungs and throat burn and the skin on my neck is tender to the touch. I breathe deeply and then I begin to sob, tears burning on my face. The sobs ache in my throat and I wince at the new pain of trying to breathe.

"You are so weak..." Talon says slowly, bringing the bat back.

He swings hard and hits my stomach; I scream out in agony as he lines up another shot. Pain blooms on my left side as the bat makes contact with my skin again. The wind is knocked out of me, making breathing even more painful than before. Things continue on like this for what feels like hours. When Talon finally decides he's had enough, he drops the bat in the corner and pulls out a syringe from his robe pocket. He walks towards my limp body with a devilish smirk.

"Night, night; sweet dreams, Victoria." He whispers and plunges the needle of the syringe into my arm.

A sleepy sensation washes over me and before I even have time to worry about what'll come once I've passed out, my eyes droop closed. I feel my head slump over to the side and then my body shuts down.

~~~~~

When I wake up from the shot Talon gave me, I'm extremely disoriented. My head hurts and my body aches. I take in a few deep breaths and screw my eyes shut as everything comes flooding back to my memory; my fight with Gavin, the kidnapping, my assault. Tears blur my vision as I remember the hungry looks in my captors' eyes when they saw me half-naked; they looked like wild animals.

My heart skips a beat and I look down to make sure I'm still wearing my bra and underwear. Thankfully, I am and they're on the same way they were last night. Apparently, Talon decided to leave me with some of my dignity, hopefully. I run my fingers over the dark purple patches of skin on my stomach and wince in pain. Talon hit me extremely hard multiple times and I can feel it every time I try to breathe in. It reminds me of when Carter used to come home drunk and beat me up but at least I could get away from him; there's no escaping Talon.

I rock back and forth in fear, my chains clanging together with every move I make. I'm not going to get out, I'm not going to get out... I hear the door creak open and then someone comes down the dark staircase.

"Go away, go away." I wail, my body beginning to shake.

"Oh shut up. I just came here to bring you breakfast." My mother rolls her eyes disgustedly and sets down a tray in front of me.

"I don't want any food that you've touched." I turn up my nose and pull my knees closer to my chest.

"Fine than starve. You'll cave eventually; after Talon breaks your will beyond repair." My mother stomps, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.

I cough and look down at the tray she left me. There's a cup of murky looking water and a few pieces of old bread. I shove it as far away from me as I can with my foot and then I hear my stomach grumble. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast yesterday unless the three cups of coffee I had with Tomas count. 

I shudder as I remember what happened with Tomas and then Gavin's disappointed look flashes across my memory. How could I ever hurt him like that? How could I do that to him and then run out? I cry softly and continue to rock back and forth, my bruises like knives in my side. 

They will not break me. I just have to hold onto the hope that Gavin will come; I have to have faith that somehow, someway, I'll get out of this alive. I try to calm down and think of something positive but it's very hard when you're half-naked in a torture chamber being threatened constantly by a murder boss.

I hear the door slam shut and then a lock clicks, signaling me that I'm once again alone. You're going to get out of this. You can survive this. Just keep your head up; they can only break you if you let them. Tears wet my cheeks and then I bow my head to do something I haven't done in a while, my eyes dropping closed and my hands folding.

Dear God,

It's me, Victoria. I know I haven't prayed in a long time and I'm sorry for that. I've done some screwed up things since we last talked; I helped a man escape from jail, I haven't always told the truth, I've gotten angry and said things I shouldn't have. I'm so sorry for all of that and I beg for you to forgive me.

I need your help and strength now more than ever. I'm trapped and I'm afraid I won't get ever get out of this place. I understand that you put us in situations that you know we can survive but I just don't see how I can survive this on my own. I think you put me in this situation to show me that you can help, to show me that you can take me out of this bad place and into a better one ; I really need that right now, God, I really need to get out of this torture chamber.

I know I haven't been the most faithful person but you say I can always turn to you no matter what, and that's what I'm doing. I surrender all my fears and problems to you because I can't solve them on my own, Lord God. I need you to protect me and take care of me; I need your comforting hand and love in this scary situation. 

I don't know what's going to happen to me but I know that I can count on you. Help me to understand that you are here for me; help me to have faith that you will deliver me from this evil. Please give me the hope and strength I need to carry on. Please let me get out of this alive. In Jesus name I pray...

Amen

I open my eyes and see a ray of sunshine dancing across the dirt floors where there used to be just weak, clouded light. I turn around and a small smile spreads across my face as I look up at the barred window. Thank you. I mouth and set my legs out in front of me, slightly more at peace than I was before, despite the chains and the innumerable bruises.

~~~~~

Hey Guys-

So I have a question and I'd really appreciate an answer to it in the comments section...If I held a "Write Your Own Ending" one shot competition for this book, would anybody enter? Like i'd hold it for a few weeks before posting the final chapter and the winner would receive a shout-out/follow/critique of their book and have their winning entry posted on my page. I think it's a cool idea but i really want to know how much interest there would be from you guys in something like that. Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think! Don't worry the story isn't ending soon or anything but i want to figure this out before we reach that point. Happy reading! :)