Chapter 6 | The captors

Cara and sanity had never belonged to the same equation, unless on opposite sides where they juxtaposed each other. 

  Her mom brought men home when her father was at night shifts. Just for fun, sweetie. That was the explanation Cara used to get when she was just six years old and at that time with an innocent mindset, she didn't get the underline meaning to fun. Our secret, don't tell anyone.

  So Cara didn't. But her eyes would melt in their sockets as they'd watch with confused horror all across the way from the threshold, where she'd be partially hidden behind the door, her mom mingle with a man on the couch, chest to chest, lips to lips. Breaths heaving, throats rumbling. Cara'd put her hands to her ears and she'd turn her face away.

  And she remained silent and watchful until her mom and the strange man had stood once, arms tangled like a hectic braid and faces just an inch apart, then teetered drunkenly across the corridor until they stumbled into the bedroom. They'd kicked the door shut behind but the paper thin walls did all but forbid the noises that rose from echoing; heavy breaths, aggressive groans.

   So she'd thought the man was hurting her mom, and with all her childish innocence had called her dad and urgently whispered, "Dad, come please, I'm scared. There's a man in the bedroom with mom. Hurry-"

  Her words had elicited a heart-attack, postponed only for her dad to break rules and race home faster than he imagined the car could even go. He'd burst through the front door, heart pounding and brain churning, then stormed into the bedroom where the ugly exposure of treason and betrayal came like an iron-punch to his gut.  

  He kicked Cara's mom and the nameless lover shamelessly out of the house, cursed them at the doorstep and swore she'd never step in there ever again. When he'd turned in again with his heart ripped apart, he saw Cara looking at him through traumatized watery green eyes.

"Don't tell me you've seen a lot," he'd mumbled.

But she had. And it was enough for it to turn her mind upside down.

  The first psychologist said she didn't seem to be coping because all she'd do during sessions was sit carelessly on the recliner with an unamused expression on her face and her arms crossed. She'd twirl a strand of her hair around her finger, blow it off her face. Refuse to cooperate. Cara didn't think those people were helping her. So she didn't let them.

  Now Cara was a thirteen-year-old with pretty eyes and pretty smiles but subdued abuse lurking behind her lips and blossoming insanity setting roots around her heart. The images of past incidents were stuck in her head but she refused to acknowledge them. She liked to pretend that she was just a normal girl waiting outside a store for her dad to finish his business which she couldn't care less about, but she knew she wasn't.

Her legs started complaining. She was just about to turn around to urge her father to finish when something caught the edge of her vision. Across the worn tar of the road was the town's graveyard. Which wouldn't be anything interesting if it hadn't been for the boy standing there by the foot of one grave, slightly obscured by the trees in front of him.

Dominic Alain. 

  She'd never personally met him but she'd heard the rumors; the spoiled brat with anger issues, the poor boy who'd watched his mom die, the (insanely) overprotective brother to Luciano Alain. Cara hadn't made her judgment yet but she wanted to know what he was like herself. Something about his eerie aura was alluring.

  Her curiosity urged her feet forwards until she crossed the road and stood by a tree, narrowing her eyes apprehensively at fourteen-year-old Dom crouched down with his back to her. He was watering the flowers on his mom's grave and little Lou was behind him, watching. A cat stalked along. Young amber eyes followed it. Cara knew from Lou's stance and observant look that he was about to go after it and she wasn't wrong. Lou did.

  Two steps though and he stumbled over the rocky edge of a grave and fell down face first. Maybe it was an instinct in her but she unawarely jerked forwards, green eyes wide, and skipped over to him. When he looked up his young face was already puckering and his bottom lip was trembling, but Cara pulled out a pack of jellybeans she'd bought for herself and offered it to save herself from torturous crying.  

  Lou's expression froze. He eyed the sweets intently, then his lips curled. Cara helped him up and smiled. "Wow, that solved it fast," she quipped. It was her first time looking at Lou up close and she realized how greedily he'd snatched all the Hispanic genes from his dead Hispanic mom. His gloriously tan skin glowed like polished bronze underneath the early morning sun and his brown hair was soft beneath her fingers as she pushed it gently aside. Usually, she was known for the resting bitch face and the nonchalant facade but she had a soft spot for kids. 

"Thank you," Lou beamed. His smile was wide and appreciative. He started popping the jellybeans into his mouth, then noticed that was Cara was still there and innocently offered one.

"Nah, you can have them al—"

"Lou?" Dominic's voice resonated with fading Hispanic heritage. An accent, somewhat clear and somewhat not. Then he came into full view, brown hair the shade of dark chocolate and eyes murky abysses. His hand latched onto Lou's arm and pulled him away. Some of the jellybeans in his small hand skittered to the ground. Everything about Dom already seemed sudden and sharp. "What're you doing? Who gave you those?"

  Dom was addressing his little brother but his eyes were set on Cara. His expression was rock-hard and frigid, hard to decipher. Was that annoyed or angry? Cara couldn't make it out but she could tell he wasn't exactly friendly.

"I did." Cara stared back equally hard. "He fell down, if you didn't notice."

  The staring contest lasted a little longer. Then Dominic finally broke eye contact and bent down until he was whispering not so privately into Lou's ear, "Don't talk to strangers again, Lou. And don't ever take food from them." He wielded his chin forwards, gesturing Lou to hand the bag back. "Give it back to her."

Lou pouted, earnest and imploring. "But-"

"Lou."

"I'm not even a stranger, dude," Cara countered. "We live in the same neighborhood. I know you."

"So? Doesn't mean you can just give him food like that."

  Cara already wanted to face-palm at this point. She could tell why he had so many rumors thriving off him. First impressions didn't look like they mattered to him. "I didn't give him food because he needs it, I gave him because I didn't want him to cry. I was being nice. Are you seriously gonna fight me for it? He likes them, let him have it."

Dominic maintained eye contact with her. "No, he doesn't like them."

"That's why he doesn't want to give him back, right?"

A small, mischievous grin curled the edge of Dom's lips. Cara realized he looked considerably more beautiful when he wasn't scowling like the entire world was constantly pissing him off. She watched him, subconsciously tracing the slant of his sharp jawline.

Dominic leant towards Lou's ear and whispered, "Tell her I don't want them."

Cara almost snorted. "This is all you have? Are you for real? He's just a kid, he won't change—"

"I don't want them," Lou parroted, his smile just about matching the one Dominic had on behind him. Side to side, they looked like an American next to a Hispanic but still there was an eerie resemblance that screamed same blood. Lou docilely handed the jellybeans back and turned his back on her, nuzzling into his brother's front.

Cara raised a brow at Dominic. "How old are you? Fourteen? Fifteen? Try to act like it, for God's sake. Let him have an opinion."

"He's barely four, does he need an opinion? I know what's best for him. He's my brother and he listens to me, stop being butthurt."

"Whatever." Cara stared down at Lou. She reached a hand forward and ruffled his hair. "You're cute, Lou. Too bad you have this excuse of a brother."

"Don't touch his hair," Dominic said. He pushed her hand off and absently ran his own through the brown locks, carefully brushing them back into place. It seemed like an act of defiance to Cara. She didn't understand his unnecessary defensiveness.

"What's your name?"

Dominic thought it was completely out of topic but he answered anyway. "I'm sure you know. Dominic."

  She did. But for some reason she wanted to get it out of his own mouth. "Dominic." The purse of her pink lips was apprehensive and her eyes were somewhat vaguely scrutinizing as they regarded Dominic. "My name's—"

"Don't bother. I didn't ask and I don't care." Dominic actually knew it. He'd heard the rumors about her like she'd had about him. He caught Lou's hand and urged him along, leaving Cara there in her place with her mouth slightly agape.

"Asshole," she muttered. Dominic stopped walking and turned back to face her. He narrowed his eyes.

"What did you say?"

  Cara laughed humorlessly, short and dry. She leveled her eyes with his and lifted her chin, small nose soaring in the air like she had no shame. The subtle arch of her blonde brows was daring. "I said asshole, wanna hear it a third time?"

  Dominic moved much closer, until they were just an inch apart. Nose to nose, anger aligned with disdain. Brown eyes battling green forests. Their breaths mingled in the sliver of space between them.

"Don't test my anger," he hissed. "Trust me, you don't wanna do that."

"Anger? More like anger issues," Cara taunted. She knew it would hurt him and reveled in the pain in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to spill some abuse but he was distracted when a new voice came into the line.

"Hey, hey! What's going on here? Cara?"

  Cara's dad. He was a tall, slender man but he seemed more authoritative with the furious rigid stance he'd taken behind her head. Dom didn't back down. He wasn't afraid of him, or anyone really.

  His arm slung around Cara's shoulder and pulled her back, breaking the sharp tangle of breaths. She stood further away beside her dad. "Nothing, dad," she said. Her eyes were carefully probing Dom; the frown to his dark brows, the angry movement to his chest.

  Dom was just about to open his mouth to speak on his defense when he heard footsteps behind followed by  a harsh grip on his shoulder. He was pulled back, and his dad now came in out of nowhere as well.

"Oh my god, Dominic," he panted like he'd been running for the past hour. "There you are. I was searching for you." He touched Lou's head, pointless but just to make sure he was there. "Don't ever do that again. When you want to come here, tell me, for God's sake. Lou can get lost."

"Oh," Cara's dad intervened. "So this kid just came here without telling anyone, and he was pulling some bullshit on my daughter. Mister Alain, teach your son some manners. Or let him see a psychologist. He needs it."

  George Alain looked at the other man like he hadn't even noticed his existence until now. "I'm so sorry, Dom gets into trouble with everyone," he shamefully apologized even though his pride hurt. Renowned business men like him were meant to walk and have people bow to them but here he was because his son was a child like no other. "I'll punish him for this, don't worry." 

  Both men parted then, each urging their child along. Cara looked once over her shoulder. Dom's upper arm was locked between callous fingers as his father dragged him behind. She almost felt bad. But then she thought, not my fault he's a jerk.

When George and his sons crossed past the luxurious oak doors of their home, he was still bickering with his son about how insolent he'd become.

"What an embarrassment," George spat as he closed the door behind and shoved Dom further inside the foyer.  He turned to him and jabbed a finger in his direction. "What's gotten into you? You're getting worse each day! Have some manners, idiot."

Dom snorted. "Idiot? What a role model."

"Don't talk back, understand?"

"Or what?"

"I'll show you what." George's caught his arm again and dragged him ruthlessly behind as he stormed across the corridor to the bathroom. He thrust him in and shut the door behind. Dom stumbled until his lower back hit the pretentious glossy sink. He groaned. "Where in the world did you get all this arrogance from?" He gaped at him. "This is so you lose half of it."

  Dom watched the vicious gnarl to his dad's lips, tentatively anticipating what he was planning. Then, before he could register or react, his aging rough hand extended forwards in a rapid blur and grasped the hair on the back of his head. Twisted the locks until they were locked harshly in the cusps of his fingers, tugged onto the roots and adjusted.

  Pain shot through Dom's scalp, throbbing and suffusing until the nerves were screaming. He screwed his eyes shut, tried to fight the grip but came to no avail. When he finally opened his eyes, his dad's jaw was clenched and his expression was furious. He knew he should feel ashamed of what he'd done but the feeling never touched his heart, never sank deep enough. Not when anger always outweighed.

George shoved Dom's face in the toilet. He kept the pressure on the back of his head so he wouldn't have the chance to pull back.

  Dom blindly reached for the edge of the toilet and grasped it. His knuckles popped out with the intensity of his grip and the veins on his arm bulged like rigid cords across his skin. He tried pulling away, tried hard, but failed like he'd always failed to control the anger sloshing in his chest, the darkness enveloping his heart. People never understood how hard it was to fight his own self.

"Come here, Luciano, watch what happens when you act like a spoiled brat," George frantically gestured Lou to approach. So he did, trudging past the threshold with his brows low and the tangle of his fingers shaking nervously at his abdomen. His eyes grew wide. George pushed Dom's head lower. The muffled noises of protest fueled his satisfaction, made him think he was disciplining when in fact he was only feeding his anger and throwing fissures onto precariously cracked sanity.

Lou was silent for a second before he moved in and grasped the edge of Dom's clothes in his fist. "Dad, stop, please?"

  When Dom felt Lou's hand on him, something in him burst. He let go of the edge and desperately tried shoving Lou away. He wanted him to leave before he'd get himself in trouble, because maybe he'd tolerate the humiliation but he wouldn't watch it happen to Lou.

  George finally pulled his son's head out. Dom sucked in a sharp breath but his eyes remained closed tightly like he wasn't sure it had ended. For a second, he almost felt dizzy. His ears rang loud. The world spun like water sloshing around in a bottle. His pride hurt. But then everything stopped and sound flooded  his hearing. Lou's cries, his father's words.

"—ou see this?" his father was saying. He shook Dom's head until he opened his eyes and focused where his finger was pointing at the porcelain of the toilet. Dom stared as he tapped it, then gazed back at him. "You'll never be even worth more than this. No one respects a disrespectful asshole. You're ruining my reputation."

  George let go of Dom's hair with a rough thrust and left the bathroom. Dom held onto the edge of the sink and allowed himself a few proper breaths. His quiff was damp and flat against his forehead. When he turned, gripping the cold sink with both his hands, he saw his wretched reflection staring right back at him. And he saw more than just wet hair and angry eyes; saw his pride shattered and his dignity stepped over. He saw a helpless boy with insanity on his mind.

Dom was distracted when Lou tugged at his trousers. "Dom? Did it hurt?"

"No."

"Will d-dad do that to me?"

Dom turned to Lou impetuously. The idea scratched a scar across his heart. "Never," he assured, the edge of his mouth twitching but he couldn't find it in him to smile fully. Not when his pride was roaring in pain behind his ribs. "If he ever tries to touch you, I promise I'll destroy him."

Lou didn't fully understand. He just liked the assurance that his brother wouldn't let it happen to him. "I love you, Dom."

"I love you too, Lou."

*_*_*_*_*_*_*

  Dom sat on the bench right by Lou's nursery. Apparently, their dad was a single father who couldn't keep up with raising two rowdy children and maintaining his business, so he figured he'd ship Lou off to a nursery when he was too busy with work.

  His hands were shoved in his pockets and his head was hung back. He closed his eyes, tried to keep his breath even because right now he was ticked off and he knew he'd get up and punch the bench just like that any moment. The problem was that he didn't even know why he felt so angry. Maybe because Lou should've been out five minutes earlier but  he was still in there, or maybe because he suddenly remembered what Angelica had told him years ago. His memory was selective at the worst of times.

  Cara watched him from afar. You'd think it was scrutiny in her eyes that were settled hard on Dominic, but in reality it was just curiosity.  She wouldn't admit but even though she'd figured he was a complete jerk, something about him was compelling. She related to the spite in his voice, to the anger and the scowls. People like her with monsters lurking in their heads could detect the ones in others.

  She approached because hiding was not her thing. At least not yet. When she stood right by the bench, she almost giggled at Dom's lack of recognition. He looked as good as dead with his eyes closed and his head lolled back.

"You do know you can go in there and tell them you want to take your brother, right?"

Dom kept his eyes closed for a second like her voice wasn't worth disturbing his rest. And when he did open them, his chest rising and dropping once unwillingly, it was a burst of two darks midst the vibrance of the greenery around him. Then, like the bratty teen he was, he rolled his eyes and sighed.

"What a life saver. Didn't know about this."

"Why're you here then?"

Dom abruptly sat straighter. "Because he's drawing right now and he wants to finish it. I can wait." He hated waiting but he'd do it for Lou. His lips pulled up in a tight smile. "I'd wait inside but all the noises make my head hurt. I hope this made you feel better. Now stop being a creep and get away from me."

"Don't tell me what to do."

The breath Dom released was hot with anger. Right now, her voice was nothing better than forks scratching down plates torturously slow and her entire existence was  constantly prodding his limits. "Leave, just lea—"

His lips closed with a confusing sudden and his eyes drifted past her towards the nursery. Like a miracle, an incident never seen twice, the rigid expression on his face was replaced with a soft smile blooming across his lips and his cheeks livened. Then, he completely disregarded her existence and strode past her to the gates, bending slightly and opening his arm for Lou to race into.

Lou hopped until he was straddling Dom's waist and smiled. "Dom, look. I did this," he squeaked, showing him the paper in his hand. Cara couldn't see from her spot but she watched Dominic smile and praise him for it. She almost found it attractive how he'd be the coldest asshole one moment and then become a completely other person when it came to his little brother.

Dom's smile dropped when he turned back to her like he'd expected that she would've disappeared by now. Slowly, his brows slanted down over his eyes. He let Lou hop off his waist and stand beside him, his hand grasping his tightly.

"Why are you still here?"

"I don't have to explain anything to you." She ignored him and looked at Lou. "Hey, Lou," she greeted. "Remember me? I gave you jellybeans a few days ago but your meanie brother didn't let you have them. He's so boring, isn't he?"

Dominic was surprised at how comfortable she was acting. He hadn't even known her much and here she was, poking her nose where it didn't belong and acting like she'd been besties with Lou before life. "Get away from him. He doesn't like you, and he sure as hell doesn't wanna talk to you."

Cara raised a brow. "Doesn't like me? I'm sure he does. I helped him when he fell and I gave him jellybeans. Kids automatically like people who give them food."

Before Lou could talk, Dom ducked down and whispered something in his ear again. Then Lou grinned, amber eyes sparkling with childish mischief, before he finally told her, "I don't like you. Dom said I shouldn't trust you."

Cara almost rolled her eyes. She decided to provoke in return. If he wanted to mess with her, she'd play along. "So, Dominique, is it? Did your dad punish you for being a brat to me the other day?"

"It's Dominic," Dom corrected dryly. The humiliation of his head shoved in the toilet resurfaced. All because of her. He felt something begin to rush in the blood through his fingers, the urge to contract and fist then smash the nearest thing to him. Possibly Cara's face. As he glared at her, she didn't know that he was contemplating if he should bust her lip until it'd be doused in red or destroy at least one of her high cheekbones. "And no. He didn't do anything."

She hummed, a noise that easily displayed distrust. "Right. I know you're probably embarrassed. It's hard for a teen like you with all his pride to get grounded, huh? Or was it the naughty corner? But it's okay—" she reached her hand forwards, pinching his cheek. A deadly mistake. Her voice thickened with mockery. "—you'll get over yourself at one point."

  Dominic pushed her hand off harshly. He moved a bit closer, towering above her with his spine straight and his eyes filled with distaste. "Honestly, you've been annoying the hell out of me ever since I first met you." He was staring right into her eyes but she seemed to stand her ground well. She didn't even flinch at the prickly harshness of his voice or the hot breath fanning her face.  Just glared back. "We're not friends, get that in your stupid head. Trust me, trust me, I can get violent and I don't know how to control it. Get away from me."

"They were right when they said you had anger issues. Are you on meds? Clearly not because—"

"Stop. Stop talking." He caught her arm tightly, pulling her close at one angle. Their noses were just an inch apart, lashes just about brushing against each other. His fingers dug deeper into her flesh. Usually, this was when he'd win. When the one in front of him would crumple down and scramble away because everyone knew they wouldn't win against the notoriously brutal Dominic Alain.

  Except Cara didn't do that. She jerked back, freeing her arm. "If you think you're scaring me, you're wrong. I'm not like that. Idiots like you don't scare me. They disgust me. I was just being nice to your brother and this is how you—"

"I'm done with this bullshit," Dom said. His voice held a final push in its undertone. He knew, he knew he'd burst any moment and he didn't want to splatter her pretty face red even though he felt the urge. So he caught Lou's hand and turned away from Cara mid speech, a deliberate act of disrespect because he wanted to withdraw with his head high and victorious. If he couldn't harm, he'd bruise the ego. Never surrender.

Or so he thought.

  Not even three steps past her and a hand gripped his arm with such force and strength he almost thought it was his father. He gasped inwardly because he hadn't expected to be stopped. That never happened. When he left from fights he left behind a frightened wreck that would struggle for balance and would never reach him.

  Cara spun him around, rough and reckless. Dominic frowned. He would've talked or questioned but he didn't even have the chance before she thrust him onto the bench again. It almost rocked back underneath his weight suddenly thrown onto it.

  Dominic barely had the time to get up before two hands came slamming down onto his shoulders and clasping onto them tightly. He only realized how long her nails were when he felt them sink into his flesh. He snapped his head up in Cara's direction, only to be momentarily stunned by the drastic change to her face.

She was almost unrecognizable with the vicious snarl to her pink lips and the sharp frown to her brows. Completely foreign without her iconic sly smile that always seemed to be hiding something. Her chin was tipped up in an angle that made her look down at him through the poison in her eyes.

"Look here, asshole," she sneered. "Don't ever do that again. When I talk, you listen, understand? You don't turn your back on me like that. Do it one more time and I'll break your spine." The threat sounded a lot more convincing with the death grip she had onto him. She could slice his throat with those nails. Dominic just remained put, half startled and half intimidated. "What do you think? I'm a coward like the rest? If you do shitty glares I'll tremble? Wrong, idiot. Disrespect me like that one more time and I'll show you your place."

  When she stopped talking, she finally had time to assess his face. In the weirdest way, he seemed as quiet as a child, as vulnerable as an unfledged bird. He blinked a lot when he didn't feel confident, which was a rarity but it was happening at the moment. Dominic didn't even open his mouth. This had never happened to him. Besides his father, no one ever dared to heighten their voice above what they perceived themselves in front of him; helpless, as good as dirt.

Cara breathed. Then she said, "You're not the only one who's suffered. Don't act like it's just you. Just because you watched your mom die doesn't mean you can treat people like that."

Dominic wasn't about to apologize. He didn't even think he was wrong. But this was foreign. He'd fantasized before what he'd do if anyone ever tried to act all mighty at him, and he'd imagined it wouldn't end without at least three punches, broken bones and ripped flesh.

But here he was, sitting like an absolute idiot in front of a girl one year his junior, with some form of gravity radiating off her keeping him in place. Unable to move, to shout and yell and punch like wanted to.

  She let go of him and leant back, briefly brushing a strand of her blonde hair off her cheek. Then, she turned her back on him and left. Usually, it was Dominic who'd do that. It was him who'd shout and never be shouted at, him who'd hurt and never be hurt. It was him who'd win. The only exception was his father, but now Cara made it to the list.

  Cara finally disappeared into the road ahead. Dominic just sat in his place, a relieved breath filling his lungs. He almost  couldn't even comprehend what'd happened and why he hadn't done anything to stop her. He should've done something. Pushed her at least, maybe cussed her out and made her feel as small as she'd admittedly made him feel. Her words wounded him hard and that never happened to Dominic.

"Dom?" Lou climbed up onto Dom's lap and tilted his head unsurely. Then he leant forwards, curling his arms around his neck. "She scares me," he mumbled.

  Dom didn't move for a moment. "Me too, Lou," he confessed, finally hugging him back. He pressed his face against the side of his head and sighed. "Me too."

*_*_*_*_*_*_*

hi it's been such a long time oops. So finally info about Cara. What do you guys think of her and her interaction with Dom and how she affects him? (also if u didn't know, yes the head shoving in the toilet is a thing unfortunately. some parents do that:( )

Not gonna annoy you much with the a/n, thank you so so much for reading/voting/commenting, it means the world to me <333