Chapter Thirty-Six

 

Faith

 

Hours and hours had passed and I kept looking out the window for a sign … but there was nothing. The sun had gone down and with it my hopes of freedom. My phone was gone and there wasn’t a landline in the house. Cadoc and William were smart. I had no doubt they expected me to try something. Knowing my luck, I’d get caught and I really didn’t want to know what the consequences of that would be. The only answer was to give it time.

Cadoc and William were downstairs, celebrating their victory with whiskey. William was drunk and I’d heard him tell Cadoc he was going to come to my room. The thought terrified me. People did stupid things when they were drunk and I really didn’t want to know what homicidal maniacs did when they had too much to drink.

Turning off my light, I slid into the bed and pulled the comforter up over the back of my head. My body was exhausted and my eyes felt like sandpaper. Footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor and they drew closer. The second I heard my doorknob turn, I froze.

The door opened and I laid as still as I could. The smell of whiskey hung in the air along with the scent of William’s cologne. He pulled the covers back and slid into bed with me, but I jumped out before he could touch me.

“What are you doing?” I gasped, moving as far away from the bed as I could.

The moon was the only light in the room, but it was enough to see his evil leer. “I just wanted to cuddle,” he said, slurring his words.

Several choice words came to mind, but I held them back. Provoking him wasn’t the smart thing to do. I’d learned that the hard way. Swallowing hard, I tried to keep calm even though all I really wanted to do was jump out the window to get away from him. “I’m exhausted, William. It’s been a really long day for me.”

He patted the bed, his patience running thin by the annoyed expression on his face. “Either you come here now or I’ll make you.”

My eyes burned. “How about a raincheck? I’m obviously not going anywhere.”

Huffing, he jumped out of bed and fumbled with the button on his pants. “I’m tired of waiting. It’s been too fucking long.”

I didn’t know what to do. Crying would get me nowhere, but I didn’t stand a chance against him physically. I could fight him, but I feared his retaliation would be brutal. William dropped his pants to the floor and took off his shirt as he made his way toward me. I backed up against the wall, but there was nowhere else to go. William grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bed.

“Let me go,” I shouted.

Before he could throw me on the bed, Cadoc appeared in the doorway. “What the fuck is going on here?”

I jerked my arm out of William’s hold and retreated to the other side of the room. Cadoc glared at William. “What do you think you’re doing?”

William stood up straight. “She’s mine. It’s time she realizes that.”

Cadoc shook his head. “Not like that you’re not. Get out.”

William grabbed his clothes off the floor and stormed out of the room. As much as I hated Cadoc, he’d just saved me. “I’m sorry about that,” he said. “William’s always been a sloppy drunk, but rape is never acceptable. He’ll pay for that.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I couldn’t stop from shaking. You’ll both pay for it, I thought to myself.

He slowly made his way out the door and as soon as he was gone, I locked it. I knew he could get in if he wanted too, but it’d give me the extra seconds to prepare in case he came back. I turned on the bedroom light and searched around the room for anything that could be used as a weapon. There was nothing except for a pen inside the drawer of the small desk that sat in the corner. I snatched it up and held it to my chest. If William tried to sneak back into my room, I’d use it to stab out his eyes.

I turned off the light again and crawled back into bed. I’d thought last night was one of the hardest nights of my life, but I was wrong. The threat of my parents’ safety loomed in the air, but there was a new threat I had to worry about.

William.

He wanted me. And I didn’t know how long I could keep him away.

 

***

 

Sleep came off and on for me, but with every little noise, I jolted awake. When I looked over at the clock, I’d only been asleep for an hour. Usually, sleep made the time move faster. Not now. It was a slow agony. Tears burned my eyes and then they soaked the pillow. All I wanted was to go to sleep and wake up in Dominic’s bedroom.

A small creaking sound just outside my door made me gasp. I held my breath hoping it was just my imagination, but then doorknob clicked and I realized it was the lock. “Please God,” I prayed, “don’t let him do this to me.”

I’d never been attacked by a man sexually, but I knew of some girls who had. My heart broke for them because I could only imagine the level of horror they faced. Now I faced it and I was terrified. My door opened very slowly and I squeezed the pen in my hands. My body shivered but I was damp with sweat. I wasn’t ready. The door closed gently and I listened for footsteps but there were none. I thought maybe I’d imagined it all, but then a hand clasped over my mouth and an arm around my waist.

“Shh … it’s me. Don’t scream.”

Tears fell down my cheek and I jerked around. I flung my arms around Dominic’s neck and he kissed me. “You’re here,” I cried.

He cupped my face in his hands, but I could barely see his face. “I have to get you out of here. Reed’s waiting.”

Taking my hand, he led me over to the window. There was a line of rope wrapped around his shoulder and he tied one end to the bed and tossed the rest out of the window. A figure in black waited down below and it was Reed. I knew they’d find me.

Dominic pulled me into his arms. “Climb down the rope to Reed. I’ll be out there soon.”

I knew what he was about to do. “I love you,” I said, kissing him quickly. “Do what you have to do.”

He cupped my cheek. “I love you too.”

Grabbing onto the rope, I carefully climbed out the window and slid down. Dominic took one last look at me and disappeared into the house. It was over.