Page 1 of Bound By Secrets

Chapter One

Callie

Ipeel my heavy eyes open, ignoring the dull, throbbing pain at the base of my neck and the ache in my limbs. The damp, earthy smell and the pitch-black darkness that greets my senses make me instantly aware of my surroundings. The jagged, rough concrete bricks against my back are cold and crumbling with age.

I groan, squeezing my sore eyes closed for a second before opening them and heaving my body up from the dusty floor of the basement.

It’s my father's favourite place to put us whenever he feels we deserve punishment. Years ago, he used this place for people who betrayed him or attempted to anyway, but now, he has specific warehouses for that and other people to dish out the pain too.

Unfortunately for us, he now uses this concrete maze below our house to terrorise us however he deems fit.

Sadistic bastard.

"Callum?" I whisper into the darkness, hoping that he's down here with me. I tiptoe forward, hands held out in front of me toensure I don't bump into any of the walls. I've been locked down here plenty of times to know most of the routes, but I have to remain cautious every time. I never know what they've added as a punishment.

Last time, I was barefoot, and there was broken glass all over the floor and sharp blades pointing out from the walls that shallowly sliced my arms when I was trying to navigate my way around.

I usually have a rough idea of what part of the basement I’m in. I’m lighter than the twins, so when it’s not just me down here, they carry me through the tunnels and dump me further away from the ladder that brings you down to this hell. The twins are usually thrown down by the entrance because none of my father’s goons can carry them.

They like to split us up so that we’re likely to injure ourselves whilst we’re trying to find each other.

"Callie, are you good?" I stop abruptly as I hear my brother’s soft, caring voice. My body’s shaking violently from the cold and my heart is racing.

Can I trust that Callum is actually talking back to me? Or am I being taunted again with a sense of safety from his voice being played out of one of the many speakers embedded in the ceilings?

I quiet my breathing and strain my ears, trying to pick up any other little sounds.

"Little C, where the hell are you?"

A relieved breath escapes me and my body relaxes. Callum's definitely down here. He and Connor never call me ‘Little C’ unless we're out of the house, down here, or alone. It's the only way I ever know if it's them in this darkness with me.

"Cal, I'm here!" I shout.

Silence greets me for a few moments and then the sound of faint, fast footsteps grace my ears from somewhere up ahead.

"Stay exactly where you are, Callie! I don't know what's down here yet," he calls out, his voice and footsteps getting louder, meaning he's getting closer.

I slump against the wall beside me but jolt up again seconds later when I hear a pained grunt, followed by a heavy thud.

"Callum!" I rush forward, not caring about what they've put down here to hurt me. As I turn left, my shoulder grazes against the concrete wall but I ignore the bite of pain and continue charging down one of the many tunnels.

When I bump into a wall, I turn right and walk a couple of steps before stopping and trying to listen for my brother. "Callum, call out!" I shout again, trying to find out where he might be.

"Straight ahead and left!"

I keep running until my palms slam against crumbling bricks and I yelp in pain from the impact. I twist left and crouch low, brushing my hands along the grimy floor, searching for my older brother in the dark.

"Careful, Callie," he warns, only a few feet ahead of me now. "There's nails, pointy side up, and metal poles above." I crawl forward a few more paces before hissing out a breath as my hand catches on some of the nails. I brush them out of the way the best I can with no vision and continue shuffling forward, one arm outstretched, hoping to feel any part of my brother.

I curse loudly as the hand that's holding me up presses down on a nail, the sharp point piercing through my skin. A whimper leaves my body as I pull my hand up off the floor and yank the nail out. Cradling my injured hand against my chest, I use the other one to sweep against the floor, carefully moving forward.

A relieved breath rushes out of me as my fingertips brush against rough denim and I clamp my whole hand around Callum's jean-clad leg, squeezing it. He sighs and places hishand down on top of mine. "You okay, Sunny?" I ask into the darkness. He lets out a rough chuckle and then groans in pain.

"Yeah, I'm all good. Just a bump on the head from the poles and maybe some nails stuck in my leg. I wish you'd find better nicknames for us.” I laugh and push more nails out of the way, sliding my tired body down the wall until I’m sitting with my shoulder pressed against his, our hands still clasped together.

Ever since I was twelve, I've nicknamed the twins Sunny and Grumpy because of their opposite personalities.

Callum is always cheerful; he can make you smile in any situation, and he lights up any room that he walks into with his bright smile and his calming, happy aura. Connor is the complete opposite, which is surprising since they're identical twins.

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