Page 87 of Pretty Little Fears

“AmIallowed to have any fun at this event?”Imumble, hoping he doesn’t hear me.Iquickly realizeImade a mistake of talking out of line or talking at all when he grabs my face and jerks me forward, no doubt ruining the makeup on my skin.

“Donot fucking upset me, you stupid whore.Youthink whatI’vedone so far was bad?You’veseen nothing.Iwant you to be like a fucking blow up doll, silent and nothing but a hole for me to use.Gotit?”Inod my head slightly in his grip, the reality skirts down my spine.Ihave to get away from him.Iopen my mouth to tell himIunderstand when he quickly shoves a little pill inside.

Igo to spit it out but he covers my mouth, forcing me to swallow it.Idon't know what he gave me or what it will do, butIdon't dare ask, not right now. “Thiswill help you be a compliant fuck doll for me.Nobitching or problems and we’ll have a good night.”Hepats my face like he did before and leans back into his own seat, ignoring me.

Turningmy head,Ipeer out the window and gaze at the passing scenery.Mybreath fans the window, leaving a fogged circle.Ilift my shaky finger and draw a frown in the spot.Asthe heat leaves the window and my drawing disappears,Ican't help the feeling of my heart squeezing.

Iam that foggy window drawing.Goneand never to be seen again.

Timepasses in a blur until we stop in front of a ginormous mansion.Elegantcolumns and statues line the front entrance.There’sa convoy of cars pulling up to the museum-like structure.It’searly evening and the sun is just beginning to set.Outdoorlights flicker on along the front of the property, illuminating it.Thecars in front and behind us are all luxurious.Maseratis,RangeRovers,Cadillacs,AlfaRomeros,Bentleys, and more drop off attending guests.Myjaw drops slightly, butIpick it up beforeLorenzocan spot my awe.

Idon’t need to give him any impression thatIenjoy this life with him.

Thedrug starts to take effect andIfeel my limbs loosen, my mind becoming foggy.Ilick my lips and they feel numb, my whole body does, really.Ahand touches my back andIlook over toLorenzoas he urges me to step out of the car.Ido as instructed, smoothing my hands over my dress to press out any wrinkles.WhydoIcare about my appearance?I’mliterally here to hang off ofLorenzo’sarm like a shiny accessory, nothing but a new toy for him to show off.

Steppingthrough the enormous, cream double doors, we walk inside to an extremely polished atmosphere.Whiteand gold marble floors cover the vast area.PaintingsthatI’msure are worth millions, litter the house.Everyman is dressed in impressive,no doubt, designer, suits.Womenhang on their arms, as they’re paraded around and shown off.

Lookingaround,Inotice all the women hold the same bleary look in their eyes asIdo.Thesame lookIsaw reflected back at me whenIcaught a glimpse in the mirror.Ormaybe my mind is playing tricks on me.Mystep falters asIcatch sight of a girlIcould have sworn was on one of those missing posters.Iattempt a double-take whenI'mpulled in the opposite direction byLorenzo.

Ishake my head, trying to clear my mind.Imust be seeing things.Right?Itcouldn't be another missing student fromBlackwood.Yet,I’mhere.Iwas taken.Myface is probably printed on a missing poster.Soit can't be that far fetched.Mystomach drops at the thought and the resolution influences me to steal another glance at the passing women.Myeyes catch onto the bruises and cuts on their skin, sunken faces, and sad eyes.Myheart rate starts to pick up at the realization.

We’reall here against our will.Thatmust be what this is.Somekind of secret society where they parade their wicked trophies and show off their purchases.Tosize up another man and see if his prize is better than yours, more behaved, more compliant.Un-fucking-believable.Thesewomen are fighting the same struggles, the same demons asIam.

Theplan to alert someone for help dies along with my hope.Ican try to run butI’llwithout a doubt get caught.Thedrug has my limbs feeling weaker,Idon't know how farIcould get.I'mtrying to form a new plan when familiar blue eyes grab my attention.Iremain focused on the woman trying to decipher whereIremember her from.It’son the tip of my tongue, butIcan’t seem to place her anywhere from my life.

Unlikemy possible classmate from earlier, this woman is older, around my own mother’s age.Mybrows furrow asIstare at her.Asif she could sense me staring, she looks my way and the air from my lungs disappears.Goosebumpsline my arms as the woman looking back at me resembles so closely the women from the photosEmmettshowed me of his mother.It'shard to tell due to the time that has passed butIswear that could be her.

Shequickly looks away, her blonde hair hiding her face as she whispers something to the man she's with and then disappears down a nearby hallway.Ispare a glance at the man, the tattoo of an 8-ball on his neck stands out against his porcelain skin.Theurge to follow her takes root, and beforeIcan stop myself,I'mchecking to see ifLorenzois distracted and making my way down the same hallway.Ifhe happens to notice,I’lltell himIjust had to use the restroom.

Thehallway is dim andIdon't see her, but that doesn't stop me from calling out. “Sera?Isthat you?”Iwhisper-shout.Mywords are a little slurred, but they are coherent enough to understand.

Atleast,Ihope they are.

Myslightly wobbly legs do the best they can to keep me upright.Walkingfurther down the hallway,I’mmet with complete silence beside the distant sound of guests mingling back in the main room.

Myheels click on the floor asIcontinue looking into the open rooms.Insideeach one,I'mmet with emptiness.Nothingbut darkness and complete silence.Wherecould she have disappeared to so quickly?AmIseeing things?Idon't know whatLorenzogave me but maybe that's what's going on.There'sno wayEmmett'smom would be here.Shedied, and he saw her hanging from the fucking balcony for crying out loud.Itmust be the drug thatLorenzoshoved in my mouth.Howfucked up wouldIhave to be to conjure her up like that?Iturn on my heels and make my way back toLorenzobefore he realizesI'mgone, whenIrun into something hard.

“What.The.Fuck.Areyou doing?IthoughtItold you to behave, you idiot.”Backingup slowly,Iprepare myself to run.

“Iwas just looking for the bathroom.”Ilie.IknowI’vejust pissed him off and this could be my only chance to get away.Itake a step back, and then another, and thenI'mturning around and starting to sprint.Towhere,Idon't know.

Itwas a futile attempt,Irealized that the momentIstarted running.Hishand is buried in my hair and yanking me backward beforeI'ma few steps away, the small heels causing me to lose my balance.Hedrags me into the darkness of a nearby room and throws me to the floor.Myalready battered body makes me choke on my own shriek as it hits the ground.

“Itold you to fucking behave!”Heroars as he bends down to hit me.

SMACK.

“Densefucking bitch.”Hespits on me, the saliva runs down my cheek and a renowned sense of fear coats my insides.Ishouldn’t have tried running yet.

IthoughtIknew fear.Ithought that maybeIeven liked fear.Thejolt of adrenaline that ran through my veins as fear would wash over me was addicting.Butthat was a different kind.Thatwas fear that morphed into pleasure.Thatwas fear brought on with the promise of safety afterward.Thatwas fear withEmmett.Irealize nowIdidn't know fear.Idon't thinkIever did.This, this feeling of pure terror that turns my blood to ice,this is fear.

Pure.Fucking.Fear.

Lorenzois forcefully pulling me off the floor and out of the room beforeIcan get myself together.Furtherdown the hallway,Inotice a door thatIdidn't see before.Lorenzoopens it and shoves me through.Thismust have been a back door because now we’re standing outside of the massive residence.Withinseconds, he’s making a phone call asIwrap my arms around myself in a protective manner.

Shortlyafter he ends the call a car pulls up andI'mmaking my way inside before he has the chance to shove me in.Theride is silent apart from my heavy breathing.Iknow the promise of pain awaits me back at the house.WhatI’munsure of is ifI’llbe able to handle it.Idon’t think my body can take much more physical damage andI’msure as shit that my mind is rapidly deteriorating.

Myeyes are glued to the window the entire ride back.Ipay attention to street signs and highways.I’mnot fromNorthDakotasoIhave no idea how far we are fromBlackwood, or if we’re still in the same state.ButifIcan find out whereIam first,Ican figure out a way back after.

---