Page 34 of Beautiful Scars

My stomach churns as his words sink in.Levi.Where is he? What did Garrett do?

My mind reels, grasping for answers. Is that why he didn't answer when I called? My breath comes in short, shallow gasps as his words find their home.

He's right. Deep down, I knew he'd be back. I wanted so desperately to believe things could be different—that I could have someone like Levi in my life, that I could feel safe, and be normal—I let it blind me. I knew it couldn't possibly last. Not for someone like me.

Whatever Garrett did to Levi, it's my fault. I knew better, but I was selfish. I overstepped. All of this—this—is my fault. I knew there'd be a price to pay, eventually. Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them back. I won’t cry. No matter what he does to me, or what happens tonight, he won't get what he really wants. I'll never give him the satisfaction of watching me crumble.

Garrett's hand moves down, pawing at the front of the dress Levi bought for me, the dress I'd so carefully put on and felt so beautiful wearing. There's a sharp tear of fabric as he rips it away. The soft expensive fabric never stood a chance. The dress is ruined, the night is ruined—I'mruined.

I choke on my next labored breath, and squeeze my eyes closed. My body shakes as his fingers slide down my exposed skin. I can’t stop him. I can’t—

"You know the rules," Garrett growls, "open your eyes and look at me."

I turn my head to the side, refusing, squeezing my eyes shut as tight as I can.Please, let this be over soon. Please.

"Don't fuck with me Sunny. I said. Look. At. Me." His voice is hard, angry as he spits the words at me.

I start to turn my head, but as I do I catch a glint of something shiny. Something resting just under the corner of my bed. I blink my eyes, trying to bring what I'm seeing into clearer focus. It's scissors. The handle of a pair of scissors. They must’ve fallen when I cut the tags off my dress. If I can just...

My heart races, adrenaline flooding my veins. I stop struggling. My body goes limp. And I hold my breath. I have one shot at this. Only one. Heneedsto believe I passed out. Give me just a few more inches of reach.

Garrett adjusts his position, settling back on to my hips as I go still. I close my eyes forcing myself to relax. He lets go of my wrists, and lifts himself up on one arm. I can feel him staring down at me.

"Sunny." His voice is irritated. "You're only making things worse for yourself."

He shifts again, and I feel him push himself up further. "Fine. Have it your way."

I'm not ready for the slap when it comes. It's fast and hard and lights the side of my face on fire. I scream from shock as much as pain. The second one is worse. It lands harder, making my head thrum and ache. There's a loud crack with the third one—the sound of metal hitting bone as his ring smashes into my cheek. This time there's blood. I don't how much, but I can see it on his fingers, feel the warm trickle down my cheek. I can't do anything but groan deep in my throat.

Garrett moves his fingertips over my wounded cheek. His touch is gentle, soft. He moves his thumb in tiny circles across the tender, burning skin. Leaning over me he presses his lip to my skin and laps at the sticky wetness.

"Why do you always make it so hard? So difficult? Huh? I don'twantto hurt you." He murmurs the words over and over against my cheek, against my lips, against my neck. His hips grind into me. "Why do you make me hurt you?"

I slide my hand down, stretching it out, slowly reaching for the metal I can see out of the corner of my eye. My fingers brush the handle. Almost there. Almost—

Garrett shifts again and before I can grab the scissors another slap comes out of nowhere. My head snaps to the side and I can feel the delicate skin of my lower lip split.

“Look at me!” Garrett growls. His voice is a mix of rage and satisfaction. He grips my throat, squeezing, cutting off my air. “I think someone needs to be reminded how this goes.”

I’m gasping, my lungs are burning, and my body's thrashing under him. The scissors...the scissors...

They're my only chance. I stretch my arm as far as I can, wiggling my fingers, desperate to get a hold. Finally, my fingers hook one of the loops and I pull it towards me. I slide my fingers into the handles, tightening my grip, securing my hold.

I don’t think. Ican’tthink. I justdo it.

I swing my arm up, slamming the blades into Garrett's side with everything I have. He jerks back, shouting in pain, his eyes going wide with disbelief. Blood spills from the wound, seeping between his fingers as he stares down at it, his face twisting in shock. For a second, hope flares in my chest.

But it’s not enough. I can see it in his eyes. It wasn't nearly enough.

“Fucking bitch!” he roars as he rips the scissors from his side. His hand curls into a fist, and before I can brace myself, he slams it into my face. My vision tunnels and I feel sick. The coppery taste of blood fills my mouth as pain explodes across my jaw. The room spins and I blink, trying to stay conscious, but everything is tilting away from me.

Garrett’s hands shake as he looks down at the blood, like he's trying to convince himself it’s real. That what just happened, happened. His face twists into something impossibly more terrifying. Something darker, more vicious than I've seen from him before. Slowly, he lifts the scissors, snipping at the air in front of my face. His smile is wide, and his voice is eerily calm.

“So, you wanna play big girl games, huh? Think you’re ready,Princess?”

I make a grab for them, desperate for one more chance, but he's too fast. His hand snakes out, grabs my wrist and twists. Lightning bolts of searing white-hot pain shoot up my arm, and I scream—the sound ripped from my throat as I feel my bones snap beneath his fingers.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Garrett sneers, his voice low and mocking. “My bad. Did you want these?” He closes the scissors and offers them to me. "Here. You can have 'em. Take 'em. They're yours. Let's see what ya' got.”

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