Page 47 of Power
I glance around, completely naked in front of who the fuck knows how many people, chained to the floor and completely helpless. It’s surreal. My mind shuts down. I disassociate myself as I’ve trained myself to do when things get bad. When I’ve had to pack and move again, leaving whatever friends I made, when I’ve been ignored all week because my mother was never there, and when she was, she didn’t want to talk to me.
“Bailey.”
I turn toward Archer’s voice and shake my head. I have only one choice to get out of this situation as intact as I possibly can. He has left meno choice.
“I accept,” I whisper, my tone lifeless as I drop my arms to my sides, bearing the weight of the heavy chains on my soul.
“Good girl,” he purrs, taking a step closer as the spotlight dims enough for me to see that I’m surrounded by people around the edge of the circular room, each holding a candle. “Now sit and be baptized.”
My closed-off brain doesn’t even have enough control to ask what he means.
I turn my head when a soft hand lands on my shoulder.
It’s Owen.
He gives me that gentle smile and pushes me down. “Sit. I will stay with you.”
Like an automaton, I lower myself to the freezing cold stone, pulling my knees up to my chin to cover up my body, even though it’s too late now. Everyone in this room has seen every part of me, including my orgasm. Owen removes his jacket and sits quietly next to me as Archer comes closer with Finn. Each of them has a goblet in their hands.
I gasp in shock, my semi-shut-down coming back to life as both dump the contents of the goblets over my head before they hand one to Owen to do the same, dousing me in ice-cold water that soaks my hair and trickles down my face and neck.
ChapterThirty
Bailey
I blink backhot tears that mingle with the ice-cold water. Why are they doing this to me? I just wanted a job, and I’ve ended up in some fucked up cult or something. I don’t understand. Why me?
“Hey,” Owen says, brushing his fingers over my chained-up wrist. “It’ll be over soon.”
I don’t answer; I just let out an ugly sob which is quickly doused with another goblet of cold water.
I blink and take in the long line of assholes ready to dump water on me.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “No, please, Owen.” I give him a look of sheer desperation. It’s freezing in this room already.
“It’ll be okay, Bailey. I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
Tears fall down my cheeks as I place my face on my knees so all these pricks will get is the back of my head.
I shudder with cold as goblet after goblet is dumped on my head.
I’m soaked, shivering, sitting in a growing puddle on a cold stone floor. My sobs wrack my body as I wish for warmth. I want my bed, my crappy apartment, and my shower that takes ten minutes to warm up.
After what seems like an eternity, and countless arctic blasts, I hear my name,
“Bailey.”
Surprised, I look up as everyone else has been silently going about my ‘baptism’.
I gape when I see Trish’s vicious sneer before she chucks her water straight into my face. I cough and splutter as it goes in my mouth, up my nose, and into my eyes.
She laughs cruelly and passes so the person behind her can have a go.
I weep, trying to wipe my eyes on my shoulder, but the chains wrench my arms, making them ache.
“Hey girl,” a soft voice says, full of pity for my plight. “Sorry about this.”
“J-Joel?” I stammer, seeing his cute face swim into view.
