Page 54 of Breaking Sanity
I jump to my feet. My legs feel like Jell-O, so it takes me a minute to get to the door. He yanks me out of the room and basically drags me down another hall. This place is like a damn maze. I wonder if there are any skeletons of people who tried to escape but couldn’t find their way out.
Vaughn opens a steel door and pushes me in. I keep on my feet but take in the room.
There is a small free-standing sink with a mirror on the side wall. On the counter of the sink is the typical toiletries. Honestly, I am super grateful, I really want to brush my teeth. On the other side is a vanity with neatly organized makeup. Next to it is a small closet; almost like an odd makeshift bathroom including the toilet that is off to the side enclosed in a stall. The most disturbing part of it, is the giant metal trough in the center of the room.
“Um..” I say.
“Unfinished business.”
As I inch towards the trough, I gulp down the scream that is trying to crawl up my throat. It is filled almost to thebrim with ice and water. I blink the tears away as the fear possesses my body.
“I am a man of my word,” he says, coming up behind me. “Now step in.”
“G-get fucked with a cactus,” I stutter. “I am not going to willingly step into an ice bath to be held under repeatedly.”
“Such a stubborn bitch.” He kisses the back of my head.
I expect him to toss me in but he moves in front of me. With his hands on my hips, he spins us so my back is to the ice bath. His hand pushes my hair out of my face and uses his knuckle to lift my chin. I look up at his half-covered face. Vaughn’s smirk causes the scars on his cheeks to wrinkle. He truly is ruggedly handsome. His thumb starts to move across my bottom lip.
“Just once,” he whispers to himself before he leans down and captures my lips. His kiss is more gentle than Nik’s but still demanding. My body relaxes and I almost melt into him. ALMOST. My legs hit the side of the trough, I didn’t even realize we were moving. I break the kiss.
“Hold your breath, Little One,” he chuckles against my lips.
With that his hand pushes on my chest and I go headfirst into the freezing water. The hand still on my chest fists my shirt and drags me along the bottom, pulling my entire body in the trough. I use my only good arm to try to push him off as I thrash to get out. My lungs start to burn as the icy liquid starts to invade them. He yanks me to the surface. I gasp, struggling for air. It doesn’t last long until I am thrown back in to restart my struggle to get free.
He does this three or four times. Each time holding me under longer and longer. He throws me out and onto the soaked surrounding concrete. I start coughing up water and trying to get the oxygen to my tortured lungs. I can’t get my bearings as Vaughn drags me by my hair to the enclosed shower located behind the toilet stall. He opens the glass door and throws me in. Before I know it, he turns on the shower. The scorching hot water hits my skin; my body erupts with the intense feeling of pins and needles everywhere.
“Fucker,” I scream trying to scramble out of the stream. He moves to grab my ankle and drags me to the middle.
“Stay,” he barks, snatching the sprayer from its holder. He places his boot on my chest holding me down and holds the sprayer in my face. I try to turn my head to the side, but it’s no use.
When he finally removes his boot and sprayer, I go into the fetal position coughing and gasping for air. I hope he’ll just walk away and leave me alone. Keeping the tears at bay is no use and my body stings from head to toe inside and out.
“Now,” he grinds. “I will get you washed and cleaned up. Then we will go to medical and have you checked. If you act up again, we will repeat this process. Understood?”
“Leave me alone,” I choke.
“He will, Alley,” Baron says from somewhere in the distance.
When the fuck did he show up?
“How’s the head Baron,” I ask rolling on to my back. He’s a blurry figure just outside of the shower. His massive frame gives him away.
“Vaughn,” Baron moves into the stall. “Walk away now.”
“Don’t worry little brother, she is perfectly fine.” Vaughn laughs and steps out.
“Not the word I would use,” I mumble, spitting up the last of the water.
Baron’s warm touch sets my blood on fire. I rip my hand from his grip and crab walk to the corner of the shower stall. I bring my knees to my chest while keeping my eyes on him and clenching my legs shut. He starts to approach me calmly. He stops when his Italian leather dress shoes touch my toes. I turn my head and stare at the cracked concrete.
“You can’t get away from me, Kukla,” he says, crouching down. “No matter how hard you try.”
“We’ll see,” I mutter. Letting my tears finish sliding down my cheeks so he doesn’t see. Baron pinches my cheeks and whips my head to face him.
“Stop hiding from me, you’re only making this worse.” His wild green eyes scan mine in search of information he will never get willingly.
“Just because I am not spilling my secrets with you doesn’t mean I am hiding.”
