Page 56 of Trapped: Until The Darkest Of Night

I rest my hands on the arms of her chair, leaning in close to her. So close that she turns her head to avoid me. I feel the warmth of her body, hear her rapid breathing. “Yeah, a lot of other people thought the same thing,” I say in a dangerous whisper next to her ear. “Especially the guy’s dad and brother.” You’re not the only one who wishes me a slow, cruel death, Lou, don’t worry.

Lou stays stock-still. “If there were no rules, it was an illegal fight and nobody looked into it. Lucky you,” she says in a trembling voice.

Brave. Brave and stupid.

I breathe into my stomach to control my anger. “Go ahead, keep needling me to see if I end up breaking my promise,” I say calmly. “You’re going to be disappointed though. I never hit people weaker than me even if they try to make me.”

“You kidnap them instead,” she manages to say.

With a sound between a sigh and a snort, I push off the backrest and give her a little more room again. I don’t know if I should be happy that she’s so different today. At least she’s not so apathetic anymore.

“What are you going to do with me?” Lou looks up at me defiantly.

I click my tongue impatiently. “I’ve told you a million times, I’m taking you with me. That’s all. You simply refuse to believe it.”

With more verve than I would have given her credit for, she jumps to her feet and clenches her hands. “I do!” she whispers frostily. “I do refuse to believe you aren’t planning to do something terrible to me. And you know what? I wish you would get on with it already, whatever it is. Do it now. Then, it’ll be over and you won’t have to keep up these nice-guy theatrics.” She stares at me like I’m a wild animal.

“I’m. Not. Going. To. Hurt. You!” The dark tone of my voice sends a shiver down my spine.

“Liar!” She gets so close that I can see every detail of her face. Drops of sweat glisten on her forehead. “Why are you drawing it out? Because you enjoy watching me suffer! You really are sick. Sick and perverted.”

Before I can understand why she’s leaning forward, her warm spittle hits me square on the cheek. I’m immobile for a moment as I feel it running down my face. Anger burns in my veins. Lou clenches her teeth as if expecting a slap in the face. I don’t know which of us is more shocked. I slowly raise my hand. She flinches as she stares at me. As if in slow motion, I wipe the spit away with the sleeve of my jacket.

“Come on!” she yells as if she can’t take my inaction any longer. “Do it already!” She’s shaking and trembling so badly, I look away. Of course, she’s scared. Of course, she’s pretending she doesn’t care. And I know I have to do something. Something to help her—despite my anger. I think about the nasty voice in my head.

It would be so easy, Brendan…you could push her back onto the bed right here, grab her hair…

“Yeah.” A dark whisper escapes my mouth. Lou staggers back a few steps. “Yeah, it’s time. Something needs to happen.”

With the rattling chain, I approach her and automatically pull the hunting knife out of the leather sheath.

Lou freezes as if she doesn’t even dare breathe under my gaze. The red firelight flickers across her face. Stunned, she stares at the gleaming blade.

I have to do it quickly.

Without thinking, I jump toward her, grab her hair, and rigorously pull her back the few steps to the RV behind me.

“Bren…” My name is no more than a plea from her mouth, but I don’t let anything get to me. I didn’t want to touch her anymore, didn’t want to hurt her anymore, but something has to be done. That’s all I think about.

I push her hard against the RV, squeezing her between the wall and me like into a cage. My body presses against hers, wanting something different than my mind. She’s so warm, so soft… It would be so easy… I can feel her butt against my thighs.

Lou starts whimpering like she can hear the voice inside me.

“Won’t take long,” I say extremely calm. I grab her head and press her forehead against the wall. “And if you hold still, it won’t even hurt!” With grim determination, I pull her hair up into a ponytail, wrapping it around the edge of my hand as if it were a spool.

Lou doesn’t move. Even when I tug harder, she remains motionless. When her hair forms a tight strand from the top of her head, I decide on a spot and start cutting. Too short, everything in me screams, but I keep going. Wielding the knife. Back and forth, back and forth. Lou’s head bangs against the Travel America. The hair I’ve cut falls short and tousled. I could slap myself for what I’m doing, but it feels like a victory. Not for Lou, but more importantly, myself.

When I’m done, a strange relief comes over me. I turn, the ponytail in hand, and march toward the fire. Somewhere behind me, I hear the clink of the chain and feel a brief jerk. I wait for Lou to catch up and take the last three steps to the campfire. Then, I turn to her.

She stands there with eyes the size of two full moons, her face glistening with sweat. Hectic red spots run down her cheeks. She gapes at the blonde ponytail in my hand. Her tousled hair now reaches her chin with a few longer strands.

I nod stiffly, more to approve of my work.

“So, do you believe me now?” I toss her ponytail into the bed of the crackling fire with a flourish. There’s a hissing sound, then flames descend upon it and handfuls of white and red sparks scatter into the night.

Lou steps next to me. The smoke thickens and the smell of singed hair fills the air.

“Do you think a man who was only interested in that would chop off the girl’s hair?” I ask, staring at her with satisfaction.

---