Page 81 of Cedarwood Cabin

“I’m already in the worst place I could ever be, with the worst people I could ever be with. I’m already in hell! Things can’t possibly get worse!”

“You’re such a fucking brat, Flora!” Dax shouts, his own anger rising.

Without thinking, I dig my fingernails into his cheeks, drawing thin lines of blood. Caught off guard, he stumbles backward onto the bed.

I jump on top of him and start pounding at his chest. Dax lets out a mocking laugh as I continue to punch him.

Dax manages to flip us over in a quick motion. He pins me beneath his body, his knees pressed into my thighs. He grips my wrist, holding them above my head. The blood from his cut drips onto my face.

The door bursts open and Lyka rushes in. “What the fuck is going on?!”

Dax runs his finger along my face, dragging the blood down to my neck. He slides off me and stands up.

“The little brat attacked me. She thinks we can’t make things worse for her…” Dax explains as he leans against the wall with blood dripping down his face.

Lyka charges towards me and pushes me against the wall. The back of my head hits it, making me feel dizzy. His nostrils flare as he grabs my cheeks with a bruising grip.

“Do your worst!” I say through gritted teeth.

Lyka's stare looks dark and menacing as his fingers dig deeper into my cheeks. “You have no idea what we’re capable of. Don’t test us, Flora.”

I am scared shitless, but I refuse to show them. “Show me! Show me how much worse it can get!”

The room falls silent and they seem dangerously calm. Lyka removes his hand from my face and steps back. “By the time we’re done, you’ll be begging for mercy,” he taunts.

I hold my breath, his words sending a shiver through my body.

“Let's take her to the barn,” Lyka says, turning to Dax.

Dax uncrosses his arms, steps forward, and grabs my wrist. I hit his hand, my nails scraping against his skin. With force, he pulls me through the cabin, leaving me stumbling to keep up.

Lyka follows behind and starts whistling an eerie tune.

We reach the barn and Dax hustles me inside with the door closing behind us.

Inside, it feels cool and musty, dimly lit with a skylight. There’s a wooden beam in front of us with a thick chain hanging down and two ominous handcuffs. The chain whirls a bit as Lyka grabs it. “Do you like it?” he asks, his voice oozing with satisfaction. “I made it last night.”

My mouth drops open. “What the–” I mutter out of shock.

Dax and Lyka charge over to me and start stripping away my clothes. I stand there, fully naked, and feel the weight of their gazes on me.

The only thing left on my flesh is the Faulkner brand.

“You won’t do shit!” I spit at their feet, not regretting it.

They won’t break me.

Dax looks down at the saliva on his shoe and mumbles, “You brought this on yourself.”

I clench my teeth together so I don't show them any fear. Lyka pulls me over to the chain, lifting my arms above my head. He reaches up and snaps the metal cuffs around my wrists. I feel the cold metal digging into my skin.

“Do your fucking worst!” I taunt.

I am on my tiptoes, barely touching the floor. My arms stretch up agonizingly, every inch of my biceps straining to this unnatural position. The metal cuffs rub my wrists raw.

They both circle around me like predators. “One way or another, Flora, we will break you,” Lyka sneers. “And we are going to have so much fun doing it.”

Dax steps forward and whispers in my ear, “You just keep on being a brat…so ungrateful for all that we’ve done for you.”

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