Page 99 of Teach Me How To Fly

“Fuck this,” I whispered between my lips, trying to find something around me that could help me escape.

There was nothing but two empty bedside tables and a huge wardrobe in front of me. This time I didn’t just feel fear, but anger too.

Someone kidnapped me and put me to sleep twice as if I was a doll ready to play with. I felt sick thinking of it and I tried to pull my hands from the chains, but it didn’t work. It only made me squeal in pain as the metal rubbed against my skin.

“Who the fuck are you?” I yelled, and I instantly regretted my courage.

This impulse I felt wasn’t something I was used to when it came to how I behaved in certain situations. But now I couldn’t be the Annalise that would stay still and do nothing. I had to fight for myself. I had to be the strong woman I’ve always dreamt of.

At least for as long as it would take Maksen to come and save me from here.

What makes you think that he’s coming to save you? What if he’s dead already and you’ll die too?

My mind kept sabotaging me and the fear was growing bigger inside my heart. I shouldn’t have said anything because whoever brought me here was going to hurt me even more if I didn’t obey their demands.

I gulped, feeling drops of sweat rolling down my forehead and the moment I tilted my head to my right side, I heard the door opening. I started shaking uncontrollably as I saw a man entering the room.

He had a sick grin stretched on his face, and the marks he had on his cheeks made me think he had been through dangerous situations. He pinned me with his eyes, sending shivers down my spine as he stepped towards me. I could sense the smell of alcohol in his breath even from this distance.

“The little sunshine woke up,” he growled, letting his weight fall on the bed.

I pulled away, but I couldn’t avoid his touch as his fingers found their way to my legs. I hated that I had a dress on.

One. Two. Three.

I started counting in my head and I didn’t even realize that I closed my eyes until he gripped my face and made me look him in the eyes. His smirk stretched even more on his face, and my stomach twirled with fear.

“Why don’t you wanna look at me, sunshine? Am I not the prince charming you must’ve been dreaming of?”

“Leave me alone!” I yelled, trying so hard to escape his grip.

“I’m not doing anything to you,” he whispered, stumbling on his moves as his body towered over me. “Yet,” he added, putting his legs around my hips.

“Look, your aunt gave you these tiny pink panties I love so much.”

I looked down at myself and saw the pair of panties I was wearing. These were my favorites too. They had a little pink bow on them, so I guessed that’s why my uncle liked them too.

The resemblance of that moment of my childhood with what was happening now striked through my bones. I didn’t even know I could feel as frightened as I was now. I couldn’t even look at the man above me.

All I could do was to close my eyes and try to think about something else — something that would’ve helped me escape reality. And Maksen came into my mind instantly.

I needed him so fucking much. I needed to feel his touch, to feel his hands wrapped around my body; to feel safe. I needed him, but he was nowhere to be found. The thought of him dead made my body start to shake even more. I didn’t want to believe that.

Maksen was going to save me.

Maksen was alive and ready to kill these men as he always was to whoever did him wrong, especially to whoever harmed me in any way.

The man pulled my dress up on my thighs and I pulled my hands, trying once more to get away from the chains. No fucking chance.

I had to accept that he was going to do things to me. I had to bear the pain and accept it as a part of me, because I was already used to it. My soul couldn’t be broken even more, because if it would’ve been possible, I would’ve just disappeared.

His hands were wandering on my body, thirsty to feel me and discover each part of my skin, and I felt sicker with every second that was passing by. I was ready to throw up at any moment as the heat lashed at my insides because of how much fear I was feeling.

I wanted to escape. I wanted this to be over. But I heard the sound of his belt falling on the floor and that was the moment my mouth opened with a loud scream. He instantly put his hand on my face as his other hand was gripping my neck with such force I felt my breath shortening.

“Shut up, you fucking bitch!” he whispered close to my face. “Do you really think anyone cares about you?”

I was struggling under his grip, trying so hard to catch a tiny breath to keep my lungs filled with oxygen. He was pushing me even harder between the pillows and I felt my neck as if I had burning thorns stinging into my skin.

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