Page 15 of Save Me

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and a rush of cool air fills the room. The distinct sound of footsteps echoes in the silence as her father walks in. Stopping abruptly in his tracks, his eyes widen in a mixture of shock and disbelief as he locks his gaze on me. He swiftly closesthe door behind him and turns back to me. “How the hell did you get in here?”

Ignoring his question, I slowly rise from the chair, a surge of anger coursing through me.

“What have you done?” My voice, low and filled with restrained fury, seeps into the air. The room feels heavy with tension as I struggle to contain myself, resisting the urge to lunge at him and squeeze the life out of him with my bare hands.

“What are you talking about?” He asks with a slight tremble as he slides his hands into his pockets.

My hand trembles slightly as I reach behind me, feeling the cold, solid grip of the knife nestled in the back of my waistband. His widened eyes dart back and forth between mine and the glinting blade in my hand.

“Don’t make me ask twice… sir.” A small, sinister smile tugs at the corner of my lips as I taunt him, taking slow, deliberate steps towards him. My fingers twirl the knife, the metallic click filling the room, as my unwavering gaze fixates on him, piercing through his façade of innocence.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he defends, his voice trembling. In an instant, I come to a suddenhalt in front of him, my burning gaze piercing into his soul as I press the cold blade against his throat.

“Don’t fucking tempt me, old man.” I spit, ready to slaughter him like a pig right here for his wife to find. “What did you pay Zavier to do? And don’t fucking lie to me.” My heart thumps loudly in my ears, drowning out the surrounding silence. Impatience consumes me as I dig the sharp tip of the blade into his neck, crimson droplets of blood slowly trickling down, staining his shirt.

“Okay, okay!” he yells, his voice desperate, before shutting his eyes tightly and taking a deep breath. “He got rid of her.”

The words that escaped his trembling lips hit me with the force of a thousand bricks.

He got rid of her.

The air is sucked out of my lungs, leaving me breathless. Clenching my jaw, I close my eyes and lower my head, trying to regain my composure. When I open my eyes again, they lock onto his terrified gaze. “Where is he?” I demand, my voice low and menacing.

He stammers, his words barely coherent, “There’s an old cabin... an isolated location... thirty minutes westout of the city.” I take a deep breath, leaning closer until our faces are mere inches apart. “I’ll be back for you.”

Chapter 11

STARLET

*PRESENT*

“La-la-lalala-lalala..” I swear I’mgoing to die of boredom. Lying on the worn-out mattress, I absentmindedly twirl the thin blanket between my fingertips, feeling the rough fabric against my skin. I haven’t seen Zavier all day—well, if I’m honest, I’m not even sure if it’s night or day anymore. Everything has just seemed to blur together at this point.

But it has been hours since he was down here with me. Which is odd, because ever since I tried killing myself, he has been keeping an eye on me like a hawk.

That day was a blur. Zavier’s paranoia consumed him, keeping me confined in this basement, suffocating me with his unnerving presence. I wasn’t allowed to go back upstairs after that. Instead, he would sit here for hours with me, either raping me all over again or sticking his dick down my throat. As if that wasn’t torment enough, he twisted our shared history, distorting it into a twisted justification for his actions. I cringe at the mere thought of hearing him repeat how much he loves my hair. It’s enough to make me want to tear every strand from my scalp.

Sitting up, I pull up the fabric of my pants, revealing the scarred ‘A’ etched into my thigh. My fingertips graze the rough skin, tears welling up in my eyes. In this moment of despair, I find myself yearning for an end to it all, just so I can be with him. It’s a twisted realization, but he has become a twisted necessity in my life.

Yes, he was a creep, but he was mine. I don’t regret inviting him into my life and I cannot wait to see him in the next.

Suddenly, the door slams shut, jolting me out of my thoughts. Zavier stomps down the stairs, his face drenched in sweat, his complexion pale like a ghost. Furrowing my brows, I slowly rise from the mattress, wrapping the blanket tightly around my trembling frame.

“What’s going on?”

“Uh, nothing. I, um, have to go see someone… business related.” His response comes out in a stammered rush. He hastily hands me a takeaway bag before storming back up the stairs. I watch him, perplexed by his behavior, and then a realization hits me. I didn’t hear the door close.

Placing the bag down on the creaking wooden floor and tossing the worn blanket next to it, I take cautious steps toward the staircase. As I gaze up the dimly lit stairs, my heart skips a beat, my eyes widening in surprise as I notice Zavier’s forgetfulness in leaving the door ajar.

The anticipation surges through me. This is my chance, my ticket to freedom. After what feels like an eternity of captivity, I can finally escape this place. With each thump of my racing heart echoing in my ears, I silently pray that this isn’t some cruel trick. I stand there for a few moments, contemplating my next move, before summoning the courage to ascend the stairs, taking slow and deliberate steps.

As I reach the top, my trembling hands reach out to push the door open, and a rush of cold air slaps against my face, snapping me back to reality. With a mixture of fear and determination fueling my every move, I swiftly climb the second staircase, my body shaking with adrenaline.

Coming to a sudden stop, I find myself staring at the door above my head. This must be the door hidden beneath the couch in the living room. Without wasting a second, I gather all my strength and shove it open, the rusty hinges protesting with a low groan. The door slowly lifts, creating a narrow gap, and I squeeze my body through, my breath ragged and labored.

Exhausted and breathless, I scan the living room and kitchen, straining my ears for any sound that mightindicate Zavier’s presence, but the silence is deafening. With a sense of urgency pulsating through me, I sprint towards the front door, throwing it open and exposing myself to the crisp, invigorating scent of the outside world. As I take in my surroundings, I realize I am surrounded by a dense forest, towering trees stretching as far as the eye can see.

As I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, a sense of excitement fills me, and I sprint out of the cabin and into the unfamiliar forest.

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