Page 68 of Neverland

Chapter 18

NOW

Dominic smiled from above, his face twisting and contorting like that of a monster in a child’s dream. His hands circled my throat, fingers squeezing hard, determined to steal my last breath. I clawed in desperation, but my hands seemed to move through his body as if he were a ghost.

“There’s no more chances, little Lucy.” Dominic threw his head back and laughed maniacally.

“Leave me alone,” I begged, despite feeling myself slipping into a dark abyss. Lowering his lips to my ear, he whispered his promise, “It’s too late. I’m coming for you.”

I bolted upright, gasping for air with a dry, sore throat, sweat dripping over my body and a painful throb in my shoulder. My eyes rolled to the back of my head fighting the urge to be sick. I rolled to the side, someone lifting a bucket closer to my mouth. I heaved three times, vomiting only liquid but it was enough.

“It’s okay,” a woman soothed, rubbing my back in rhythmic circles. “You’re safe now. Here…” she held a cup to my mouth filled with the bacterial mouthwash you get at the dentist. Gratefully accepting, I swilled it around and spat. Placing everything on the side table, the woman lowered me back down onto the damp pillows.

“Where am I?” I muttered, eyes too heavy to keep open.

“Shh, rest,” she said softly until sleep claimed me once more.

~~~

“Lucy, it’s Romeo. Wake up, baby. Please. I need to hear your voice.”

~~~

The warm lights caressed my body, The Weekend’s “Call Out My Name” playing soft and lyrical as I danced across the stage, lost in a solemn trance and falling into a broken place I couldn’t pull myself out from. The deep bass bore down into my soul, and I moved to seduce the one pair of eyes watching. He remained in the dark shadows in front of the stage, until only a hand extended out into the bright lights, forefinger curling, slowing encouraging me to come closer. Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to him, falling to my knees. The hand, strong and controlling, a touch I was used to, snaked up my neck and twisted into my hair. He held tight, his menacing face slowly emerging from the dark abyss ready to breathe his fear into me.

Dominic smiled, tilting his head, breath burning my skin.

“Are those tears for me, Lucy?” he whispered, eyes hooded with lust.

“No,” I exhaled.

He yanked my hair and I gasped. “Liar,” he said, slowly dragging his tongue over my cheek. “I’ll make sure every tear you cry is because of me.” Dominic claimed my mouth, kissing me deeply, tasting and devouring. “Are you ready?” he asked, kissing me once more.

“No.”

He smiled. “Too late.”

Dominic turned me to the audience where Romeo stood alone, under a bright spotlight, darkness threatening to engulf him.

An ominous figure stepped behind him, the glint of a knife at his side.

“Do it,” Dominic ordered.

I blinked and the knife was at Romeo’s throat but he didn’t flinch. I screamed, yet I made no sound. The blade sliced through his beautiful skin, blood cascading down his body.

Dominic pulled me back to face him, the bloodied knife used to kill Romeo now grazing my cheeks, catching my tears. He looked up through his lashes, the shadows warping his evil features. “I told you I’d kill you both, Lucy. You just didn’t listen.” Dominic lunged with the knife. “Now it’s your turn…”

“Stop!” I screamed, waking myself, my arms crossing protectively over my face.

Something exploded close by, further startling me into consciousness.

“Shit. Jesus. Fuck,” a voice panted, sounding as terrified as I was feeling. Opening my teary eyes, I saw Sol at the foot of the bed looking like he’d just come under a missile strike, hot coffee splattered up his khaki pants. He cast me a nervous, wide-eyed glance. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Using the arm that didn’t hurt, I crawled to the headboard staring at my shooter. He seemed like a completely different man, no malice in him whatsoever. Sensing my fear, he extended his arm in placation. “Before you say anything, I’m real sorry about having to shoot you.”

His sincerity left me more confused, him registering my expression.

“I didn’t want to, but it was the only way to get you away from Dominic.”

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