Page 96 of Goose

“Nah. I want you to suffer just like I did all these years.”

The tears flow from my eyes as I look up at her. “I’ve suffered long enough. All my fucking life I’ve suffered!”

“That’s what happens when you’re born on the wrong side of the tracks.”

Ellie Jo shines a bright spotlight on me and turns on classical music. It’s so loud I can barely think.

She comes back with a long red stick and I realize it was a cattle prod.

“Ellie Jo. Please, don’t do this! Please!”

She just shakes her head. “Too late. You should have listened the first time, bitch.”

Ellie Jo turns it on and comes toward me. With an evil smile, she rips my shirt from my body and places the prod on my stomach.

I try to move away but have nowhere to go. Ellie Jo pulls it back, then places it on my foot. “We’ll start here and move our way up. I want to see you suffer.”

She pushes the button, and I scream as the prod sends electric currents through my foot. Elie Jo just laughs as she prods me repeatedly on the bottoms of my feet and up to my knee.

“Please... please, stop!”

Ellie Jo pushes the prod into my stomach as I convulse on the floor in front of her. “Nah. This is rather fun.”

She turns and picks up a bat that has nine leather straps on the end. Ellie Jo pushes me down on my knees. Rocks and dirt beneath me grind into my skin. I try to get up, but she just pushes me down again.

“Enough!”

Ellie Jo screams as she whips me with the makeshift torture device. I cry out as she hits me over and over. My skin breaks open, blood drips down my back. She keeps going until she finally collapses in the old chair.

I cry as I lay down in the dirt, hoping she’s finally done. I can hear Ellie Jo get back up and open another door.

Before I know what’s happening, she pulls a burlap bag over my head and pushes me down again.

Laughing, she steps away. “Now, I have a man to catch.”

I can hear Ellie Jo walk up the steps, laughing the entire way. She flips the lights off and slams the door shut, leaving the blaring music to pound through my head.

I collapse against the wall and cry. I fucking cry for everything that had happened to me. I cry for everything that's happening right now. And I cry for everything that is going to happen.

Once again, I put Goose in danger. I need to stop Ellie Jo or warn Goose. I look around the room, trying to find anything I can use to cut the ropes on my hand.

I can feel the wall behind me is made of stones. I feel around with my arms until I find a sharp edge on one. Scooting closer, I try to rub the rope on it as best I can.

I can’t see, but I try my fucking best. I need to get out of here and save Goose; save the man I love. Ellie Jo is going to hurt him and anybody else who tries to step in.

I need to find a way out and save us both before it’s too late...

---