Page 85 of Twisted Bonds
A flash of something coming towards me catches my eye, and all I can think of is that it's some kind of lake monster that will swallow me whole and put me out of my misery. I close my eyes.Come and get me, I'm all yours.
Death doesn't feel like I thought it would. I'm chilled, and my whole body hurts like a bitch. I would think I was in Hell, but I'm positive there wouldn't be a chill in the air. However, my body feels weightless; beyond myself, so maybe my brain is the last thing to die. You always hear about people seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. How can they if they are completely dead? Where is my light, though? I would think that my father would at least come and welcome me, but then again, all those stories are probably made up.
Is this the afterlife? Cold, numb, and alone. It's going to make for a very boring time if it is. Hello? I call out, but there is nothing. That is until I start to feel something. My arm. Something warm engulfs it as I feel a snugness at my wrist. Whatever it is, it won't get much more blood. I'm pretty sure most of it flowed into the lake I used to end my life.
I wonder if anyone will ever find my body, or will I end up decaying and spending eternity inside that watery grave? I was so stupid. I wasn't thinking about anybody else or anything, except how much I didn't want to go back with Sergio. The strange part is how I felt my heart skip at seeing that beautiful monster. Thank God my brain took control instead of the needy bitch that resides between my legs. However, now, I'm unsure whether my brain was much help.
The same sensation repeats itself with my other arm as it did with the first, only now, there is a buzzing noise. I concentrate on the noise, knowing that it sounds familiar, but not quite placing my finger on it. Straining the way I am to hear, I feel fatigue taking hold, but I fight it. No…what is that? Is someone finally coming for me? Will I see my father, or maybe my mother? Hello? I call out again when I hear that noise, but darkness takes me again before I can do anything.
"She's waking up."
"Get the fuck away from her!"
Voices. I hear voices—angry voices, or at least one of them is angry. The other sounds hopeful. They are muffled, almost like my ears are full of water, so I can't hear them clearly enough to make out who the voices belong to, but they are familiar.
"I won't hurt her, and you know it!"
"Oh? Then why was she running from you, and how did you get that nasty bruise on your face? Poppet isn't a violent woman. She must have felt threatened."
That name makes me cringe, and a rumble bubbles up as I try to groan in displeasure. Maybe I am in Hell, and Dante or Luca came for me, but it sounds more like Sergio. For someone who was supposed to be the meanest brother of all, Sergio seemed to care for me the most. He's still a monster, but what scares me the most is that had I stayed with them longer than I did, I fear I would have fallen in love with the fucker.
Something warm touches my cheek, and I lean into it, even when I hear his voice say, "Hey, poppet. Open those pretty eyes for me."
It's almost like my body remembers his commands and obeys him. My lids flutter open just a slit and then close again. It takes me a few tries, but they finally remain open, and I stare back into the familiar eyes of my old Master. I shudder, but I don't know if it's because I'm scared or because it's my body reacting to his nearness like it used to.
"There she is. Have you missed me, poppet?" Sergio asks with a soft smile that looks alien to me. "How are you feeling?"
I try to talk but can't; all that comes out is a croak, and I hear the other voice say, "I'll grab her some water."
My heart races at that voice, but not in a good way. Sergio must see something in my expression because he scowls and then glares at Brant's retreating back. His features soften a little when he looks back at me, and he asks, "Did he hurt you?" His voice is low, so Brant can't hear, and I nod. "Did he…" He pauses and swallows hard before he continues, "Did he touch you?"
What if he did? It's not like Sergio was any better. Then again, I gave my consent regardless of how it was given, whereas Brant took it even after I pleaded with him. I nod, and then look away, unable to look him in the eyes any longer.
"Will you be okay if I go and look for a first aid kit?" Sergio asks. "One of the cuts on your wrists is pretty deep, but it doesn't look like you cut into the vein, thank God. I wanted to wrap them up just in case, but the material isn't too sanitary. We need to clean them and wrap them properly."
I nod, and Sergio stands up from where he was perched on the edge of the couch I'm on. I'm confused about how I'm still alive, but when Sergio stands, I notice his soaked clothing.He must have pulled me out of the water. That can't be,I argue with myself. He was on the other side from where I went in.
Once Sergio leaves me, I notice the room I’m in. It looks to be rustic—like a cabin. The coziness of it would be comforting if it weren’t for the two men that are also here with me. I can smell the wood burning in the fireplace in front of me, and I can’t help but be drawn to the photos on the wooden mantle. I only know one person in all of them, but aside from Brant no one else looks familiar. His family maybe? I’ve never heard him talk about them before, it’s odd. Not that it matters anymore. I couldn’t care less about who his family is.
Skin-hitting skin draws me out of my thoughts, and I try to sit up, but my body still fights me. I give up and just lay here, listening to the sickening hits and grunts until the room goes quiet. I jump when Sergio reappears with a glass of water and places it on the table in front of the couch. I don't miss the fresh blood on his knuckles.
"I will be right back with the first aid kit, and then I'll help you sit up a little so you can drink some water." Sergio only glances at me, so I'm unsure if he even notices the look of confusion on my face.
A moment later, I hear something being dragged to the back of the cabin and then footsteps coming back this way. The steps stop, and water is briefly run before I hear doors open and close. A few minutes later, Sergio reappears, placing a case on the table.
"Ready?" he asks as he gazes down at me, and I can't quite figure out what it is, but Sergio D'Angelo seems like a different man from the last time I saw him on the other side of that two-way mirror at the prison.
I simply nod.
Very carefully, he helps me sit up partially, just enough to drink some water. My chest hurts like a bitch, and when I bring my hand up to rub the area, I notice a guilty look flash across Sergio's face. I don't understand why he would make that face, but surprisingly, he apologizes.
"I'm sorry, poppet. I may have cracked a few of your ribs when I did CPR on you," he states a bit sheepishly.
"CPR?" I question with a whisper.
The look he gives me is one of utter disbelief. "You can't expect to slit your wrists and then plunge yourself into the middle of a lake and not chance drowning. You don't realize what a miracle it is that I even got your heart beating again!"
"I…" I don't know what to say, so I just sip the water he hands me.
