Page 155 of Love Undiscovered
Chapter 41
Remi
I got past the point of not crying long ago. Because apparently now I cry. All the fucking time. Tears stream steadily down my face, my teeth grinding against the pain. Helen has made cuts on my thighs, chest, calves, and stomach. Now she’s going for my arms.
“Oh, looky here, are these little scars? Mimi, were you a cutter as a girl? Oh my, isn't that fitting? We're using your past coping mechanisms to hurt you now.”
She laughs, wildly. “Do you think you'll go back to cutting to deal with the fact that I've been cutting you?” She's laughing so much she can hardly get the words out. “Oh wait, no, you'll be dead!”
I am beyond answering her questions or responding at all. Most of what she says doesn't even make sense. It’s all I can do to try and block out my current reality.
“Oh Mimi, if I just let you live there could be so many scars.”
It doesn't matter. Even if she doesn't kill me, I'm never showing my skin again.
“Just do it, Helen,” I say.
I'm exhausted. I have no fight left. The pain is immense, yet for some reason, I haven’t passed out. All that's holding me up right now are the ties on my wrists. The rest of me has slumped over.
“Okay!” she says, grabbing the gun off the bed and pointing it at me.
I jump when I hear the noise, except it's not a gunshot, it's a loud knock on the door.
“Open up, Rem,” I hear Kat say as she bangs on the door. “Lex and I are here to cheer you up.”
“Kat!” I try to yell, but my voice comes out as more of a croak.
“Shut up!” Helen says. I'm not sure if she's talking to me or to Kat.
Until she backhands me across the cheek. Which is enough to shut me up. Truth be told, I don't want Helen getting her hands on Lexie or Kat anyway.
Helen resumes pacing and talking to herself. Then, seeming to decide, moves to open the door.
“You must have the wrong room,” I hear Helen say. I try to yell for Kat again, but I can't get my voice to work. My throat is so dry.
“Helen… what the fuck… if you hurt her—”
I hear Chance's voice right before I hear the door slam open and hit the wall.
“By all means, come in and join the party,” Helen says.
I raise my head slowly and watch as the three most important people in my life file in with Helen and her gun bringing up the rear.
“Remi!” Chance cries and is at my side in a second. “My God, beautiful. Oh my God.” His voice breaks, his eyes fill. “I'm so sorry, baby. HELEN, what did you do? I’m going to get you out of here, beautiful. Oh God. We’ve got to get her to a doctor! Help me untie her!” His voice is frantic as he pulls uselessly at my bindings.
Helen cocks the gun. It’s not a loud noise, yet somehow the click is one we all hear clearly.
“Get away from Mimi, or this one loses her head,” Helen says laughing, I raise my head and see she has the gun pointed at Lexie's head.
Chance stands up slowly and turns toward Helen, his hands raised in front of him.
“Helen…” he warns.
“Oh no you don't,” she says. “You don't call the shots here. I do. The one with the gun wins, right?”
“Okay, why don't we all just calm down a little bit,” Chance says in a low, even tone.
“I'm calm,” Helen says. She turns to me. “You calm, Mimi?”
