Page 14 of Property of Mercy
“You have two choices: stand here with my hand wrapped around your throat until we’re done or you can follow the prospect to my room and stay there.”Mercy watches me closely when he is done speaking.
I wish more than anything that the filter between my mouth and brain was working.“What exactly am I supposed to do?Sit around and wait for you to decide whether I live or die?That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fucking fun to me.What about you?”
The grip on my throat tightens to the point it’s nearly painful.“Has anyone ever told you that your mouth is going to get you dead?”
Cocking an eyebrow at his question is my only option with the grip he has on me.We stand that way as black dots slowly dance in my vision from lack of blood flow.That’s when fear overrides my common sense as it finally clicks that this isn’t the first time this man has done this.He could truly kill me before anyone could stop him.Wrapping my hands around his wrist, I try all the self-defense moves I’ve ever been taught with nothing loosening his grip.
“Don’t fight me, Little Lamb,” he leans close, brushing his lips across mine.“I always get what I want.”
All I can do is stand there, my body and mind on two completely different plans of existence.
“Tell me, Little Lamb, what’re you going to do?What would you be willing to do to save your life?”His words are but a whisper across my dry lips.
The black spots have grown, and I know I’m going to pass out or finally get my ticket punched when suddenly, he lets me go completely, and I slide down the wall to sit on my butt.Mercy looms over me, breathing hard, fisting his hands at his side with a look of pure rage on his face.
“Get her the fuck out of here.Fucking NOW!”he roars, throwing a fist at the wall above me.
I pull my knees to my chest, making myself as small as possible, waiting for what I don’t know.A hand latches onto my arm, pulling me away from the man now losing his shit.I’m pulled to my feet and shoved behind someone else as I’m herded toward the door.Mercy continues his assault on the wall before turning on the man that was standing beside us.I watch in shock, fear, and even curiosity as the two giants go to blows and the others step back, not at all trying to stop the fight.Without warning, I’m pushed through the door into the arms of another man wearing a damn cut.
“Take her to Mercy's room.Do not leave the door and do not let her leave,” Terro tells the man.
Finally finding my voice, “What if I need something to eat or drink?What about the bathroom?I can’t just fucking be locked up in this place.”
Terro’s eyes lock on to mine, “You will damn well stay in his room.If you need anything, ask the fucking prospect and he’ll take care of whatever it is.Now, go.”
“I don’t have access to his room, sir,” the man at my back says.
Terro glares at the man before turning back to the room as the fight inside rages on.He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys, handing him one.“This will get you in.It comes back to me.Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes sir,” the man says.
I don’t get a word out before the door is slammed in my face.The sounds of fighting can be heard through the door.The prospect turns me away from it, guiding me back down the hallway.When we make it back to the great room, I pause and take in the once quite great room not able to wrap my mind around what I’m seeing.Where there was a quiet empty room earlier, now there are men, barely dressed women, and even someone manning the bar.The music is thumping, and everyone seems to be having a good time.
The man at my back pushes lightly so that I’ll continue walking.I can feel people's eyes on us as we make our way to the hall that leads to the room I started all this in.As we make it there, we pass it and keep walking until we reach the very last door on the right.He steps forward, sliding the key into the lock before pushing the door open.I don’t move to go into the room, my feet feel as if they’re cemented to the floor.
“Do you need anything?”The question is so out of the blue I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it.
The laughter finally subsides and I’m able to talk.“What I need is to go back however many hours ago and never fucking go into that damn bar.So unless you can make that happen, I’m peachy at the moment.”
My stomach chooses that moment to argue with me, growling loudly.
A soft chuckle causes my head to snap around to glare at the man.“I’ll have someone bring you something to eat.”
Defeated, I make my way into the dark room.“Yeah, thanks.I think I’m going to take a nap.”
“Sure thing,” he mumbles before pulling the door closed as he steps out, draping the room in darkness.
I stand there letting the darkness hug me like a blanket while letting my thoughts run away with all the things that could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, but damn well didn’t.I take a shuffling step backward so I can lean against the door, still too chicken shit to turn the light on and take in my new prison.My back makes contact and I sniffle, sinking to my ass and laying my head back against the door.I splay my hands out on either side of me, feeling the floor.
As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I am able to take in a few small details about the room.The bed is directly in front of me, with one side pushed against the wall.What appears to be a dresser is directly to my right with just enough room between it and the foot of the bed to walk.There looks to be a door straight ahead of me.The wall to my left seems to be empty, but then again, it is completely dark, so what do I really know?
“Okay bitch, you see the bed.Get your ass off the floor and get in it.You’ll think better with a little more sleep,” I grumble to myself as I hall my ass up off the floor and shuffle to the bed.
When I make it to the bed and climb up onto it, falling asleep before my head even hits the pillow.I hear the door open at some point, but can’t seem to get my eyes to open before I’m sucked back into blissful nothingness.
Blissful?That’s a joke.In the darkness, I’m stalked and hunted by the ghosts of those I lost to the Reaper.Their screams and pleading words rip another piece of my soul out.The never-ending reminder that nothing and no one is permanent, and no matter how hard you try, you will always disappoint them in the end.
I wake on a gasp as Gloria takes her last breath in my arms.My eyes fly around, trying to register where I am as the dredge of my nightmare falls away.Finding myself still alone, I moan as I try to move my stiff muscles.Throwing my arm over my face, I get a good whiff of my current self and cringe.
