Page 47 of Make Her Bleed
"Aria!" I hear my name but I can't move. The pain is too great. That's all I feel. All I know. "Oh, my god. What did he do to you!" The voice speaks again but I can't even open my eyes.
"Back away from her, Knox!" Kai snaps but I can't see him. My vision is black and it doesn't even matter if I'm blind now.
"What the hell did you do to her? Why is she bleeding? Aria, look at me."
Even in as much pain as I am in, I have one central thought that burns bright in my mind outside of all the agony and darkness.
"Knox, don't," I say, my voice breaking rapidly.
"How could you throw her down the fucking stairs like that? You could've killed her, Harris!"
Dad?
"Back off. This is my show, got it? I'm going to do whatever the fuck I want to, whatever I need to, and no one and I meanno onewill get in my way. You know who will suffer if they do? She will. Every scream, every cry, every ounce of blood spilled from her body will be on your hands. Do I make myself clear?" Kai hisses with dominance radiating so strong I feel it in my bones.
He'll continue to torture me as long as anyone fights him. I'll never be free of this agony as long as others care about my safety.
My mind takes in the lack of light in my vision and fear grips me. I realize it's dark. Everything is dark.
My heart hammers away as I start hyperventilating. I'm deathly scared of the dark, always have been.
I cry again, unable to form the words to say why I'm so frightened now. It's not Kai's words. It's this, right here.
The darkness suffocates me.
"Get the fuck up, princess," Kai hisses at my crumbled form.
It's only a few seconds before I'm pulled from the floor. My feet are off the floor and my stomach is pressed against something, presumably Kai's shoulder. It's his favorite place to carry me.
"I'm sorry!" I cry to everyone besides Kai. I hate that they have to see this, whatever he's doing to me, but I barely get the words out before everything shakes then my body is lifted off his shoulder and my body connects with the ground.
"Enjoy the dark, princess," Kai growls before I hear a door slam.
Does he know he blinded me?
I have no idea where I am but I lay there and cry my eyes out for so long.
Sleep takes me before I wake up, still in horrible pain. Everything is still so dark.
I can't tell if I fall back asleep with everything so silent. I'm losing my grip on reality.
I need to do something to keep me sane. I need some noise so instead of accepting the psychosis that's sure to come, I sing the sea shanty I was taught long ago.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
KAI
Throughout the rest of the day, Knox consistently gives me dirty looks but he knows better than to say anything. He knows he's the cause of Aria's misery. If he steps a toe out of line, I won't hesitate to hurt her again.
I'm not stupid. I know all of the guys care about her and hate seeing her suffer, but they won't challenge me. They know if they do, she will agonize over the consequences.
I prepare her food before heading to the basement door. As soon as I crack it open, I hear something that shocks and amazes me. It's the sound of her singing.
"She'd not been...two weeks from shore... when down on her...a right whale bore...the captain called...all hands and swore...he'd take that whale in tow…" Her voice was like velvet and silk. Soft and elegant.
I move to her but her eyes stare into nothingness like she's lost in her own head but she's stopped singing. Her skin is nearly translucent with lack of life. If she hadn't just been singing, I might've assumed she was dead.
"Where did you hear that?" I ask but though she noticeably gulps and her eyes remain far off.
