Page 89 of The Dark Obsession

My heart stomps.Benjamin.

Dale stands over me, leans down, and exposes my chest.

I choke on the lump in the back of my throat. My spine arches as my arms struggle against the rope beneath me.

His foot crashes into my ribs, and my body flops, the pain bursting through my bones. “Now, stay still.” Dale drops to his knees and pulls down his jeans.

Each breath I take sends a sharp pain through my side. I wince again.

Dale finally releases me, my body burns where his hot hands were. Any attempts I make to get up are a wasted effort, my body can’t comply as I convulse silently, the pain only worsening.

I squeeze my eyes shut; wrapping my shirt around my body again, I won’t cry, I won’t shout. A million plans rush into my head, each as impossible as the other.

Dale grunts, “It’s strange,” his voice is coarse, “I find you more attractive when you’re lying there scared and defenceless than I did when we first met.”

I watch his face, my vision getting better. He bites his lip savagely and pierces his own skin.

He stares down at me with dark and manic eyes. His tongue flicks out and licks his lips, making them drip with saliva and blood. He grunts loudly.

His groans pierce my ears, implanting themselves into my brain. I spend what feels like an eternity begging myself to be strong.

The vile grunting stops, and Dale shuffles.

I mentally mark where the door is, trying to imagine my plan in action, he’s standing again, his hands on his jeans, about to pull them up. Before I know what I’m doing, I kick out with all the force my body can conjure. Both feet hit his groin area, and my ribs shudder dangerously as I roll on the floor in agony.

Dale falls backwards, his body bending and hitting the floor.

I push myself onto my knees and stand, clutching my ribs and stomach. I stand over Dale, who writhes on the floor in pain and steady myself, cocking back my foot, I kick Dale in the side of the head. My heart breaks as I watch him jolt and become still.

I stand, staring at the man on the floor—the beautiful, evil man on the floor. In a blink I see my father, his lifeless body. My insides burst into flames and my foot kicks out once more, this time hitting him in the ribs. Without looking down, I sprint for the front door and turn my back on it, watching the room from which I just came. I clutch the doorknob with my fingers from behind. It clicks open, and I sprint for the barn. The door to get inside stands ajar; a barely noticeable flicker of light glows. My heart thunders; if I can find Ben or Rafael, maybe there’s a chance. I stand for a second outside, peeking inside.

“Rafael, why didn’t you just leave her alone?” a shrill voice asks.

“This isn’t your only option, Lucy. Let me go, and I’ll forget anything ever happened …”

“You’ll still love her.” Lucy’s voice drops an octave.

“Yes, and you’ll get to live!”

Hearing Rafael agree with loving me disarms me. I completely forget the danger and stand there open-mouthed. I suppress the urge to run into the barn with my arms wide open. I need to think, to plan.

“Oh, you silly man, you just don’t see how much better I am for you.”

My stomach churns, her voice making me want to scream. I tug at my hands that are still tied around my back. With a deep breath, I push the door open with my knee, and both occupants of the barn face me. I see Rafael sitting on the floor, his shirt ripped and bloody. He’s tied to a wooden beam, his hairline coloured red.

“Back the fuck up!” Lucy’s eyes are wide and wild. She approaches me, a large silver gun in hand.

I stay still, frozen to the spot.

Rafael stares up at me, his relief clouded by a new fear.

“Put your hands up!” Lucy steps forward.

“I can’t … They’re tied behind my back.”

She grabs my arm and pulls me to the side, turning me around, and pushes me against the wall. I’m astonished at the amount of strength in her small frame.

“Where is Dale?” Rafael mutters.

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