Page 6 of Heal Me

She looks like she might faint when I tell her, and so I take my leave, as I’ve never revived a possessed woman before and see no reason to do so now. I also have a feeling if I touched my lips to this woman’s, Damion would lose his shit.

A very interesting turn of events, I think with a chuckle.

Chapter 3

Charlotte

Jerking awake, I try to sit up, but can’t. Where I am and why I’m here comes crashing down like a lead balloon.

Leaving the bar.

Walking a few streets over with Brad.

Brad holding a knife to my neck as he dragged me to the trunk of his car.

Knocking me out.

Waking up here.

In hell.

“You illegally kidnapped me, you freakin’ psycho! How about that for an inconvenience!” a woman yells as someone ascends the staircase and closes the door. Am I really awake? I’ve been drifting in and out of consciousness, and I’m not sure if this is real or a dream. I also don’t know how long I’ve been here—it’s dark and there’s no way for me to track time. It could be just a few days, or it could be months.

Trying to sit up, all I can do is moan. Everything hurts.

“Hello? Is someone else here?” the female voice calls. “Brad Cunningham kidnapped me. Did he kidnap you too?”

“Yes,” I tentatively answer, still not sure if I’m dreaming.

“I’m Aubry Brooks. What’s your name?”

“Charlotte Patel,” I say a bit louder.

“Charlotte Patel! Is your mom Debbie and your grandmother Opal?” she asks in a rush.

“Yes! How do you know that?” I demand, my voice sounding weak even to my own ears.

“I met your mom! She’s been looking for you!”

A flicker of hope sparks back to life. “How do you know my mom?”

“It’s a long story. Is there any way out of here besides those stairs?”

“No, I don’t think so. There are no windows and I haven’t seen another door.”

“Hang in there. We’re going to get out of here,” she says with confidence.

The door creaks open, and I hear footsteps. With each footfall, panic swells in my chest. Snapping my eyes closed tight, I pray to God he’s forgotten I’m over here in the corner. “Aubry, glad to see you’re okay,” Brad says, his voice coming from the other side of the room. “I didn’t want to hurt you too badly; I just needed you to cooperate.”

“If you think knocking a woman unconscious is her ‘cooperating’ then you are delusional.” The woman scoffs.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a smart mouth?”

“Brad, what is it that you want? Let’s bottom line it,” she huffs. This woman is ballsy. I just pray it doesn’t get her killed.

“Now there’s the Aubry I love. The moment I met you, I was so enchanted by the feel of your energy. So magical. I had to have more. But you were such a cocktease, never wanting to spread your legs to give me what I deserve, and then you have the nerve to break up with me! No ma’am, that won’t do.”

“First of all, I never broke up with you because we were never together,” she spits. “Second of all, what do you mean ‘the feel of my energy?’” She pauses. “Oh my Goddess, you’re an energy vampire!” I want to ask what an energy vampire is, but I don’t want to remind anyone I’m still over here in the corner. Especially the energy vampire. Hating that I’m a coward, I nevertheless remain perfectly still. “Where are we?” she asks Brad.

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