Chapter 103
*****Sofia's POV*****
I wake up to more pain.
It's sharp and bruising
a heavy throb that pulses from behind my eyes, spreading like wildfire throughout my head.
My whole body feels numb and sore, like I've been through something terribly violent...
For a long moment, I can't even remember where I am. The darkness presses in around me, wrapping itself around my chest and squeezing the breath from my lungs.
I blink back slowly, trying to push myself up, but... something's wrong. My wrists.
They're tied.
Wait... I've been here before...
I'm tied up, again.
I freeze.
A sickening weight settling in my stomach, heavy with the realisation of where I still was.
I struggle, my heart starting to hammer in my chest as I yank at the restraints, but the plastic digs deeper into my skin, and the pain only intensifies.
I gasp loudly, panic rising up fast, the world tilting around me as I thrash against the bed and start to scream hysterically.
I can't breathe. I can't think. My body trembles uncontrollably as the overwhelming feeling of being trapped presses down on me.
Everything was blurry after... after Ashton. Passing out. The car. The conversation. The slap...
I shudder, remembering the coldness in his eyes.... his face coming in to my mind like a crazed stalker.
I blink again, slowly this time in an attempt to calm my breathing, forcing myself to take in the room around me properly.
It's small. Barren. White walls that feel sterile and unwelcoming. A door that's slightly ajar, the faintest sliver of light spilling in from the hallway, but nothing else. No windows, no sounds from outside. Just suffocating silence. This is a nightmare.
I must be dreaming?
wrists, the overwhelming sense of being
here, I'll have to convince him to let me go, but how will I do that if he
harder this time, desperation making my
my head, looking
then I hear
all that could help me break
locking somewhere in the distance before
stutters in my chest, and I freeze, straining
could I
in my throat as the footsteps
door creaks
Before there he is....
out. Not yet. My voice is thick, suffocating with growing fear. "Ashton," I whisper, my voice shaking.
steps into the room, his figure looming
He starts, as I pull my knees up
resembling a smile, but it's twisted. Disturbing. And I don't know why, but it sends
says, his voice soft, almost too soft, like he's speaking to a child. "You need to calm down now, I don't want to hurt
confused for a split
Calm down?!
the reason for my thumping headache and for my passing out the second time around - it was all
sitting in the pit of my stomach, a
the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete
listen to me! Stop freaking out! If you calm down, then I'll untie you, how about that?" Ashton tests, dangling the carrot of my freedom in front of
to find an escape... but I have to play my cards right
had proven already that he was prepared to be violent and I couldn't risk
could have been days by now for all I knew, especially with the lack of windows in the room to help me tell how
Between the first time
people aware that I was gone by now? Were people out looking
had left town?! Surely not when Emma knew I was supposed to stay with her... she
it. The first step is untying you, ok?" He seems to reach his hand in to his back pocket, before retrieving a pair of scissors as my eyes immediately light up with hope. This is seeming to go a little better
minute?" Ashton continues on, taking his time to round the side of the bed in
no chance out running or even fighting
face me at eye level next as I swallow the lump
and with that, he smiles slowly - reaching
he
I allowed for him to bask in the silent moment for a few
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