Lou stared dumbly at the stream. Moments earlier Buck had been fighting in a sick game for his life, and winning, when suddenly Bert changed the rules. Now her brother was gone. After the sacrifice she'd made to save him, the blow was crushing. She was so devastated she couldn't even weep for him. Never before had she been completely without hope, but now…
As if reading her thoughts, Bert's aristocratic voice whispered in her ear, "It's for the best, pet. Now I won't have to share you with anyone else. You and I can play alone." He pulled again on the belt, just enough to force a grunt from her. "You've yet to disappoint me. And I don't care if you want me or not, either way has it's pleasures… for me at least."
"Go ta Hell!" Lou's words were softly spoken, but dripping with disdain. Though she knew she ought not push her luck, she spat in his face.
He laughed, a cold, menacing sound. "I guess that means you don't want me. Sorry, pet, you might find yourself disappointed by my plans."
Lou saw him draw back his hand. She waited indifferently for the blow. His closed fist struck her cheekbone just high enough that the sting extended into the tender skin of her eye. Aside from the movement generated by the force of the strike, she did not react. If he thought she would beg and cry, he was mistaken.
Bert growled with frustration. "So that's your game, eh? Well, pet, this may be the best of both worlds then. I'll have the fun of breaking you." His hand fisted in her short hair as he yanked her head back viciously. His lips descended to hers with brutal force. When she refused to open her mouth, he simply yanked her head farther back until her lips were forced apart. His tongue plunged into her mouth, staking his claim. As he pulled his head away, he bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. "Either way, I'll eventually have you begging."
Bert's hand descended again with another blow, this time hard enough to knock her to the ground. As she tried to clear her addled thoughts, she caught sight of the end of the belt about her neck. Realization dawned that if the end of the belt was on the ground, she was no longer tethered to him. She knew there was little point in trying to escape, but in that moment all she could hear was Teaspoon's voice urging her on. 'You do not stand and fight. You run like hell.'
Run like hell.
Run like hell.
Run, Louise, run like hell.
Bert dropped on top of her, still not taking hold of the belt. Instead he tore at the remnants of her shredded clothing until all her skin was bared. He raised up until he was kneeling, leering crudely at her nudity. Lou schooled her expression into a passive mask. She refused to look at at her captor. Instead she let her eyes drift to spot just over his shoulder. Raising her eyebrows, she gasped silently. "Buck!"
Bert's head whipped around to follow the direction she'd been looking. Lou seized the opportunity to hit him squarely in the chest with as much force as she could muster, while also twisting her lower body to throw him off balance. He fell back with a grunt as she scrambled to her feet, kneeing him in the face for good measure.
And then she ran. Like hell. Like Hell was nipping at her heels. Adrenaline blocked the pain of her wounded foot, allowing her to move faster than she expected. She ran blindly, her hands frantically pulling the belt from around her neck. Her mind knew no direction other than "away." Away from the sadistic beast who tormented her. Away from the site of her brother's brutal murder. Away from the disturbing reality that was now her life.
A tiny spark of hope flared within her. She had no idea how far she had run, but maybe she could elude Bert after all. No sooner had she experienced that moment of possibility, then she felt a heavy force hit her from behind. She was knocked flat, her bare skin abraded as she slid beneath Bert's weight.
Whatever taunts he uttered, she never knew. As his hands rained stinging blows to her head and torso, her mind continued its flight. The slaps and punches soon turned to rough groping and painful pinches and squeezes, but her thoughts were miles away by then.
The boys are probably sitting down to dinner right now, laughing and teasing like family. Rachel is scolding them, but not-so-secretly enjoying every minute. Teaspoon would be sharing some incomprehensible bit of wisdom. I can just imagine Ike's smile, the way it lights up his whole face. And Jimmy and Cody trying to sneak extra servings of food. Noah would just shake his head at all the nonsense. But Kid… Kid's already started to worry. We aren't quite late yet, but he'll be antsy.
Kid… You were always worried about me and mad at Jimmy for backin' me up. Jimmy has faith that I'll be able to take care of myself. And now I'm about to disappoint you both.
Vaguely aware of a cool feeling at her throat, Lou was pulled back to her present horror by the odd sensation of her skin giving way to light pressure. Buck's knife was slowly pressing into the delicate skin of neck. Bert's laughter warmed the skin of her left ear. "So that's what it takes, eh?"
His free hand roamed her tender flesh, violating every pore he touched. With her eyes nearly swollen shut, she was forced to rely on her other senses. Bert's skin pressed heavily against her legs and abdomen, telling her that he'd managed to remove his pants. He panted just as the pressure of the knife cutting into her neck lessened slightly and the rough material of his shirt moved across patches of her skin. He was propping himself up on one elbow. His free hand slipped to the juncture of her thighs as he tried to force her legs apart.
'You do not stand and fight. You run like hell.' I'm sorry, Teaspoon. I tried… But now I have to stand and fight. Just one last time. And then I'll run like hell. To Hell. Forgive me?
Lou grabbed for the knife, catching Bert by surprise. The sharp blade cut deeply into her hands, blood spilling from the wounds. If only she could bring the blade closer to her throat, a quick slice would end this torment. To Hell!
Bert's attention was somehow diverted, weakening his hold on the knife. She could hear a sound in the distance. It couldn't be…
"Lou! Louise!" It was…
She never knew from what part of her soul she found the power to scream, but all she could do was call out to the only father she'd ever known. "Teaspoon!"
She struggled anew, her hands covering Bert's as he dragged the blade toward her stomach. He kept up a steady stream of vulgarities and dark promises, telling her his plan to cut her open like one of his wild animals. She was to suffer as much as possible, and he would take his own life rather than be captured. She might outlive him, but he would be waiting in Hell to welcome her home.
The knife hovered between them as both fought for control.
"It all begins and ends with you and me." Bert breathed against her skin, his words slipping across her flesh much as his fingers had when he'd torn her clothes.
"You got part of that right," Lou began, halting her words as she thrust Buck's knife into his chest. "It all ends with me."