Chapter Ten

Another month went by, and a lot happened. Everyday after breakfast, I hang out with David. It's not as intimate as the Just Dance incident, though. Generally, we just play games or watch Doctor Who or something like that. We do kiss sometimes, but it's not as passionate as the first one.

And then after lunch, I go to the library to 'read,' when I'm actually hanging out with Ben. We always meet in the horror section to talk, joke, and play video games. We play a lot of video games. Ben is pretty quiet, until you get him talking about video games. We could have a discussion about which Legend Of Zelda game is the best that would last all day. Usually, I just watch him play video games, like the Pokemon game I caught him playing that day. It's usually the highlight of my day to hang out with Ben.

After dinner, I hang out with Chloe, or just get some time to myself. This is basically my day to day schedule. Well, at least until the kiss.

As usual, I happily walk to the library after lunch. As I walk up the steps to the second floor of the library, I suddenly get a feeling of foreboding. I stop walking and lean against the railing to breathe. After a few seconds, the feeling passes and I continue up the stairs.

I walk into the first row of books in the horror section, Ben and I's usual spot. I see Ben already there, as usual. He's not wearing his normal dress, a green hoodie and dark green pants. One day, I asked why he didn't always wear his Link outfit, and he said he only wears that on special occasions. This was one of those occasions.

I smile and sit next to Ben, who, at the moment, is playing Pokemon.

"Hey." I say, smiling with my chin down slightly. Even though Ben is taller than me, I have a longer torso, so I'm taller than him sitting down.

"Hey." Ben says, smiling back at me.

"Happy Halloween!" I exclaim, hugging Ben. He loves Halloween. Ben laughs and hugs me back before returning to his game.

"Happy Halloween, Juliette."

He has the cutest laugh, I think. I lean my head on Ben's shoulder as he plays Pokemon. I think of how nice it would be to run away with Ben. To live in the country, and spend every second with him, and never have to see David again. Maybe have some kids and-wait. What am I saying? I can't leave. Plus, Ben's dead. How could we have kids? I don't even like kids. Too high maintenance.

After a while, Ben closes his 3DS and turns to face me.

"Can I talk to you about something?" he asks.

"Sure, anything." I respond.

"So, I think I like this girl. She's really nice and cute, and I've liked her ever since I met her. But, I'm not sure if she likes me back. I want to tell her, but I don't know how. What should I do?"

"Well," I begin, "I think you should tell her. I'm sure she'll like you back. I mean, who wouldn't? You're smart, cool, kind, like video games, and really funny. You're a great guy and any girl would be lucky to have you." And that's when Ben kisses me.

I immediately kiss back and wrap my arms around Ben's neck. Ben tenderly wraps his arms around my waist as butterflies fill my stomach. Fireworks explode as our lips move in sync. This is much better than when I kiss David. With David, it feels so fake. So wrong. But this kiss with Ben, it feels so right. I am in total and utter harmony as I kiss Ben.

After a while, we break apart, gasping for breath. I immediately long for Ben's sweet lips on mine again.

"That was… Perfect." I breathe.

"You're perfect." Ben says. This time, I kiss him.

Once again, we break apart, and this time I glance down at my watch. It's 8PM. I look back up at Ben and smile. And then I process the information. It's 8PM.

"Crap, I'm late to dinner. I have to go. Bye!" I say, standing up. I give Ben a goodbye kiss and run towards the stairs. Right before I disappear down the stairs, I turn back and wave to Ben, who is just staring at me awestruck. I fly down the stairs and run out of the library, not bothering to close the door.

As I'm running down the hallway, I think of how much trouble I'll get in. Dinner starts at 7, which means I'm an hour late. Surely I wasn't kissing Ben that long? No, it can't be. I probably just lost track of time while I was watching him play Pokemon. I hope.

Just as I get to the main room, someone pushes me from the side, causing me to fall down. I look up to see a very, very furious David.

"What the hell was that?!" David screams, causing me to flinch.

"You don't show up for dinner, so I decide to check the security cameras. Then I see you with that 'Link' guy. I've seen you with him before, so I figured you just lost track of time. But then you go and kiss him! Not only once, oh no. then I might have forgiven him. But three times! And you obviously don't bother to fight back! Why, Juliette? Why?!" I stay silent, which just makes David even more furious.

"Fine then." He says, cracking his knuckles.

"We'll do this the hard way." An evil grin spreads on David's face as he steps on my left wrist. I scream in agony as David digs his heel into my wrist.

"WHERE IS HE?!" David screams.

"Who?!" I cry out. David puts more and more pressure on my wrist, until I hear a loud snap. I look over and see a bloody bone sticking out from David's shoe.

"You know who! Ethan!" Of course. What other guy could get in here? Plus, Ben and Ethan have a similar face shape and hair color.

"I DON"T KNOW!" I cry out sharply.

"Leave her alone!" A voice says to my right, and David and I turn our heads to see Ethan.

"You." David growls menacingly. He steps off of my wrist and stalk towards Ethan. Once he's close enough, David punches at Ethan's face, which he blocks. Ethan throws a punch and hits David square in the jaw. Blood starts to pour out of David's mouth as he smiles evilly and rams his head into Ethan's stomach. Ethan lands on the ground and David throws punch after punch after punch on Ethan's face and stomach. All I can do is stare in horror as David punches Ethan so hard in the jaw that I hear a sickly crack and blood and teeth fly out of Ethan's mouth.

David stands up and takes a gun out of his pocket. First, he shoots Ethan's feet, then his hands, then finally points the gun at Ethan's head.

"David, please." I plead.

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do." David says, gritting his teeth.

"He's keeping us apart, Juliette. You can't be with me until he's gone. I knew I should've gotten rid of him sooner. I have to do this."

"NO!" I scream, but it's too late. David pulls the trigger, and Ethan goes limp. Marsa shrieks and runs to Ethan, Chloe right behind her. I didn't even notice them before, but they probably came when they heard the screaming.

"Ethan? Ethan!" Marsa screams, pounding on his chest as she sits next to him.

"Ethan….. Ethan, please…. Ethan." She says, and I see a single tear fall unto Ethan's face.

Marsa silently stands up and walk towards David. She raises her hand as she walks, as if she's going to slap him.

"You son of a bi-" Chloe runs behind Marsa and holds her back.

"You asshole! You abduct my siblings, kill my sister, and keep us here for six years, and then kill my only living family left! You don't deserve to live! I hope you rot in hell for all you're worth!" David just takes Marsa, her kicking and screaming, and throws her in the cellar. Then he picks me up, since I'm still lying on the ground, and looks at Chloe.

"Go to your room. Now!" Chloe nods hurriedly and runs up the staircase to her room. David carries me into the kitchen and sets me on the counter. He gets out a large first aid kit, and I sense this isn't the fist time this has happened.

David calmly pops my bone back into place, and I wince. Then he wraps up my wrist tightly and puts it in a makeshift sling.

"You'll have to sleep with me tonight." David says, and I can feel the color in my face drain.

"No, no, not like that." He says, realizing what I was thinking.

"Just the act of two people resting next to each other. That's all." David helps me off of the counter and we start walking upstairs. The entire time up the staircase, David is holding my unharmed hand. We make it to David's room and David sets me on his bed gently. He pulls the cover on top of me, then takes off his shirt and crawls in next to me. I feel extremely out of place as David wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close to him. It feels so… wrong.

"Goodnight." David whispers in my ear.

"Goodnight." I answer back hoarsely. David falls asleep almost immediately. I, on the other hand, don't.

I stay awake for hours thinking about how my life has come to this. Going from being friendly and cool, everyone's best friend, to sleeping next to a psycho/ stalker/ kidnapper/ murderer.

I think of my family. My mom, dad, and two older brothers. Do they miss me? Are they searching for me? Are they worried about me? Do they even care at all? These questions and many more flood my mind.

I also think of all of my friends that weren't at the party. At school, I wasn't exactly 'popular,' but I did have a lot of friends. I wouldn't want to be popular, anyways. The popular people at my school are basically just a group of people who pretend they're friends, but then stab each other in the back as soon as they get the chance. It's stupid, really.

I even kind of miss my enemies. They would bully me mentally all of the time, and just bother me in general, but at least they didn't do this.

I miss being able to do whatever I want, when I want. David has literally sucked up the small amount of happiness I had left in my life: freedom. The only reason why I'm even trying to cling on to life is Chloe. Without me, David will kill Chloe, and I can't let that happen, under any circumstances. Chloe has a family, lots of friends, a home, a life. I, on the other way, don't. I'll be trapped in this hell hole for the rest of my life.

And then there's Ben. Sweet, kind, caring Ben. Ben is who I want to be with, not David. But I don't really have a choice. I can't be with Ben. Not in this lifetime.

As I finally fall asleep, I have the strong feeling of complete and utter despair. I think one more thought before I close my eyes and see only darkness.

I will never get out.