CHAPTER TWO: IMAGES THAT LAST FOREVER
Ow. Fuck. My head hurt like hell.
I'd registered the pain before I even opened my eyes. Why was I sitting on a chair? I tried to move my hands but they were tied behind me. What the f-? My eyes snapped open and I found myself bound on my desk chair. Whipping my head around the room, I tried to make sense of what was going on. My room was trashed. Everything torn off the walls, dresser and shelves smashed, bed overturned. What happened to my room?
"Who-" I was cut off by the sound of a low voice, frantically trying to get me to be quiet. Looking around, my heart stopped, thudded erratically then went into overdrive.
There, on the floor, under my window, was Charlie. Tied up and gagged, his eyes were wild, with fear and confusion. Blood was trickling from his temple. I started to ask what had happened when a figure walked out from a deep shadow of my room.
He was tall, easily 6'3, with bright blonde hair. He walked like a predator stalking its prey. Which was exactly what I was to him. Because I didn't even need to see his bright blood red eyes to know exactly what he was. Hell, I even knew who he was. Roughly my age,he had gone missing some months ago in Seattle. Someone had made him into this, but why was he here?
"Riley Biers?" I whispered quietly, low enough that I knew he heard me. That got his attention, he hadn't counted on me knowing who he was. I even almost caused him to pause ever so slightly as he walked. A tough thing to do to a vampire.
"What are you doing here? Who-who did this to you?" More shock from Riley. He wasn't expecting me to know what he was either, not straight away, at least. He lunged at me,stopping less than an inch from my face. I tried to act unaffected but I knew my heart gave me away.
He said nothing, looking at me like I was far below him, continuing to walk around the chair. Back and forth between Charlie and me, I could only assume to see what fear he could instill in either of us.
"What do you want?" I blurted out. Exasperated at the never ending back and forth. The couple of hours that we had been sitting here had made me brave, though I also thought, a little stupid.
Riley scoffed and grinned arrogantly. "Just waiting for someone to arrive. They have to make certain precautions before coming here. Though I'm starting to think they're not necessary now." He finished,placing a finger on his chin. He seemed to be getting a little impatient. I figured that being in a small room with two humans was harder than he was letting on, hence the pacing. I just hoped whatever was going to happen would happen soon.
Then Charlie decided to pipe up. He had been working at his gag, quietly maneuvering it so it eventually came loose and he could talk. He puffed up his chest, with the 'Chief' look in his eyes.
"Now just what do you think you're doing in this house, kid? I don't know what's happened to you but I'm the Chief of Po-" His mild threat was cut off with a strangled cry as Riley brought his foot down on Charlie's leg with an audible snap. His eyes bugged out of his head as the colour drained from it.
"DAD!" I screamed as he slumped to his side. I could hear him whimpering, silent tears running into his mustache. He pulled himself up, careful not to jostle his leg and glared at Riley. I'd never seen him so angry.
"Now now, Chief Swan. I know exactly who you are," He crouched infront of Charlie, grabbing his leg where he had broken it. " I. Do. Not. Care." he accentuated every word with a squeeze of Charlies leg, causing him to go even more pale.
Then he passed out.
I struggled against my restraints, crying for him to stop and leave him alone, as he laughed, breaking Charlies other leg and kicking him in the ribs.
"STOP! It's me you obviously want, just leave him alone." I screeched through tears. But in fighting to get free, I toppled from my chair. Landing hard on my right side, I completely winded myself. "Just stop hurting him." I wheezed, pleading at Riley, willing him to hit me instead.
"It might be you that we want but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun while we wait." He sneered at me as he picked me back up and straightened me out. My pleas did nothing and I started sobbing as he advanced on Charlie again.
My screams, curses, pleas, tears and begging did nothing as Riley methodically broke each and everyone one of Charlie's ribs. Always in just the right way to cause him maximum pain but never in a way to puncture a lung, as he told me. What little comfort that afforded me.
Then it was my turn.