My dear fans:
Apologies for not posting for such a long time. There has been quite a bit of unnecessary drama in my house since my brother moved in a month ago, along with me being ill. I am hoping that all of that is behind me now, and hope that I can pick up my writing that I sorely miss. Thank you all for being faithful readers, and I hope this chapter keeps you reading to find out what happens. I love you one and all!
-Riain
The walk to Marcus' quarters felt like a death march. The guards prodded me along, I was in no hurry. I was still formulating a plan of action; I had to incapacitate Marcus somehow and escape with what bit of me was left. I was scared for sure, but I was sure I could pull it off. I snapped back to the dark reality at hand when I heard a knock on a door; and was then pulled through said door. Marcus walked around me like I was a caged animal, his gaze burning right through me. I held his gaze; even going so far as to turn with him as he walked around me. I had never felt anger like this before as a man thoroughly dissected me; it made me want to stab Marcus in the guts and watch him bleed out on the floor.
Marcus snapped his fingers, the guards came to attention. "Go ahead and unchain her. Leave the chains and key here. Goodnight." Marcus was quite a bit taller than me; well filled out in his button down shirt and jeans. His blue eyes were almost bioluminescent; a chill ran over me, his eyes were creeping me out. Marcus ran his hand over his short cropped brown hair, then over his face as he regarded me.
"Well Allie, I have to admit, you are the prettiest thing I've seen come through here other than Emma. Are you hungry? Want something to drink? I'm sure you're hungry after coming here. Please sit and have dinner with me." All I could think was this asshole thought I was dumb enough to fall for his snake in the grass tricks. My stomach betrayed me as the delicious scent of stew wafted towards my nostrils. My stomach still had teeth; the growl intense enough to be audible. Marcus chuckled as he pulled a seat out for me at the table; I ran my hands over the backs of my thighs, smoothing the dress on instinct. It had been a long time since I had worn a dress like this, it was confining, it was uncomfortable, and it felt like a straight jacket.
Marcus doled out a bowl of stew setting it and a homemade biscuit in front of me. This town was obviously doing better than most out there; we were lucky with having people who could hunt, go on runs and stockpile. I carefully poked my fork into a piece of meat, bringing it to my nose for a precautionary sniff. I wasn't sure what meat it was for one, and for two, I wasn't sure if the food was drugged. I didn't recognize the meat, and it didn't smell funny. So maybe I was safe, but I still needed to keep my guard up.
Marcus watched me over the fork in his hand; his grin mischievous, the words quiet out of his mouth. "You act like you think I'm trying to poison you. I can assure you that's not my intention. Please eat; food is hard to come by in these times."
My stomach and its teeth got the best of me; I paced myself eating the bowl of stew. It'd been days since I'd ate a proper meal; I needed the energy if I was going to make a break for it later. I thought about the ways I could do it, the one that would be easiest to pull off churned my stomach. I could let Marcus have me; while he was sleeping kill or incapacitate him, and make my break for it. It was the best way to ensure my escape, but the hardest part would be figuring out where I was exactly and what direction I needed to go in to make my way home.
I slowly pushed the bowl across the table, reaching for the glass of tea in front of me. It was cold, sweet and tangy, just the way I liked it best. Marcus watched me over his dinner; it was getting to be unsettling, being constantly watched. But I was a prisoner; things were expected of me, I wasn't sure I wanted to deliver. Marcus got up from the table; coming over and taking my hand, gently pulling me up from my seat.
"I know the outside world isn't doing near as well as we are here inside the town. We have movie nights for the children, picnics, gatherings, all like it was before this mess broke out. A semblance of how life used to be if you will. Come, sit, and watch a movie with me. Please Allie." Marcus' voice wasn't commanding; it was more a request than an order. I followed Marcus into the living room of the apartment, taking a seat next to him on a plush sofa. The TV in front of the sofa flickered to life as a DVD started to play. It wasn't a movie I had seen before, something about a mad boy king killing off anyone who stood in his way. I watched with feigned interest as I planned out my escape. There were more important things to worry about than a movie.
My legs started to cramp sitting the way I was on the sofa, Marcus noticed the shift in my position, pulling my feet into his lap. His fingers rubbed the soles of my feet as he worked over my toes. I felt my body relaxing as much as I tried fighting the sensation, it was nearly impossible. It had been a long time since someone had rubbed my feet; at least since before Mike had left.
I felt Marcus sling me up into his arms, carrying me through the apartment. Every muscle in my body felt like mush; I tried to force my arms and legs to move with no response. Horror filled my heart as I realized that I had indeed been drugged, giving Marcus full reign over my body. Marcus unceremoniously dropped me onto the bed, the metallic snip of a knife opening forcing a squeak from my throat. Every thought I had about escape flitted out of my mind like a scared field mouse running from a hawk.
"I told you Allie that you would be entertaining me tonight, but the choice between your doing it of free will or being mine for the taking was not up for debate. You are mine from here on out, you'll learn to appreciate me." Marcus' lips trailed along my neck as I felt the blade nick my skin; the dress slipping from my body to pool around me on the bed. I could smell my own blood; feel it trickling down my sides as I was helpless to do anything about it. Marcus' tongue slithered down my rib cage, lapping up the trail of my blood.
"Mmmhh dear Allie, I can taste your fear. Don't worry, I'll enjoy every minute of this, even if you don't." Marcus flipped me over onto my stomach, my face pressed into the pillows, my body crushed under Marcus' weight. The sharp pain that ripped me in two forced my scream into the pillows, hot tears streaked down my cheeks. The last thing I heard before the world went dark was Marcus laughing in my ear. I vowed the son of a bitch dead if it was the last thing I did.
Night still held its grasp on the day when my eyes cracked open. It took me a few minutes to gain my bearings, and to remember the horrors from the night before. My gut churned; the contents of my stomach pressing to make escape. I slowly tested my feet onto the hardwood floor, finding a weakened strength in my legs. I slid my hands along the wall, walking down the hallway, searching for the bathroom. The bathroom was easy to find; the smell of soap heavy in the air. I flicked on the light, closing the door shut behind me. The face that stared back at me in the mirror was not my own, the eyes haunted, the bruise formed over my left eye angry in shade. My hands trembled as I splashed water on my face, chastising myself as I slicked water off my face.
"Come on Allie, get it together girl. It's time to do it and run. You got to get home. You can do it. Let's go." I nodded to myself, clicking the light off before opening the door. My bare feet silent on the wood floor, I found Marcus in the bed sound asleep. The knife Marcus used to cut my dress off sitting open on the nightstand next to his head. My fingers trembled as I reached for it, taking the cold fiber handle into my hand. It was now or never, do or die, I had to break free.
I remembered where the carotid artery was, the one which would make him bleed out the quickest, his death would be imminent. The blade laid against Marcus' neck, all it took now was the pressure to make the cut.
Marcus' eyes flashed open; his hand shot out, my wrist cracking in his iron grip. "Think you'd get away that easy did you? No whore makes attempt on my life!" Marcus' free hand connected with my face; my neck whipping around. I saw stars; then felt Marcus drag me by my hair into the living room. Cuffs snap into place around my neck and wrists, as the chain is locked into a hook on the wall. The only position I can assume is on my knees.
Marcus kicked me hard in the stomach, his voice full of venom. "That's the place for a whore, on her knees. You'll wait there till I get up to deal with you." Two more kicks to my ribs made the world start to swirl before the dark claimed my vision. I had failed in my attempt, and now I would pay the price with my life, that I was sure of.