Reminder that this story is extremely dark and yes, creepy. It will be that way for a while, but it would mean a lot to me if you all would hang tight. The first chapter didn't get a lot of response, so please review if you want me to keep going. It would mean so much to me.

Nothing But A Lie

Chapter 2

Sky was just setting dinner on the table when he heard the crackle of movement on the couch, signaling that Christine was rousing from her unconsciousness. Perfect timing, he thought. He looked over at the sofa, and saw her blonde head raise up slowly, looking around herself with caution.

Despite how much she wanted to forget, for all of this to just be an awful, distant nightmare, she remembered everything vividly and knew exactly where she was. She drowsily noticed the bandage on her arm and looked away, though the slight burn was still there to remind her how he'd cut her. God, he really was serious. She wanted to cry again.

She looked behind the couch and caught sight of her captor, standing near a small dining room table across the room, watching her. An apologetic smile graced his lips, and she could only stare at him numbly.

"Hey," he greeted her quietly, and then beckoned her with a hand. "Come on. Food's ready."

She didn't move, just continued to stare. Sky's smile fell, and he strode over to where she sat, ignoring how her eyes grew wide with fright. He patiently offered his hand and she eventually took it, and he led her to the table and helped her sit.

Despite his gentle touch, she tensed with the contact his skin made with hers. If he was willing to make her bleed, she could only imagine what other things those hands could do.

He sat across from her and indicated her plate with his hand. "Eat," he instructed, and she glanced at the food. Grilled chicken, asparagus, and potatoes it looked like. Healthy. Studying his broad shoulders, she wondered if he was one of those health and fitness freaks. She watched Sky dig in, and he ate until he noticed she wasn't. His expression grew impatient, and her stomach flipped uncomfortably. "I won't tell you again, Christine," he warned, taking a gulp of water from a clear glass.

She remembered her arm, and obeyed, eating fast without really tasting. The meal did help to settle her queasy stomach a little, to which she was grateful.

"So, what are some of your hobbies?" Sky asked conversationally after a while, and Christine wondered if he already knew and was just trying to break the silence.

She swallowed her bite and took a sip of water. "I…um…like to sing," she mumbled quietly, not meeting his gaze.

"Oh, yes. What a beautiful voice you have. Can't wait to hear you sing again."

"A-again?"

"Yes. I came to a few church services just to hear you sing. Surprised I didn't burst into flames when I walked in the building," he chuckled, but it was cut short when she looked at him in horror. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to offend you."

She didn't respond, focusing on her food rather than the strange, probably insane man in front of her.

He cleared his throat, and she looked at him. "You know, when two people are getting to know each other, it's common courtesy to at least try to keep the conversation going." There was no steel in his voice, but the subtle warning still scared her. Christine's hands began to shake.

"Oh, I…I'm s-sorry," she murmured. "Um. Do you…like music?"

"Everyone likes music, Christine," he teased lightly. "Yeah, I do. Rock music is my favorite, but I like a little bit of everything."

She nodded, still not meeting his eyes, not knowing what to say because she didn't much care for rock music.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend, Christine?"

She looked up nervously and saw that he was waiting for an answer. After a moment of silence, she shook her head slowly. "No."

His brows furrowed. "You really expect me to believe that? You can tell me the truth."

Christine gulped. "But…I am."

"Oh come on. You're trying to tell me that a sweet, beautiful girl such as yourself has never had a boyfriend in all her nineteen years of living?"

She shrugged a little, and then nodded.

"Why is that, do you think?" He cocked his head to the side, gazing at her curiously.

"I never cared much for that sort of thing, I guess," she mumbled. "I've always been content by myself. It's what I'm used to. What I like." She stared down at the remainder of her food, afraid to see his reaction to her words, to the inflection she put in them.

"Well…have you at least been kissed before?" he asked incredulously.

His question made her uncomfortable, and she squirmed in her chair, still not looking at him. "Once."

Sky was baffled. He'd assumed the girl was at least somewhat experienced. There was no way someone with her looks and grace didn't receive tons of male attention. Was it because of her religion? Was she every bit the good girl she looked?

"Well, tell me about it," he urged impatiently, and she winced.

"Um…" she stammered, "I was just a little girl. P-probably nine or ten? I was at the beach with my friend, and the wind blew my scarf off my neck and toward the water. He…he ran right into the ocean and got my scarf for me. And…so I kissed him."

"And that was the only time you ever kissed anyone?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you ever kiss him again? It sounds like you liked him." Sky found it silly to feel jealous of some kid she only kissed once. But he was, nonetheless.

Christine looked down glumly. "He had to move back to France soon after that. I haven't seen him since."

"He was French?"

She nodded.

"Interesting. A French boy and a Swedish girl," he mused, and Christine's stomach twisted again. Did he know everything about her?

He saw her horrorstruck face and tried to cheer her up. "By the way, your little accent is just adorable. As if you weren't attractive enough," he laughed, but stopped when Christine looked like she was going to cry again. "What is it, baby?"

She tried to hold back her tears, but it was extremely difficult. There was no way this man didn't intend on molesting her…just no way. She didn't know what to expect, as she'd never been touched that way from anyone before, and had absolutely no desire to. Would it make her feel disgusting? Would it hurt?

Of course it will, she silently told herself, and that was the trigger to a flood of tears. She burst into sobs at the table, covering her face with her hands. He was going to make her impure…

Would God ever forgive her?

Sky looked at her with concern. "Christine, I hate seeing you upset. Tell me what's wrong."

No. He didn't get to know her inner turmoil. If he couldn't figure it out for himself, then that was his problem.

She breathed deeply, trying to slow her tears, and it helped a bit. She took a long drink of water and looked at Sky, wiping the moisture from her face with her napkin. "I'm f-fine. Just tired."

Sky's eyes narrowed, disbelieving. His lips turned down.

Her heart quickened under his glare. "I mean, I'm j-just, overwhelmed. A lot has changed in one day." He didn't look convinced, and she looked away from his suspicious expression. "But…I'll do my best to get used to it," she lied, hoping he would believe it.

His eyes finally softened, and he took one of her hands in his large ones. "You will get used to me, I promise. I'm not so bad, Christine. All I want it for us to make each other happy. Just trust me, okay?"

Yeah, like that would ever happen. She nodded, forcing herself to turn her lips up in a tiny smile that probably looked more like a grimace. His strange hopeful gentleness seemed so genuine, yet she didn't buy any of it. Not after he cut her.

"Are you finished?" He asked, referring to her food.

She nodded. Sky took their dishes to the kitchen sink, glancing behind him to see Christine stay sitting, staring down at her hands solemnly. He sighed, hoping that she would come to feel more comfortable soon. It was only her first night, though. It was normal for her to be nervous at first.

Christine looked up when Sky returned to her side, offering her his hand. She took it, knowing she didn't have much of a choice, and led her to the couch and helped her sit. To her discomfort, he sat down right next to her, their legs touching a little. She shivered with fear.

Sky pushed a button on a TV remote, and the big flat screen against the wall illuminated.

"What would you like to watch?" he asked her cheerfully, and she shrugged, too frightened to speak. TV was the farthest desire in her mind. She wanted to go home. She wanted to never see this man again. She wanted to be safe and warm in her familiar bed, not cold and afraid in this place with this stranger who kidnapped her and claimed she was his girlfriend. She shuddered again. Sky noticed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby. You're cold? I like to keep the thermostat low, I'm very hot natured," he joked, and reached for the decorative blanket draped atop the recliner next to him.

He shook it out and covered her with it, and she failed to relax as he left a hard, heavy arm around her shoulder casually.

Sky could barely contain his composure as he channel surfed. He was actually watching television with Christine. He was very nearly holding her! He could lean just a tad and smell her hair if he wanted to. In fact, he did just that, and sighed happily. She smelled so good; like flowers or candy or something. He couldn't wait to really hold her, which he would very soon.

Christine continued to shake under the blanket and Sky's arm, though she couldn't tell whether it was from fear or cold. Perhaps both. His heavy cologne scent was thick next to her, and though it wasn't altogether unpleasant, she still wished to be far away from it. For it belonged to him.

She stared at the TV, her vision never focusing on what Sky picked to watch. Must've been funny since his body shook with laughter every few minutes. God, this whole situation was just really…weird. And terrifying. Surely someone would notice her absence and call the police…

And then, Christine realized with a sinking heart that she had no one to even notice she was gone. Her boss would just assume she quit most likely, and her church would probably think she was just too busy and tired with the new school year starting to come. No family would be calling her wondering where she'd been, no friends, no lovers. And she had been fine with the lack of people in her life, until now. No one would be rescuing her.

Would he ever let her out? Even for fresh air?

"S…Sky?"

"What is it, sweetheart?" he looked down at her, attentive.

"Will I…ever get to leave here? I mean, like go outside and stuff?" Her voice was tiny.

Sky scoffed. "Jeez, Christine. What kind of boyfriend do you think I am? Yes, as soon as I know I can trust you, you'll be able to go outside. I'll definitely be taking you on dates. I may even let you go to school, if you prove your loyalty to me."

She looked at him hopefully, and his heart swelled. "Really?" Oh, her voice was so sweet when it wasn't afraid!

"Really. I want us to be a normal couple that trusts each other. I know it may take a while to get there, but if you play your part it'll become second nature to you. I'm sure of it." He stroked a strand of her lovely, light hair, and smiled when she didn't flinch away. "Who knows…you might even learn to like me. Maybe even...love me."

Obviously that was impossible, but Christine still considered his words. Could she pretend to hold some sort of affection toward her captor so that he may let her out? She already knew that if she defied him, he wouldn't hesitate to make her pay. So would playing along be the smartest, safest thing she could do?

It would be difficult. She could already tell. He was already repulsive to her, simply because he kidnapped her and hurt her and is most likely planning on molesting her. But if she could just hold on until he let her out, she would be able to escape or find help. There had to be a way.

"So what do you say?" Sky's hopeful voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked at his ordinary features, searched his brown eyes. Was he seriously asking her if she could return his affections? That was definitely a negative. But it would be stupid to let him know that.

"I can try," she whispered the lie, and Sky beamed, showing a set of straight, white teeth. He was actually sort of handsome when he smiled like that, but it wasn't like it mattered. She would despise any man, ugly or gorgeous, who would try to take her life from her. Which was exactly what Sky was doing.

"That's my good girl," he cheered, kissing the top of her head and inhaling her deliciousness again. She tensed under his arm, winced when his lips touched her, but he pretended not to notice. She would have to get used to his touch, his kiss.

Oh God. Christine stared at the TV, trying very hard not to think about what Sky had just done. Instead, she focused on the clothing the actors wore, pointing out colors or logos that she saw, trying to keep her mind busy. If she didn't, she would no doubt lose it.

Sky was content. He had a nice dinner with Christine, and now they were watching one of his favorite comedy shows together. And she was being so well behaved! It was almost as if the cut had never happened. It was the best night he'd had in a very long time, and it wasn't even over yet. The clock on the cable box read half past eight, and he figured they could watch another episode before…bedtime. His breath caught in anticipation, his blood beginning to rush. Perhaps he wouldn't want to watch another episode after all.

Christine sat there quietly, still shaking though she'd long grow warm under Sky's arm and the blanket. She was beginning to feel tired, and she tensed when she thought about what her sleeping situation would be. Oh God…please let me have my own bed. She figured she might as well ask and get it over with.

"Um…Sky?"

"Yes?"

"I uh…where am I going to sleep?"

"In my room, of course." He said it like she should have already known. Her stomach churned. She would have to sleep…in his room, in his bed…oh God.

With…him.

She was going to be sick.

She stood abruptly. "Where's the bathroom?" she whispered, her hand immediately covering her mouth after she asked.

Sky stood too, alarmed, and pointed toward a doorway that led to a short hall. "First door on the left. You okay, baby?"

Baby… She was definitely going to retch. Christine didn't answer, running to the bathroom and shutting and locking the door behind her. She made it to the toilet with just seconds to spare and threw up violently, feeling disgusting and helpless as hot tears blurred her vision.

Sky leaned against the wall outside the bathroom door, listening to poor Christine get sick. It couldn't have been the meal he'd cooked; he felt fine himself, but he was very concerned for her, and he figured she might feel better with some of her own things to change into when she was done. "Hey, Christine? I'm going to get you a few things from your apartment, okay? I'll be right back." She didn't respond, and he hadn't expected her to. He left the apartment quietly, using the technology on his phone to lock the door from the inside, and made sure no one was around as he stealthily made his way to her apartment.

Her stomach emptied, Christine rinsed her mouth with tap water from the sink, trying to control her tears without much luck. She sat back on the floor, feeling dizzy and terrified, and tucked her knees to her chest as she sobbed.

As she cried, she prayed. She'd never prayed harder in her life, begging God to somehow get her out, or at least to keep Sky from touching her. "Please, please…" she begged in a whisper, weeping miserably, her head shaking as she grabbed fistfuls of her hair. She knew she would have to get her breathing under control before she slipped into a full on panic attack, and so she focused on that for a bit, counting in her head as she breathed deeply.

Once she had her breathing under control, she merely sat there numbly, unable to move, as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She never stopped praying in her mind.

Sky returned fifteen minutes later with a suitcase full of Christine's clothes and toiletries, and he set them down and leaned against the bathroom door, hearing nothing but her heavy breathing.

He knocked softly. "Christine? I have some of your things here. Feel free to clean up and change. I'll…uh, give you some time." It was difficult. He wanted nothing more than to take care of her, to help her dress for bed and cuddle the night away. But she obviously needed some time alone. He sighed, and then announced, "I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me. I'm going to clean up from dinner."

Christine didn't move from where she was curled up on the bathroom floor until she heard the faint sound of the sink being turned on from the kitchen. She then slowly opened the door, just enough to grab the suitcase and drag it inside. She immediately locked the door again.

It was her suitcase; bright blue with white polka dots. She opened it and saw the random assortment of clothes, figuring he just stuffed whatever he could find inside of it. But then, she realized that there was a theme to all the clothing he'd picked. She couldn't find a single pair or jeans, sweatpants, or anything long sleeved. There were plenty of her sundresses, nightgowns, shorts, tank tops, and short-sleeved blouses.

They were her most revealing clothes.

She felt the urge to puke again.

Christine suddenly needed to get the awful taste out of her mouth, and she dug out her toothbrush and toothpaste from one of the side pockets. She brushed her teeth hastily, and then changed into the longest nightgown she could find, which sadly only came down to her knees. Her stomach continued to churn, and she mechanically sat on the floor, repeating the same position as earlier.

She cried quietly some more, chanting the same prayer again and again in her mind. Oh, God please. Please get me out of here. Please don't let him touch me…

Sky finished the dishes, and began waiting patiently for Christine on the couch, continuing to watch the same show from earlier. When she didn't emerge after half of an entire episode, his patience began to wear thin. He knew she wasn't showering, otherwise he'd hear the water running, so obviously she was locking herself in on purpose. He couldn't help but chuckle softly in amusement, shaking his head. Did she really think a locked door would help her any? She was in for a rude awakening if so.

Sky walked to the bathroom door, listening for a moment but hearing nothing. He then knocked.

"I'd come out right now, if I were you," he warned loudly. "Two punishments in one night do not sound like much fun to me."

No answer. Well, maybe this was a chance to introduce a different method of punishment…

He unlocked the bathroom door and flung it open, only to sigh in disappointment at what he saw: Christine, lying on the floor in a fetal position, deeply asleep. He should have guessed. He knew what a heavy sleeper she was from observing her all those nights, which explains why his knocking didn't wake her.

She looked quite adorable in her thin blue nightgown, and he admired her for a minute before finally deciding it was time to move her. Gently, he picked her up and savored her little body in his arms as he carried her to the bedroom. He set her down softly on the side of the large king bed farthest from the door, carefully covering her with the grey sheets and thick black comforter. In her sleep, she curled up onto her side, facing the wall.

Sky tried to ignore how her brows were furrowed, how distressed she still looked, even sleeping. He got ready for bed, stripped down to his briefs, flicked the ceiling fan on and slipped into bed next to the girl. Her body next to his caused his breathing to become heavier, his heart to race. Sky moved closer until his front pressed against her back, and his blood boiled beneath him as he was assaulted by her scent, her warmth. He ached for her already, so much so that it was almost painful.

But he would have to control himself tonight. Too much intimacy too soon would be difficult for her, and he needed to respect that. He didn't want to hurt her…but he would if he had to…to make her obey.

To make her stay.

And so he draped an arm over her waist and held her gently, her shuddering breaths lulling him to sleep.

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