Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
I walk to the fridge and am just about to open it when the hair on the back of my neck starts to rise. I start to turn around, but I feel a heavy thud on the back of my head and darkness overcomes me.
The last thing I see before I give in to the insistent pull of unconsciousness is a familiar sneering face.
Help! I scream, but no sound escapes my mouth.
I open my eyes with a groggy moan. A steady pain pulses in my head, and my throat feels as dry as sandpaper.
I look around slowly, relieved at the familiarity of my environment.
I’m in my apartment.
What happened?
The memories of the attack rush back to me at a dizzying speed.
I groan painfully and try to raise my hand to my head, it’s then I realize that I’m tied to my bed. My heart stops for a second and picks up again as the implication of my situation slowly dawns on me.
I struggle against the binds on my wrists and ankles, feeling a rapidly growing fear at my helplessness. I wonder for how long I’ve been out and...
“I see you’re awake, my darling,” Jack says, coming into my room. I jerk my head toward his voice, and my eyes widen in terror. He has a relaxed smile on his face as he drops into a chair by my side. “You’ve been asleep for over two hours. I was starting to get worried. But I suppose you needed the rest, seeing as you just got back from a long trip.”
“Why are you doing this,” I ask, jerking angrily against the ropes. “What do you want from me?”
“Your love, Mel,” Jack replies, leaning forward in his seat. “That’s all I ask.”
“You must be out of your mind,” I grit. “Why would I have anything to do with a psychopath like you?”
Jack slaps my cheek, and my head snaps to the side from the impact of his blow.
He stands abruptly, toppling the chair in the process. He runs a hand through his hair and sneers down at me.
“You can’t love me but you can sleep with that old fucker,” Jack says, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“He’s ten times the man that you are,” I say, keeping my voice cold and leveled. I can’t show him that I’m terrified. I’ve seen scenes like this in movies, and people like Jack prey on their victims’ fear. “You don’t come even close, so don’t ever compare yourself to him. He’d never attack a woman and tie her up to a bed!”
“I...I just need you to listen to me,” Jack says, coming to sit beside me on the bed. “I’m going to prove my love to you.”
I swallow softly and nervously lick at my dry lips.
“Wh...what do you plan on doing to me?”
“A lot, my darling,” Jack says, his thin lips pulling up in a smirk that sends shivers up my spine. Jack slowly runs his hand up my left thigh, his eyes fixated on mine. “I’m going to make you see me like you see him.”
I feel my bravado slip away like ice on heat. My stomach churns with fear and disgust at the implication of his words.
His eyes seem to shine with feverish excitement as they bore into mine, intensifying my horror.
I shake my head violently.
“You...You can’t...”
The ropes bite painfully into my skin as I struggle even harder.
“Let me go! Do you think you’re going to get away with this? Abram will be here soon... I was on the phone with him before you took me.”
Jack barks out with a mocking laugh, his hand pausing on the waistband of my pants.
“You exaggerate your importance, darling,” Jack says with a scoff. “Lover boy won’t be here to save you this time.”
I let out a horrified scream as Jack yanks hard at my pajama bottoms.
Suddenly, there’s a sickening thud.
Jack freezes.
I watch with wide eyes as he slumps to the ground in a useless pile. I slowly raise my head, and my eyes clash with familiar blue eyes that I never thought I’d see again.
Blood instantly rushes to my head, and I fight to overcome the haze of dizziness that assails me.
I gape at the woman who just saved me, a kitchen pan held limply in her hand. Is it my hazy mind conjuring impossible images, or is that really...
“Mom?”
The sound of the police sirens fade into the background, and a heavy silence envelops the house.
I wonder if she can hear the loud pounding of my heart. It’s the only thing I can hear amidst all the ringing in my ears.
My back aches from sitting so straight, and my hands have almost gone numb from clasping them so hard.
My mind is in a daze, so I can’t even form the thousands of questions pushing against my mind.
“Melody?” Mom calls, leaning forward slightly to search my face.