Bloody Bones 6
1686 Words
Briella
Three days. Or at least I thought it had been three days since we were taken. I couldn't be one hundred per cent sure. There were no windows, and the only time we saw anyone was when Acco came down with food that wasn’t fit for a dog. Food we had no choice but to eat.
The bodies of my two dead students were rotting, lending their stench to the filth of our own bodily functions. The air was rank with the smell of it, making it hard to breathe.
But I wouldn’t give up hope. People would have realised we were missing. The alarm would have gone up. Frantic parents would be hounding the police. Not my one living parent. I doubted he was sober enough to realise I was even missing, but I was hoping my brothers had. I needed to believe we would be rescued, otherwise I would go crazy.
I couldn't protect anyone, not from what had us. I was just one small woman. No match for the monster who seemed to have taken a liking to me.
Monster.
I giggled almost hysterically. A real-life monster. As crazy as it seemed, I knew what I had seen. The eyes, the forked tongue, not even Acco’s almost angelic face could hide those things. He wasn't human.
Or maybe he was, and I was losing my damn mind.
It didn't really matter. He was holding us hostage, and he had some weird-ass idea about making me his bride. I might have been crazy. But he was certifiable.
“Miss?”
“It's ok.” I bit back the giggles. If I lost it, it would just scare the children more. And they were already frightened enough. The slightest little thing would send them into fits of hysterics.
“You were laughing.” She didn't raise her head from my shoulder, and I would never ask her to. Everyone was scared, but she was terrified. I couldn't say I blamed her either.
“I was just thinking,” I admitted. “Nothing to worry about.”
To my left someone mumbled, “Maybe you should do your damn job and get us out of here.”
I blinked in shock. His words struck a nerve. That was my job. Protecting those children was my responsibility.
“You're right.” Gently, I moved the girl from my side and her head fell to the person on her other side. She was too weak to sit unaided. Or maybe she had just given up.
One glance around the gloomy room and I could see the utter defeat on their young faces. They were losing hope and were looking at me to make things better. I was the only adult in this room.
Struggling to my feet, I headed towards the bars. I wrapped my hands around them. “Acco.” His name echoed along the stone corridor. Behind me someone hissed.
“Miss, don't call him here, please don’t.”
Someone else sobbed.
Half turning towards them, I tried to smile. “It’s ok. I'm going to make things right.” At least, I hoped I was doing the right thing. Turning back to the bars, I raised my voice again. “Acco.”
He appeared at the end of the narrow corridor like magic. I couldn't help it, I flinched back as he stalked towards me.
“Yes, wife of Acco.” He stopped in front of me, and that forked tongue appeared between his lips.
He had such a strange way of speaking. It gave me the creeps just as much as his physical appearance did.
Gathering my nerves around me like a cloak, I made myself meet his eyes. “The children are hungry and thirsty.”
His lizard eyes narrowed, flicking towards the empty plate where a rotten apple lay untouched.
“They have food.”
“No, they don’t. They need real food and fresh water. If you aren't going to let us go, then you need to feed us. Otherwise we will die.”
My words made his blonde eyebrows knit together. “Some have already died.” He motioned with his hand to the decaying corpses. I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to look at them. Their images were imprinted in my mind already. They would haunt me forever.
“Yes, and their bodies need to be buried. Given...”
He cut me off. “I will dispose of the bodies. As for fresh food...”
I didn't like the look he gave me. A shiver ran up my spine but I stood tall.
“Food can be arranged for your charges if you agree to come with me.”
I swallowed hard. Monster or not, I knew the look on his face.
“And do not cause a scene.”
Lust. That's what I was seeing. Pure animalistic lust. Vomit rushed up into my mouth, but I swallowed it down. I knew what he wanted from me; it was pretty obvious. The thought of him touching me was sickening, but if it meant getting the kids food and water, then I would do it.
Protecting them was my job. I had already failed two of them, I wouldn't let the others down.
“Let them go and I will do anything you want me to.”
Acco threw back his head and laughed. The sound bounced off the walls and made me cower. “No, they have already been promised, and will go to their new homes and masters soon. They will produce many children.” Shaking his head, he pressed his hands against the bars again. Sudden heat hit me in the face and I took a step back.
“Food first then,” I tried again.
My request was met with stony silence.
“They will get fed first otherwise…”
“Otherwise what? You will come, teacher woman, and not make a fuss.”
The outline of a door appeared in the bars, swinging outwards.
Acco’s fingers curled around my bicep. His grip was painfully tight. “Please me and the children will eat, don’t and I will let them starve.”
“You can't, you said…” I faltered. “You said you had homes for them.” I couldn't bring myself to say buyers for them, although I knew that was what it really was.
“There are always other children. Now come.” He dragged me towards him.
“Miss!” A scream went up behind me. A wail of despair.
“It’s ok. It’s ok.” I didn’t know if I was talking to them or myself. “Just stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
At least, I hoped I would be.
***
“Strip.”
The moment the door closed us into complete darkness, his voice snapped, making me jump. I couldn't see a damn thing, but I could feel him close to me.
“I...” I shook my head. It didn’t matter if he could see me or not. I wasn't going to do it. I wasn’t going to strip naked and stand in the darkness waiting for him to rape me. “I can’t see a thing,” I managed to mumble.
“But I can.” His whispered breath lifted the hair on the back of my neck. I jumped. He was closer than I had thought. Standing directly behind me.
The literal monster in the dark.
“Take your clothes off.”
“You seem to have suddenly grasped modern English, Acco,” I bit back.
His chuckle was like the most unwanted caress. “It adds to the fear, doesn't it? But you may as well know the truth.”
Cool hands slid around me, gripping my wrists and forcing my hands to my side.
“We are going to be tied together forever after all.” He didn't let go.
“Why me?” I had been dying to ask that question. If it bought me a little more time before his hands started to wander, then I would take every second it gave me.
“Not why us? Briella, I am disappointed in your selfishness.”
I started. He knew my name. Which meant this wasn't random.
“You are the eldest child in your family, are you not? We always choose the eldest. That way your family's name can continue with the younger children. We are not heartless.” He chuckled mirthlessly.
I fought back the urge to roll my eyes. “Could have fooled me. Kidnapping defenceless children.”
He ignored me totally. “You care for those around you. You don't just pretend to. You will care for our children.”
I gagged. “Children?”
“Yes, Briella. Our many children. You would have fetched me a fair price, but there aren't many women like you around anymore, so I am keeping you for myself. Now, strip.” His tongue lapped at the back of my neck, and I fought back a cry of disgust.
“No.”
“You will strip, Briella, or I will rip the clothes from your body. You stink, and I need you clean.”
“If you are going to rape me, then just get it over with.” My voice came out much stronger than I felt. “So I can get back to the children.”
“I am not going to rape you, sweet Briella.” His words were muffled as his tongue continued to work over my skin. “I am going to clean you.”
“You mean bathe me?” His hands kept me firmly in place. Somehow that seemed worse. More intimate.
“In a fashion. I am going to lick every inch of you clean, Briella. So I have the taste of you in my mouth forever.”
His words sent ice rushing through my veins.
“That way, even if you are taken from me, you will not be able to hide. After today, there will be no escape for you.”
- Writer
