Chapter 69 CHAPTER 071
The shock of the stinging blow to the face burns more than the physical pain. He hit me below my chin, and I taste the blood on my tongue, I feel my molars tug loose with the abrupt force.
I can't even scream. I can't even bring my hand up to touch or at least soothe the stinging spot. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I am dazed. I blink at him. It is like looking at a whole new person. I knew he was capable and willing to hurt me physically, to assault me if he felt like it, but to actually be on the receiving end of that idea is beyond terrifying.
It is not the pain or discomfort of it but absolute humiliation. To be reduced to this and for what? Anger, along with hurt, stirs in the pit of my stomach. He sees the fire come alive in my eyes and smirks at me, tongue out, ugly as fuck. In the dark, we watch eachother for a beat.
Then I look away. Because it is useless. He has the upper hand here. I still don't know my standing in this situation. Does he consider me disposable? Am I important to his plan, whatever that is? I have to think clearly through this but my head is ringing crazily that I want to sob instead. But I don't. I don't want to give him the pleasure.
"Amelia! Are you okay? Tyler! You bastard. What are you doing to her? Fucking bastard!" Ashley screams, berserk and scared. Her voice is weak and hoarse, the palpable panic in it pulls me out of my daze. I try again to look behind me but I don't make it far, not with the additional loud ringing in my head.
"Help! Somebody help!" Ashley screams futilely, her shrill voice doesn't even reach the door. I hear some movements behind me, she is probably struggling against her binds.
I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. I spit blood and I look at the red spot on the dark floor dumbly. This can't be happening.
"Shut the fuck up, Ashley. Don't make me come over and shut you up." Tyler commands, his tone dismissive and bored. Taunting.
"Fuck you! You fucking animal! Oh my God! You are actually insane! What the fuck is this about? You are going to go to jail for kidnapping, you fucking bastard! That is if Mr. Dmitri doesn't wring your neck first. How dare you do this!" Ashley's voice gets louder on each sentence. She is hysterical with panic. I don't think she can see Tyler's face, else she would shut up.
He looks dreadful. I have never seen hate and a lack of remorse as pronounced on his face right now. I want to tell Ashley to stop talking but I still can't get any words out. I just stare dumbly as Tyler kicks his chair out, getting up in a fit of rage, he walks over behind me.
"Ashhh..." I try to get the scream out to warn her but it comes out as a squeak, low and weak.
I hear Ashley's scream and it is cut short with a loud sickening crunch. Then another. And another. He is hitting her. Ashley stops screaming and I open my own mouth, finally able to find my voice.
"Stop! Tyler! Stop! Please! I will listen. I am sorry! Please. Stop." I plead, I am weak with terror every second that passes without a sound from Ashley. My heart is beating fast, and I keep dilating my pupils so I can see clearer in the dark, I crane my neck so far, till I get to the limit, but I can't see anything, I only hear the heavy breathing of Tyler. Nothing from Ashley. My stomach turns with dread.
"Too late for you to start playing the devoted friend card now, isn't it? Stupid bitch." Tyler spits. Ashley doesn't make a sound. I don't want to think that she is unconscious, but it is likely. I feel the moisture on my face and it takes me a while to realise that I have started crying. The blood in my mouth tastes like iron.
"Tyler. Please. I am sorry. Please. Leave her alone. Please." I cry, all traces of shame or even anger has left me. I will crawl on my knees if he asks.
"Are you ready to listen now?" He says walking around to come facing me again. I peer at his calm face in terror. I look at his fist, I can't tell if the wetness is blood or water. I don't want to think it is either.
"Yes. Yes." I say weakly.
"Good." He pulls out his chair again and settles on it, crosses his legs at the ankles.
"So, like I said, we are going to start at the very beginning. We have got a long time together and I have made sure that stupid friend of yours won't interrupt again." His voice is laced with so much contempt, it is hard to imagine how he was able to convince Ashley that he felt any sort of affection towards her. This was the same coldness that made me withdraw my attraction to him during our freshman year.
"What did you do to her? Oh God, Please let me see her. Please. Let her go. I am the one you want. Please, stop hurting her. Let her go. Please." I break down in loud sobs that wrack my sore body, I can't keep it tucked away anymore. The influx of emotions hit me like a wave. It breaks me apart. Ashley.
My sister. I forgive her. I don't even care about it anymore. She must have been really vulnerable for Tyler to get through to her so easily. Oh God. And now she has been caught up in something that has nothing to do with her. Considering how Tristan refers to her, he considers her disposable. He will continue hurting her if she speaks up.
"Now, now. I hate all these distractions, Amelia. I have a story to tell here and you keep redirecting me from it. I am afraid I don't have a lot of patience." Tyler leans forward to me, I recoil from him, my chin still hurting from his blow, my body leans away as far as possible in this position, he sees my fear and smirks at me.
"Great, now, did you know the kind of person your stepdad was at our age, in college? This man you have a twisted sexual relationship with." Tyler says, I look at him blankly.
I can't stop thinking that this can't really be happening to me, this is fucking real.