Chapter 27 Heather's POV

As I sat on my bed in my room, I couldn't help but to think of how much of a mess my life had become. Over the last few weeks, I didn't feel like I recognized myself and my life. And Carol was the only person I could blame for that. How different my life would have probably been if I hadn't met her. Fear wouldn't allow me to leave the house but that fear was not just restricted to whatever lay outside the house alone. Anytime I was alone in the house, I always felt as if someone was following or watching me and feeling like that almost made me crazy. Even though Kyle had proved to be supportive and easily relatable, I didn't like communicating my feelings to him every time. 

Since Carol was the one that got me into this mess, it only made sense that she should be the one to get out of it. So, one evening, when I was alone in the house, I grabbed a couple of mismatched clothes and donned it on, hoping that no one would recognize me in it. I felt an uneasy feeling as I left the house but I ignored it, determined to find a solution to the mess my life had become. Getting to the street, I flagged down a taxi, boarded it and gave him Carol's address. On arriving there, I paid the driver quickly and hurried towards the house. 

What I planned to do was simple; try to appeal to a compassionate side I hope she had to fly Lillian and I out of the country. Getting into the house was easier than I expected but on entering the living room, I saw Phil sitting there, watching television. His eyes came up to rest on me and he seemed surprised at my presence. 

“Heather? What are you doing here?” He asked.

“I need to see Carol,” I answered, expecting her to appear anytime soon. 

Relaxing, he said, “Oh. Carol is not home. What do you need from her?”

I hesitated, trying to think of what to tell him other than the truth. “I….. I just need to ask her a few things.”

“I don't think that will be possible today. She's not going to be home until late tomorrow. What do you want to tell her? Is it important?” 

The urge to make contact with Carol and make my request was very strong but I wasn't sure it was worth risking telling the old man sitting before me. A concerned look appeared on his face as he watched me and he turned to the television he was watching, switched it off with the remote in his hand and turned back to face me. “Whatever you want to tell her, I'm sure you can tell me, dear. Come.” 

He patted the empty space on the chair beside him. The need to communicate what I wanted took away every sense of reasoning and I gave in. There was something about him that made me feel like I could trust him and I went to take my seat beside him. 

“I need to leave the country and it has to happen as soon as possible,” I started, staring at my hands as I entwined them in my laps. 

“Oh. What brought about that?” he asked softly.

“It's Darren. He says I can never leave but I want to. Especially after seeing how dangerous he is. There are people looking for him that could put my life in danger and I don't want to fall victim and be punished because of his actions. I really need a way out. Please.” I lifted my gaze to meet his own and there was compassion in his eyes. He looked genuinely worried about me and I was sure I could trust him.

Nodding thoughtfully, he said, “okay, okay. I'll see what I can do but you're going to have to give me a little time.”

“How long is a little time?” I asked.

“Just a few days. I'll reach out to you when I've worked something out,” he assured me. 

I had no doubt that he would do what he said but it was how long it would take him that I was worried about. After the incident with the housekeeper, I felt like I was the next person something would happen to and I wanted to do everything to avoid that. Paying for Darren's sins was the last thing in the world I would do.

After Phil gave me continuous reassurance, I left the house and returned to the mansion. 

Just like when I was going, no one saw me on my way back and the house was as empty as I left it. My eyes roamed around as I made my way back to my room, watching out to make sure I was unspotted. On getting to my room, I sighed in relief and shut the door behind me before turning on the lights.

I screamed as the light came on to reveal the man sitting on my bed, looking as if he had all the time in the world.

“Where did you go?” Darren asked, his anger evident in his tone. No, he wasn't just angry. He was fuming and I could almost see smoke rising from his head.

‘I….. I was….. out,” I stuttered. “I only took a walk.”

Rising from the bed, he approached me, taking slow, deliberate steps. 

“You were taking a walk?” He asked, gesturing at the clothes I had on. “Dressed like that? Try another lie. Where did you go?”

“I was taking a walk, I swear it,” I cried out.

“I’ve been looking for you for the past two hours while you were busy disobeying my orders. Did I give you permission to leave the house?”

I opened my mouth but fear prevented the words in my head from making it to my mouth and I shook my head instead.

“Good,” he said and moved suddenly, barely giving me any time to react. His hand came around my neck, his grip tightening immediately, cutting off the flow of air to my lungs. “You keep acting this way and you might just lose your life. I won't warn you again. Do you understand?”

I tried to nod but my weak muscles wouldn't allow me. 

“Do you understand?” He asked in a more stern voice and although I managed a nod, he didn't seem convinced.

“You know what? I'm going to punish you. To serve as a reminder that you belong to me and you're meant to do only whatever I ask you to do. Come with me.”

He let go of my neck and I barely had time to recollect myself before his hand grabbed mine and led me out of the room. He led me all the way to his room and as we were entering the room, I heard Kyle's voice behind us, calling Darren repeatedly.

“What are you doing?” Kyle was asking but Darren’s rage prevented him from responding.

“Darren! Stop! You're going to injure her,” Kyle shouted but his words hit deaf ears. 

As soon as we were in the room, Darren locked the door behind him and when he turned to face me, I noticed the bulge in his pants. So, not only was he furious with me but he was also aroused. How could he manage that?

Before Kyle could move any further, Darren shut the door and locked it, leaving Kyle to pound on it and shout his name continuously.

“Move over to the window and stand there,” Darren instructed and I obeyed. The windows were glass to ceiling windows with a large frame surrounding and protecting it. 

Seconds later, he came over with four lengths of ropes and stood behind me. I gasped as he grabbed the blouse I was wearing and dragged it up roughly and over my head. My bra soon followed, same with my skirt and my panties. I was fully naked as he pinned me against the glass and bound my hands and my legs to the frame on either side of the window.

I was filled with humiliation at the way he treated me but alongside that humiliation, I felt something else, something I didn't want to admit. My nipples were hard and I felt an ache in the middle of my legs as he pressed me against the window. Then I heard the crack of a whip behind me and moments later, the first stroke hit me on the back, forcing a cry out of me. 

The sound that escaped my lips after the second stroke of the whip was more like a moan, making me feel disgusted with myself. More strokes hit me and I cried out, begging him for mercy. He continued to whip me and as he did, his other hand roamed my body, violating and pleasing me at the same time. I lost count of the amount of times he whipped me until, after what seemed like hours, he finally stopped and unbound me, making me crumple to the floor in exhaustion.