Chapter 323 Cold

Chapter 323 Cold
Its dark now. Has it been another full day? Or is it just that I'm in a dark place and I can't see the trees.

My stomach gurgles and I shiver. I would give anything for a shower right now... And maybe actual food. And clothes... But mostly, I would do anything to see my family right now. I don't even give a shit that I'm naked, and I'm sure Charlie and Josie wouldn't care either... except to get me clothes.

"Liv, we’ve been trying to stay out of your relationship, but Braxton really isn’t good for you! Do you really want to be with him forever?” Josie's voice floats in my head, sending the warning ahead of time. I should've listened to her.

Her words feel like prophecy now. They were only earlier in the week and still they seem so far away.

“Liv, you are going to have to break up with him sooner or later. This is escalating, and he’s hurting you. I’m sure if you broke up with Braxton right now, Liam would stand between the two of you. He’d protect you, just like he’s been doing.” Charlie's voice repeated the red flags I was ignoring.

I guess my sisters really did know what they were talking about when they tried to warn me away from him. Rick and Trent both hate his guts, and by the time I was starting to figure it out, it was too late! I was already trapped.

"I'm sorry," I sniff into the dark room. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you last year when you told me not to date him. I thought you were just being... pushy," I murmur into the moldy mattress. My voice comes out so soft, I can barely hear it over the wind.

I'm not sure how long it's been since I was kidnapped. Has it been 48 hours yet? Was it already 72? I've lost track of time... The only one who comes in here is Braxton, and then Ava came in just to punish me. I have no idea how many times I've seen him because I try to push it out of my head. But they all blur together.

Isn't there some statistic that says if you aren't found in the first 48 hours it's harder to find you? I don't know if that's the truth or not. I hope it's not. I don't want them to give up on me when I'm right here! They just have to figure out where the hell here actually is and come get me!

I feel sick. And not just figuratively. My stomach has been in knots. I'm not sure I have enough in my stomach to puke out right now. It'll all just be bile. I've got a damn headache, and I don't know if its from stress or dehydration at this point.

I've also noticed I get chills... which might just be the fact the room is freezing or it could be something else. I can't tell if my body is hot. All I know is I'm achy. And I don't want to stay here anymore!

How the hell did Josie and Charlie deal with this? Both my sisters are stronger than me. Even Charlie.

I wish I was strong and brave like them. But I'm not! I'm weak and selfish, and if I ever get out of here, I swear I'm going to do everything I can to be worthy of them.

I know Josie went into a deep depression... She tried to kill herself... Rick found her just in time, but she lost most of her memories of what happened to her during that time.

Is that an option?

Then again, I'm not sure I'm to the point of attempted suicide. That also doesn't sound very brave. She was going to leave us because she was hurting... then where would we be?

I know she'd actually been raped by James (I have no idea if Dean Kingston raped her. She doesn't remember and she never said anything when she came back) ... So had Charlie, for years. And she kept it a secret.

Luckily Braxton hadn't touched me yet (and I'm not gonna let him!) ... He only screwed Ava. I've said this before and I'll say it again. They can have each other. Just do it somewhere I don't have to watch! Yuck!

Just why the hell did they have to involve me in any of this? Was this Braxton's plan or was it Ava's? (It's a toss-up.) Couldn't they have just had each other and I could've had Liam? And what was the point of taking me away from him when he's just gonna fuck my cousin in front of me?