The Monster's Fury

CHAPTER FOUR

One Month Ago

Cole POV

“Is it done, Ryan?”

“Yes Sir. I watched the explosion happen myself. Hunter and his friend are currently on the scene.

“Okay, good. Make sure everything is set up in Santa Monica and San Marino. Once Sandy gets wind of this, I know they’ll be coming for me. I want them all dead if they step foot on any of my properties. Do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.”

“When that’s all settled make your way to the mansion. It won’t be long until she wakes up.” I look down at my little sleeping butterfly and stroke her hair.

“Will do, Sir.” I hang up the phone and smile.

“You’re finally back where you belong, My Little Butterfly.”

****

Adrienne POV

I wake up to a cold piercing chill on my back. I try to use my hands to rub my eyes but I can’t move them. I blink a few times to clear my blurred vision. I’m enclosed in darkness and I can’t move. My arms and legs are tied down. My mouth is taped and stuffed with fabric so I can’t scream. I know this position all too well.

After a while, a bright light illuminates the room, causing my eyes to squint. I take the opportunity to look at my surroundings. I was expecting to see the usual red walls and various torture tools he liked to use hanging from them, but instead, everything is white and bare. Nothing in this room looks familiar. The only thing that feels familiar is the cold concrete table I’m laying on.

“You’re finally awake my little butterfly.” My body starts to shake uncontrollably when I hear his disgusting voice come from the corner of the room. I don’t know if it’s fear or anger but I can’t bear to look at him. Footsteps start coming towards me and I grit my teeth. I don’t know what he’s going to do to me but I need to be prepared for anything.

His measly fingers travel up my thigh, to my breast and they finally cup around my cheeks, slightly pinching them together. I try to pull my face away but his force keeps it still. He lowers his head to my ear.

“I’ve missed you.” He whispers as he bites on my earlobe, causing me to wince not just from pain but disgust too. I don’t want him touching me, I don’t want him anywhere near me.

“Being away from me has made you soft. You wince just from a little nibble.” I glare daggers at him. My eyes are on fire. I want him to know that he’s not going to intimidate me. He’s not dealing with that same little girl from before.

“Looks like someone got a little feisty.” He smiles as he backs away a little bit. His eyes study me and I feel them roam around my naked body taking me all in. I want to shrivel up into a ball to protect myself but I’m defenseless.

“I’m going to have fun punishing you. You’ll be back to my obedient Little Butterfly in no time.” He rips the tape off of my mouth and I yelp from the sting.

Before I can do anything else his hand is wrapped tightly around my neck. I can’t breathe and with the fabric still being stuffed in my mouth and held by his other hand, it’s harder to keep my calm the way I taught myself how. My throat clenches as I struggle to find even just a small breath of oxygen. As soon as I feel myself losing consciousness, he lets go just enough so that I’m able to breathe but the pain he’s inflicting is still there. He wants me awake for all of this.

“Oh no you don’t My Butterfly. You’re not getting off that easy. Do you know the trouble you and your little friends caused me.” He scoffs and smiles. His eyes are wild with amusement. This is Cole in his element-- this is how he gets off. He loves nothing more than to punish me and hear me scream, but I won’t give him that satisfaction.

I use my tongue to help me push out the fabric that he stuffed in my mouth. When I was able, I gathered up my saliva and spit in his face. I watch as my spit rolls down from his right cheek to the tip of his chin. I’m well prepared for the hurt that I know is coming my way. He's going to beat me anyway-- I might as well go out with a bang. His jaw clenches and I know he’s livid. Watching him squirm even just a little bit is more than satisfying for me.

His hand raises and the blow that came after almost knocked me out. He used so much force that I could instantly taste the blood start to form in my mouth. The pain is incredible but I refuse to show any weakness. Once I get my bearings, I glare at him again with the same fire as before, but this time I add a side smirk that I know is going to piss him off even more.

“You think you’re funny, huh?” He says as he wipes what’s left of my spit off his cheek and chin. He digs into his pocket and pulls out a remote. I know exactly what that remote is for and I know exactly what’s going to happen next-- the thought sends shivers down my spine.

The click of the remote makes my heart race as the lever holding me onto the concrete table starts to turn me around. I hear the sound of Cole’s belt buckle as he tries to take off his belt. Once I didn’t hear it anymore, I knew what was about to come. I grit my teeth and shut my eyes as I lay my head on the concrete table. My breathing starts to get heavy and I brace myself as much as I can.

A hard sting flashes across my back as his belt makes contact with my skin. Then another hit, and another one right after that. I want to scream from the excruciating pain but that’s what he wants. I’m not going to give in to him. This is what I signed up for. I knew if he got his hands on me this was going to happen. I just have to take it until I can find a way to kill him.

“Mmmm, Little Butterfly, your skin welting up like this is making my d**k hard. How about you give me a little scream to top it off?” I don’t respond.

“No?” He walks closer to my back, wrapping his hand around the nape of my neck. He slowly slides his tongue down my back, giving extra attention to the welts that he just created.

A knot catches in my throat as I try to hold myself together. I don’t even care about the physical pain anymore. Nothing is more painful than someone else touching me besides Hunter. I still belong to him-- I’m still his and he’s still mine. Cole’s tongue feels dirty on my skin-- I feel dirty. Another sharp sting flashes across my back, bringing me back to the pain that subsided for a few seconds.

“Scream!” Cole demands as he whips me again. I do nothing.

“I SAID SCREAM!” He continues-- lash after lash. Blood flows down my back from the belt tearing into my flesh. The pain is becoming unbearable but I know he isn't going to stop. Seeing me in pain is just going to make him want to keep going and it’ll only get worse. Another lash strikes across my open wounds, causing me to jump. My first sign of weakness.

“That’s more like it!” He beams. He loops his fingers through my hair and pulls hard. My neck snaps back into his chest. His breathing is erratic and his heart is pounding a mile a minute.

“I haven’t been this excited in a long time.” He breathes, wrapping his free hand around my waist, slightly lifting me off the concrete table. He thrusts his pelvis against my bare ass, making me feel just how excited he is.

“He misses you.” He breathes in my ear. I can feel his erection pulsing through his pants. He lets go of my hair and starts to unbutton his pants. My heart drops when I figure out what he’s going to do next. I start to thrash my body around with the little strength I have left, causing him to tighten his grip around my waist.

“Don’t f*****g touch me!” I shout at him. My back scrapes across his suit but I ignore the pain. I’m not going to let him do this to me without a fight.

“Now I get to hear that beautiful voice of yours? Do you think your little loverboy won’t want you anymore if you go back defiled?” He pushes me away from him and my body slams back onto the concrete.

“Get him out of your head now. You’re dead to him and I made sure of that.” He starts to button his pants again.

“What are you talking about?”

“They all think you’re dead. Your family, your little loverboy, Sandy. They’re getting ready to hold a funeral for you-- or at least they think it’s you.” He chuckles.

“What the f**k did you do?!” I demand an answer and a hard sting flashes across my back immediately after.

“Remember who the f**k you’re talking to. You are in no position to question me.” He whips me across my back again. Each lash is worse than the last.

“You’re so predictable, Adrienne. I knew exactly where you were at all times. I’ve had your car tracked for days. Did you think running into us on the way was just a coincidence? Once we pulled you out of the car, I already had someone that looked almost identical to you, ready to take your place. When your Loverboy came to your rescue-- like I knew he would, he saw your replacement burning to death in a car explosion, and now they all think you’re dead. That, along with a false autopsy report to confirm it was you, was all I needed.” His mischievous laugh made me want to scream.

“I told you, once I got you back I wasn’t going to let you go. No one is going to come and look for you, no one is going to come and save you, so get them out of your mind. You only have me now and I’ll continue to beat you until they’re all dead to you too.” He turns on his heels, turns off the light and walks out of the room, leaving me in the dark with nothing but my pain and thoughts.

The crisp air brushing against my tender wounds makes me flinch, but that’s the least of my worries. They all think I’m dead? I was hoping what Cole said was a lie, but deep down I know it’s not. I try to hold back my tears but I fail. My lip quivers and tears cascade down my cheeks before I know it’s even happening. My heart completely breaks as I think about my parents and Taylor, and how hurt they must feel right now.

‘Hunter.’

My entire body trembles as I think about him and how crushed he might be. I shouldn’t have come here. He tried to stop me so many times and I didn’t listen. My sobs become uncontrollable. I bite on my bottom lip to try and stop my whimpers.

‘You did this to yourself. You knew what was going to happen when you came here. This was always a possibility.’

Who am I kidding? This was going to happen as soon as I got in my car and lied to Hunter. I miss him so much it hurts. I lay my head on the concrete table and close my eyes. The pain in my back begins to throb even more now that my adrenaline is settling down. Blood continues to trickle from my back down to my ankles. I try to ignore the pain and think about Hunter. His lightning blue eyes and how they turned a heavy dark blue when he was ready to make sweet love to me. Those dimples that poked through his cheeks when he smiled at me.The way he would call me Gorgeous, as if it were my God-given name.

This is how I'm going to make it through this. I just need to keep my mind on Hunter. He’s always been my protector, so this time is no different. I start to drift off as I continue to think about the man I love. My safe haven.

Cole POV

“Ryan, call Miranda and have her tend to Adrienne’s wounds, and bring her some food. I doubt she’s going to eat anything, but who knows, maybe she’ll surprise me.”

“Yes Sir, anything else?”

“No, that’ll be all.” I hang up the phone and continue to walk down the hallway to my office. I sit down at my desk and lean back in my chair, taking a deep breath to calm myself down. I haven’t felt that excited in a long time. My d**k starts to throb against my pants as I think about my Little Butterfly. The way my belt whipped across her bare back-- the way her skin bled in response. I would have f****d her right then and there but she ruined it as soon as she brought up that Hunter prick.

I can feel the heat radiate in my chest as my leg starts to shake. I hate that she was thinking about another man-- and in front of me at that! I slam on the keyboard to bring my computer screen to life. I pull up the application that I downloaded for the new camera equipment I installed in Adrienne’s room. I watch as she cries-- as her body flinches every time a wave of pain hits her. This is enough satisfaction I need to subdue the anger that’s festering inside me.

I continue to watch her until she cried herself to sleep. Miranda came in shortly after with a first aid kit and some food. She puts the food down on a side table and walks to where my Little Butterfly is still cuffed. She uses the remote to lower the concrete table so she can treat Adrienne’s wounds. Adrienne doesn’t budge. She opens the first aid kit and takes out what looks like peroxide and gauges, and begins to softly clean Adrienne’s wounds.

My Little Butterfly is drained-- she never woke up, never even stirred. For a second I think she might be dead, but Miranda doesn’t seem concerned so I throw out the thought. Once Miranda bandages her back, she pulls out a sheet to cover Adrienne’s naked body and walks out. Miranda has been with my family since I was a little boy. She knows what kind of man I am, this wasn’t the first time she’s cleaned up my mess-- especially when it came to my Little Butterfly.

I stand up, walk out of my office and head back to see Adrienne still passed out on the table. I remove the sheet that’s covering her, and stand there for a while just admiring my masterpiece. Blood slowly starts to stain her bandages. I’ve never had to whip her so much in one punishment but I loved every minute of it. I know she’s trying to hide her weaknesses, but what she doesn’t realize is the more she tries to play tough, the more she tries to fight me-- the more I want to punish her.

I pull up a chair and sit beside her. I brush away a strand of hair hanging in front of her face. As I study her soft features, I realize just how much I actually missed her. I gently glide my fingertips up and down her arm. I miss how her smooth, silky skin feels in my hands. I move my head closer to her ear.

“You will always be mine, Little Butterfly, and I will kill you before I let you leave me again.”

PRESENT DAY

Taylor POV

I jolt up from my hospital bed drenched in sweat and screaming at the top of my lungs. I swing my head left and right just to see where I am. Once I get my bearings and realize that I’m still in this damn hospital, I’m able to calm down a little bit.

I take a deep breath and lay my head back on my pillow. Ever since we lost Adrienne, my dreams have become unbearable. I don’t know if it’s guilt for not stopping her, but she haunts me. I dream of her in constant pain and agony. She’s always suffering and she’s surrounded by eyes. My dreams are starting to mess with my reality and I feel like I’m losing my mind. Tears start to prick the back of my eyes and it becomes harder to breathe.

I sit up in my bed and start to claw at my skin. It feels like my body is burning up from the inside out and my head is pounding. I scream and pound my fist on my bed, trying to ease this excruciating pain, but nothing is working. Everything feels out of my control, including my own thoughts. I pull at my hair damn near ripping it out.

“Taylor! Taylor stop!” A pair of hands grab onto mine, stopping me from doing any more damage to myself. I look up and see that it's Carmen.

“Everything is okay. Try and calm down.” She smiles softly.

“Come on, let's take some deep breaths together.” She takes a deep breath and then exhales. I follow suit and slowly start to calm down.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I say, as I turn my head towards the window. I couldn’t help but think about Adrienne and her anxiety attacks. I would always help her calm down and now someone has to do the same for me.

“Another dream?” Carmen asks as she tries to reach for my hand, but I pull away before she can touch me.

“No, screaming in the middle of the night is just a hobby I picked up recently.” I look at her and instantly regret my sarcastic remark. She seems hurt, but pissed off is most likely to be the case.

“Looks like you need to be alone.” She turns to walk away but I grab her hand, stopping her.

“I’m sorry, it’s just-- you know I’ve been having these dreams every night, so why bother asking?”

“You know what Taylor, I get that you're having a really hard time right now. Especially after losing your cousin, but that doesn’t give you the right to be a complete bitch.” She yanks her hand away and turns to storm out the door.

I groan in exasperation. She’s right, I have no right to be such an asshole-- not to her, she doesn’t deserve that. She’s been there for me through my toughest times here. After losing Dri, she’s been my support mentally, physically and emotionally. If it weren’t for her, I would have given up a long time ago.

“I love you!” I yell out, not realizing what I’m saying until the words are already out of my mouth. She stops dead in her tracks.

“What did you say?”

“I --I said I love you.” She turns around and smiles.

“This isn’t love.” She walks closer to me and sits down on my bed. She raises her hand to caress my face gently.

“What is it called when you fall in love with the person who helped you out of a tough situation? Superhero Syndrome or something like that? I think--” I grab her hand, stopping her from assuming my feelings. I hate when people do that.

“Are you saying you don’t love me?” She tries to avoid my gaze but I use my other hand to cup the side of her face. I want those dark beautiful eyes on me. I need to see every emotion, every movement-- I need to know if she’s going to lie to me.

Since Carmen and I started becoming closer I could sense the darkness behind her--behind her eyes, her words. It’s what drew me to her. She wasn’t like everyone else that assumed to know how I feel, she really did know. I bring my face closer to hers and pause an inch or two away from her lips. I can feel the intensity between us.

“If you don’t love me, then stop me now.” I close the gap between us, pressing my lips into hers. I let go of her hand and cup the other side of her face, deepening our kiss. My tongue explores every inch of her mouth. Her juicy lips felt so good on mine, there’s no way I’m stopping unless she tells me to.

I gently bite down on her bottom lip and she moans into my mouth, making me wet in an instant. I break our kiss and my tongue travels down from her earlobe to her neck. I want to find all of her sweet spots, I want her dripping before I even try.

“Taylor.” She moans.

“Say you love me.” I continue.

“Tay-Taylor.” She clears her throat as she presses her hands against my chest.

“We can’t do this right now.” She cups my face with one hand.

“I’m not saying I don’t love you, but I’m not saying that I do either. Just give me some time to figure out my thoughts, okay?” She leans in and gives me a quick kiss before smiling and walking out of the room. I fall back in my bed and exhale.

‘What the hell am I doing?’