My Special Princess

Chapter 18

Sarah

The footsteps above had silenced, the scurrying or the rats had ceased. The only sound to be heard was the rain hitting the window. The dripping from the ceiling right between my legs. My stomach growled, begging for something to be put inside. However, there was nothing of the sort. After Tristan had gone back upstairs, no one returned to replace his presence. I was truly alone, once again.

In the darkest times, my thoughts roamed different occasion in my mind. If I had done something differently or if I had acted a certain way. Life would not have played out like this. I allowed myself, to think of Xavier. I wondered if he thought of me or if was having too much fun with Jessica. What if he had done nothing and his it’s not what it looks like was just that not what it looked like. The woulda, shoulda, coulda bounced like basketball on a court. The thinking and no food in almost 12 hours had my head ready to split in two.

I listened to the music, the water made dripping from, I assume the pipe. It soothed me, lulling me into a sense of peace. I wanted to rest, to dream of a different setting than this. My eyes felt heavy. The day's events making me feel a sense of exhumation. The pain in my body slowly transformed from an endless throbbing to a dull ache. I rested my head on the stonewall, sleep came momentarily. There I dreamed:

‘Xavier, come and spend time with me. I know your done your work for the day.’ I run into his office, his eyes are dark, soulless as he thrust his p***s into another woman’s v****a. Jessica sits on a desk in the nude, fondling her n*****s. He looks at me, his mouth dripping with blood. ‘I don’t want you.’ The loud shrill of laughter is the last thing I hear.

The dream changes I am five years old, I am at the park with my parents. They sit on the bench watching as I go down the slide. I run over to them when they begin to walk with one another. I want them to push me on the swing. My sneakers hit the asphalt as I run toward them. I stop when they turn their heads to face me. Their mouths are dripping blood, eyes soulless. ‘Why are you here? We were enjoying our moment without you nearby.’

I am jolted awake by the feeling of water on my body. I look up and see my mother holding a dripping empty bucket. It was not hard to come to the realization that she drenched me in water, instead of just nudging me.

“Get up! The Montgomery’s will be here shortly and despite my attempts at persuading them that you are quite suitable. They insist to meet you. Tristan here will take you upstairs to prepare you.” She commands:

I felt a pair of hands pull me up by my arms. My wrist stayed interlocked in the tight ropes, but my feet at some point were untied. I was able to walk upstairs, the sunshine blinded me. I was indeed in a house, I attempted to study my surrounded in as much detail as I could. However, many doors and windows we passed none seemed to a front or back door. Tristan pushed me into an empty room, motioning to the open bathroom.

I stepped inside and be cut the ropes from my wrists. I rubbed my sore wrists to ease the sting of the ropes. “Well, go on and shower, and don’t try anything funny.” He motions. I turn my head asks, “Aren’t you going to leave, there is something called privacy.”

“Yeah right, it’s not like there’s anything under those clothes that’s worth turning away from.” He scoffs. I turn my head and start stripping down. My skin crawling at the thought of him looking at me from behind. I turn on the hot water and step inside, the glass steaming up from the hot water. I go as slow as I can, letting the water relax my tense muscles. Images of the dreams, make me rigid. I knew what they meant but why was I having then now of all times.

I step out once I hear Tristan yell for me to hurry up. He throws me a towel and some clothes. I dry off behind the shower door and slip on the underwear and bra. My back facing him, I hurriedly put on the black pants and cream blouse. He grabs my arm once again and takes me to what appears to be a sitting room.

My mother is already there, dressed in a designer suit top and skirt. I feel Tristan interlock his fingers with mine. I move to pull away but he grips it tighter, whispering in my ear, “Ah, be good or you won’t get anything to eat and that’s the lesser of all the things I will do to you.”

I steel myself as he grips my hand tighter, trying to play up the narrative of us being a happy couple. The doorbell rings and my mother opens the door. A array of hugs and kisses are exchanged, my shock at the fake face she can turn on in an instant. The man and woman rush over to us, the woman hugs Tristan first and then me. I feebly hugged her back, not really keen on the charade.

“My name is Susan Montgomery and that is is my husband Richard Montgomery. And oh my, you look so much like Betty. I have heard so much about you. It is shame we never got to meet before, but it is wonderful that you and my son have hit it off so much to go through with the marriage.” She says, excitedly.

“Why don’t we all sit down and chat a bit. You two will be staying until dinner, so we have some time till then.” She pointedly looks at me, I sit down with my hand still in Tristan’s grasp. Susan begins to ask questions, which Tristan quickly answers. To be honest, I feel sick to my stomach st the lies he is telling for their fortune. I find it odd, that people could raise a son like this.

“So when are we going to get some grandchildren,” Susan asks, teasingly. I choke on my saliva, making me cough a little. I had no idea children would be part of this ruse. Children need a loving home, not something based on lies.

“Don’t worry mom, we will be having a little bundle of joy soon. We both want children, as soon as possible. Right sweetheart?” He kisses my cheek and looks at me intently, daring me to defy him. I felt the pressure of something sharp on my back. A knife maybe. Susan and Richard were unaware of the situation as they sat in front of us looking at me expectantly.

“Ri...ght… I cannot wait.” I affirm, giving a big fake smile. In reality, the only thing running through my head is how I’m going to get out of here, before something happens that’s irreversible.