Owned By My Step Brother

Chapter 16 - Confused

Alice's Point Of View

I ran as fast as I could with my heart in my throat.

I expected a shout, sounds of footsteps, or something, anything from Reynolds, but I got nothing.

It was almost as if I had imagined it, and no one was chasing me.

“It's best to stop now,” I muttered to myself, beginning to feel the strain in my injured leg.

“Maybe I imagined it,” I said calmly, bringing myself to a halt.

I didn't feel or look like there was trouble anyway.

But somewhere in the pit of my stomach, there was a knot.

Something didn't quite feel right about my escape.

“You got better at running,” a voice thundered from behind me.

My legs began to give out, as I shook out of fear.

I didn't turn around, already knowing who was behind.

“I'll punish you for this,” he said quietly, his breath landing on my shoulders.

His calmness terrified me even more.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he picked me up and placed me on his shoulders effortlessly.

I wanted to push, to fight, to try escaping one more time, but my body didn't protest.

My limbs felt frozen as he walked slowly towards the house.

“Stay still, this might sting,” he said softly, placing my injured leg on the stool.

He picked up the first aid box and sat by my side.

“You shouldn't keep hurting yourself…” he said in a low tone, an unreadable look flashing in his eyes.

My heart faltered for a minute; it felt like he genuinely cared for me.

“You need to be healthy to serve me properly,” he finished calmly, his eyes darkening.

I bit my bottom lip trying to control my anger, but soon a frustrated laugh erupted from my lips.

“Why do you even care? Wouldn't it be better for you if I died?” I asked defiantly, overwhelmed with frustration.

Immediately, the words left my lips, and I felt his hand around my neck.

“Don't talk nonsense!” He barked, his grip tightening.

I began to choke and lose my breath, but he didn't seem to care.

“I…I…I can't breathe,” I managed to whisper, as the air in my lungs evaporated.

“Don't you want to die? Let me help you,” he said firmly, tightening his grip once more.

My face had started to turn blue, and I began to hit his hand, fighting to free myself from his grip, but he didn't budge.

“Next time you say such nonsense to me, I will make sure you die, and I will bury you myself in that rose garden, just like your father,” he threatened angrily, as tears rolled down my face.

Just as before I passed out, he loosened his grip and finally let go of me. I dropped helplessly onto the bed.

“You'd better eat this food by the time I return,” he said harshly, banging the door shut behind him, leaving my leg unattended.

I lay numb and helpless on the bed, trying to catch my breath.

It took a while, but when I could breathe properly, I rushed towards the food in front of me.

“It's cold,” I complained bitterly, taking another bite.

I was already very hungry before my failed escape, and now, after all that running, my stomach was hurting badly.

After I finished eating, I fell asleep almost immediately, my body weak from exhaustion.

“Next time you say such nonsense to me, I will make sure you really die, and I will bury you myself in that rose garden, just like your father." These words echoed sharply in my mind, making me jerk up.

It was the crack of dawn, and I lay wasted on the bed, exactly how I had fallen asleep.

“What did that mean?” I asked myself, recalling the words Reynolds had said in anger.

“Did he have something to do with my dad's death?” I wondered anxiously, as the words kept ringing in my head.

I had been told my dad had died in a plane crash, and I had seen his body.

We had buried him in the town cemetery with a grave stone I had designed myself.

“...and I will bury you myself in that rose garden, just like your father.” Those words made shivers run down my spine.

Something was fishy, I felt it in my gut, and I was going to find out what it was.

Just then, Reynolds burst through the door with his father standing by his side.

W…what do you want?” I mumbled breathlessly, watching both of them approach me.

Had they really come to kill me just like Reynolds had promised earlier?

My chest suddenly became heavy, my heartbeat accelerating.

I needed time to think, but time was what I didn't have; they had already closed in on me.

“Your mother wants to see you,” Mr. Smith said quietly, watching my expression carefully.

At the thought of my mother, all my doubts and fears fell to the ground.

“My mom…my mom is okay?” I asked anxiously, literally jumping down from the bed.

I landed on my injured leg and immediately fell to the ground.

“Careful,” Reynolds warned sternly, bending to help me to my feet.

But Mr. Smith just shook his head in disgust and walked out of the room.

“Thank you,” I said shyly, as he helped me onto the bed.

He dressed my wound quickly and gave me another set of clothes.

I looked at the old clothes, and only just realized how dirty they had become from my failed attempt at escape.

“Dress up quickly and come out, you know your mom gets anxious when you delay,” he said in a soft tone, his eyes lingering on me just a moment longer.

I hurriedly got changed and went to meet my mom, who was sitting up in her bed, looking healthier than ever, and smiling.

“Alice…Alice, wake up,” I heard my mom's voice from a distance.

And then I opened my eyes to find my mom sitting up and me lying beside her bed.

“I didn't know you were this tired after the wedding,” she said, joking, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Wedding?” I asked in shock, adjusting myself and trying to sit up.

I mistakenly put too much pressure on my injured leg, biting my lip, I waited for the pain.

I was shocked when nothing came.

So I checked the leg and there was no injury at all.

“Was that all just a dream, or was it real?” I whispered in shock, as I began to doubt my own sanity.