"Dy." I called him. He's been looking down at his phone, typing non-stop since I woke up. I bet he's already updating Alec on what happened. I'm surprised he isn't on his way back to New York. Knowing my brother, he would leave whatever business he has there to tend to me which is something I don't want him doing.

I don't want Alec's life to revolved around me. No matter how much guilt he feels about the past, I ahve nothing against my big brother. He's the best brother anyone could ask for.

"Yes, shortcake? Do you need anything? Water? Food? Tell me." He said all in one breath. "Emil!" He shouted his name without waiting for my response.

Emil, prompt as ever, immediately entered the room looking impassive and on guard. "Sir." He refused to look at me but I could see the guilt written all over his face. For someone who takes pride in his job, this must have come as a big shock to him. He, for a lack of a better word, failed to protect me like he was supposed to.

"Sorry, Emil. It was nothing. Dustyn is just over reacting." I said, my hand going to Dustyn's hand. "We're fine. Thank you."

"Of course." Emil simply said and left the room without another word.

"Shortcake." Dustyn said, looking at me worriedly. He has put his phone down and is solely focused on me. "You should lie down."

I shook my head. I feel like I've been resting for a long time. "I'm fine. The twins?" I asked, noticing their missing presence.

"Officer Fields came in a few hours ago. Apollo filed a report. Officer Fields insisted on taking the twins home to let you rest." He explained, his eyes still full of worry as he scans me for any visible injury.

"I'm fine." I told him again, resting my hand on top of his.

He sighs loudly and looks down on our hands. "I'm glad Nica and the twins were there. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if they weren't. "

"I don't even know why I panicked or why I lost my consciousness." I admitted, sighing as I did. I've never seen my captor's face. Not one. I saw glimpse of his eyes, those hunting black orbs. What I remember clear about him was his voice, the depth of it and the tone he uses whenever he wants to torment me. I remember the callouses in his hands whenever he touches me suggestively.

"You were scared and traumatized, shortcake." He said, his eyes meeting mine. "I guess, your brain was too stressed so it just shut down. Anyway, the doctor said to not stress you and to let you rest."

I know Dy's been bothered by the horrors of my past. I know he wants to know, yet I don't know if I can tell him. I don't know if I am brave enough to see pity and disgust in his eyes when I did. I don't know if there'll be a time where I'll be ready to tell him the whole story. Quite frankly, I don't think any time would be a good time.

Those memories. Those events. I prefer for them to be buried and forgotten.

Still, things doesn't always go the way I want it to be.

The fact is, he's out there. Who knows how many kids my age he has been tormenting all these years when he was able to escape from the police? Who knows what he's been up to?

Nobody.

None of us knows what we're facing up against. The least I can do for Dustyn is to tell him everything. To not let him go through this blindsided.

"What's going through that head of yours?" He asked, voice low and questioning. His eyes analyzing every inch of my face. "You can tell me anything."

I gave him a small smile. "I know." I said. "I wanna tell you."

He raised his eyebrow at my words. "Tell me what?"

"Everything. That day.. weeks.." I sighed, shaking my head at the fact that I don't even know how long I was in that basement. Back then, it felt like I've been down there for years.

"You don't have to. It's okay." He said comfortingly as he sees the confliction on my face.

"I have to. Dr. Rose said telling someone else, someone who is willing to listen, might do some good for me. Aside from Alec and Dr. Rose, I've never really relayed the whole story to anyone."

Dustyn squeezes my hand comfortingly. "Don't push yourself if you can't do it. I love you shortcake."

"I was out. I was going to this restaurant where Amelia reserved a table for the three of us. We were going to have dinner there but the driver didn't come to get me from the library that night. So I walked down to the bus station, hoping to catch a bus or even a cab. It was dark, that night. And I remember it being bitterly cold with harsh winds blowing my hair away from my face." I started, breathing out shakily as the day comes back to me in clearer pictures than it has ever been in a long time. "I arrived at the bus stop. Then this black sleek car stopped in front of me. It looked exactly like the car we have. When the window rolled down the man behind the wheel said, I should get in because my parents are waiting for me at the restaurant. When I asked him why he's picking me up instead of the usual driver, he said that it broke down and that I forgot my phone at home so they couldn't contact me. The harsh cold from the outside urged me to get inside the car."

Listening to myself now, I wanted to slap the younger me for being so stupid. For believing that stupid man. For getting in that damned car. Why was I so damn stupid? If I refused and stood my ground, maybe some stranger could have helped me get away from those people. But no. I have to be stupid and naïve and get inside the damned car without thinking about the dangers it might give. Stupid naïve Mara.

"I don't know what happened next. When I next opened my eyes, I was in that dark room. The floor was concrete and I could vividly remember shivering from the cold whenever it touched my legs. My hands were tied tightly behind me. I was drooling, or at least I think I was because there was a rolled up cloth tied around my mouth. I just remember crying so hard. Scared to the bone. I remember closing my eyes and praying that it was nothing but a dream. God. How I wish it was a dream." I said, closing my eyes as the memories kept on rushing. The words flowing out of my mouth smoothly, like it was a story I would tell anyone everyday.

I shook my head and opened my eyes. Scared that the memories might pull me in too deep. "They left me alone for days, I think. When the door opened, my eyesight was too hazy to see his face. But his frame was huge and he was almost muscular. I just remember scooting far away from his figure, backing away to the farthest wall my back could reach. When his hand reached down on my thigh, I flinched, my head hitting the wall behind. I don't know when it started but one day, he just started hitting me."

Dustyn's eyes met mine. Almond brown eyes filled with understanding as he continues to hold my hand in his warm hands. It was both comforting and nervewracking. I don't want any of those two to leave his eyes once I am done talking. I'm scared that he might see how unworthy I am for a man like him.

I'm nothing but a broken woman who always needs to be saved from the dangers of this cruel world.

"Every time he would laugh or torment me with words and his hits. It was a cycle. Day after day. Not one wound was healed whenever he was around. Sometimes he would come everyday. So much anger. He would hissed angry words in my ear before he started hitting. He said that it was my fault." My breathe hitch as the words hit a sore spot. "That I should've never been born. That I was nothing more than a mistake that Mom and Dad had. That not even you or Alec really loves me. He said that's why no one has come to saved me yet. And no one would."

At this point, I am just full on crying. My shoulders shaking and my sobs choked down on my throat as I tried to get my composure back. Saying those words out loud feels foreign and painful. I didn't think it would still have this deep of an impact.

"I-I started believing his words. When he would come, I would just scream at the top of my lungs whenever he hit an already broken bone or even an open wound. I would sometimes be quiet, but whenever I am, his fingers would trail up and down my legs, getting closer and closer to my crotch each day. I was so scared. I thought I would die with all the beatings. I didn't want him touching me that way. It felt disgusting. I am disgusted with myself for letting him do that to me."

"It was that exact same day that Alec came in barging in the house that the man promised to finally take what he always wanted to take from me. I remember feeling so weak. I remember hearing thunderous footsteps running up and down the stair, the hallway outside of the room I was in. I remember holding my breathe when the door opened. But I felt relief flush through my system when I recognized Alec's voice. My first thought was that I was finally being saved after what felt like a lifetime of torment. Alec was crying, I heard him sobbing as he pulls me in his arms and carefully held me. I don't remember how I got to the hospital. I just remember waking up to a guilt-stricken face of Alec."

To this day, the sound of Alec's voice had been my saving grace. If it weren't for him.. well, who knows what happened.

"Shortcake." Dustyn called me softly. "You're so strong. You went through all of that and still you are fighting everyday." He told me, his eyes shining with pride as he regards me in a new way.

Ashamed of my earlier thought, I lunge myself at him. Hugging him tightly to me. "I was so scared. I thought you were going to leave once you found out."

His arms wrapped around me. Providing me with the security and comfort that I needed. "I don't think anything could make me leave you."

"Thank you." I whispered softly to him, as I let my head rest on his shoulder.