TIANA

Why didn't he tell me?

Why didn't he tell me?

I often stare at the dirty window lost in my thoughts of what was real or fake. Doing my best to prohibit the presence of the malignant man lurking in the shadows when he thought I didn't notice from affecting me.

Whilst replaying the times I was around Luis, all his nervous tendencies all made sense now and I could only wonder if my mother knew all along. And just the mere thought of her makes a rare smile break out. And only push me to move my hands wrapped around my back to shift and reveal the army knife my captor had left on the nightstand.

She wouldn't want me to give up. With all that she went through she remained persistent in her pursuit to being positive but just thinking about her strength was the encouragement I needed to use the knife to break through the thick rope.

I had to try.

I just had to fucking try.

And moving my arm, I held the knife as if it was my lifeline knowing this moment would determine whether I'd end this torture by escaping or fail and deal with being groped against my will.

Maybe I should be grateful he hadn't done anything else to me.

And it pained me knowing this is the kind of world we still lived in where some people had to be grateful of facing a lesser evil when they deserved no evil at all.

Each minute seemed to pass by as I moved the knife's teeth praying to my Maker that the rope would fall away from my skin.

"My father," I nearly choked on my spit looking up to find him entering the room and I felt like a deer caught in headlights believing I had been caught. But I began to breathe easily when he continued airing out whatever rubbish he had to say.

"He wasn't much of a nice man," he said and I followed his movements as he drew nearer to me only to remove the duct tape after which he went to lean against the doorframe staring at the window.

Much to my dismay I drew in a steady breath to calm my raging heart and moved my hand a lot more slowly determined to finish my task of freeing myself with him not looking at me.

At least I hope he wasn't looking at me. However, it was hard to stop cutting the rope with the taste of freedom on my tongue and I kept my gaze on him feigning interest in his choice to talk to me besides gawking at me.

"As a child you're prone to be easily swayed by the world around you. You're a lot more impressionistic and it was only when I reached a certain age that I began to comprehend the reason behind his actions."

At this point his eyes landed towards me but my gaze had shifted towards his scar that seemed to resemble the damage within him. I began hoping that once I freed myself I could put the blade into his skin and give him another mark on him to remember me by. He caught me staring intensely at it." You can go ahead and ask me? Given the amount of time we've spent together you should feel comfortable to ask me anything?" he snickered despite the frown I gave him.

"Don't take offense if I don't immediately rush to tell you shit."

"My name is Cain, by the way."

"Don't care."

"The attitude is a bit unnecessary. But I get it, you're restless- but don't worry, he raised his hands in mock surrender," it's all about to end."

Something about the way he said it, unnerved me and made me feel unsettled to the degree I chose to be quiet as opposed to responding and pressed my lips together.

"Isn't it funny how paths seem to cross each other," he began sauntering further into the room staring me down with his signature smile. I felt my muscles tense in anticipation of what he was going to say knowing that I wasn't going to like it." even when you try to bury your past wounds there's always some part of it that remains stuck to you, or in my case, this," he chuckled darkly tracing the scar on his cheek.

"Does it give you satisfaction to punish people?"

"You think I chose to be like this."

"Don't bullshit me,' I shook my head bemused at his ridiculous excuse," we all have some kind of a choice to choose the life that we want-"

"Not me. . ." he shook his head profusely clenching his jaw," I had no real choice in terms of how my life went."

"Is that why you're- you're the way you are?"

I hope I didn't put my foot in my mouth.

He gave me a quizzical look," You make it sound as if I'm not normal."

"Kidnapping people isn't norma-"

"I'm only fulfilling my obligations to purify this world of ours from the likes of you."

"You make us sound like trash," I replied bitterly twisting my hands around the rope in an attempt to stumble upon a miracle that tugging on it would be enough to loosen them enough to grant me my dream to run." Funny you claim to see me as less yet last I checked you approached me at the club."

His smile faltered a little and under normal circumstances I would have hit him with a 'gotcha' but I was the one at a disadvantage being tied up like an animal. And unlike the usual sneer, his face softened," I thought the moments we shared in bed were enough to let you know you're an exception. And on top of that- you practically led me straight to Luis," he grinned showcasing utter glee.

"I was this close to giving up on my search for him until he tackled me to the ground. I was set on hurting him directly until i saw the way he cradled you to his chest. . . that's when it hit me," he tilted his head narrowing his eyes on me," the only way to leave an impact on someone is to take that which they value most."

In as much as I felt my heart drop into my stomach I felt the rope around my hands loosening around my skin to offer me relief prohibiting the nauseating feeling from completely taking over.

No longer able to tolerate any more of his words, I tensed, blurting out the only suitable thing that would make him come closer to me. Despite how much I detested his presence.

"Please, may I go to the bathroom?"

He pursed his lips scrutinizing me and I prayed my intentions weren't painted on my face as I swallowed hard keeping my fear at bay. Eventually after what felt like an eternity he moved towards me, once he invaded my space as if on instinct I jammed the knife into his side with as much force as I could.

"AH! SHIT!" he cursed stumbling back and with his defences down I leaped from my seat and ran down the hallway.

My eyes frantically searched for a route to get out, tuning out his yelling and flow of curse words.

MOVE!

MOVE!

MOVE!

Was the only word that my mind could conjure up in this moment in which the adrenaline pumped through my veins. I pushed my body in frantic search of a way out. And I nearly leapt for joy once the front door came into my line of vision and at this point I had tunnel vision. That door that stood between me and getting help was the only thing I could see and in the end I couldn't see the large man coming behind me to tackle me to the ground. I yelped not only from the shock but from the pain that spread rapidly throughout my body as I landed onto the floor.

"Thought you could run away from me," he spat turning my body roughly keeping me caged in, he sat on top of my stomach pinning my hands on either side my head making movement that much harder. And I screamed, an ear-piercing cry that showed my pain and despair to shake the very ground despite his weight and instead of showing some form of sympathy he tightened his grip.

His fiery orbs stared me down, frowning in anger at my defiance to not back down. Despite a part of myself knowing I had failed in making it.

I was close

So

So

Close. . .

And I still fell short.

"I underestimated you, little T," he chuckled shifting until he held both my hands in his larger one, with his hand free he pulled out the knife from his pocket still smeared with his crimson fluid whilst his side oozed blood from my attack.

"It's only fair, right?" he chuckled placing the blade on my neck.

"NO! PLEASE- NO!" I screamed kicking beneath him longing to get him off me but to no avail and the smile he wore seeing me squirm worsened the shame. But just as he was about to dig the blade into my skin, the sound of a car outside halted any further movements on his end.

He looked up lifting me against him placing the knife quickly against my neck," You scream- I slit your fucking throat," he quietly spat and a part of me knew was too fearful to even push especially with the glint I saw in his eye.

He moved towards the window and the second I saw Luis' profile step out I was ready to yell out until Cain's deep laugh broke the deafening silence," Look whose here." He tightened his hold on me moving my body despite my resistance and keeping the knife against my throat.

He pushed me further into the house when all I wanted to do was run through that door. I dug my feet into the ground doing my best to fight him but my efforts were futile against his strength.

And as he mumbled lowly into my ear," Let's make our guest feel welcome," I knew nothing good would come out of this.