Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
She shakes her head, putting up a hand. She takes a deep breath and looks up. "He treated us like dogs. We were made to do things you couldn't even imagine. We were drugged so heavily it was hard to fight, to think. We were ordered around that house like slaves. There was nothing we could do about it. He would remind us that if we didn't like this world, we could go back out there and try to make it on our own. Of course we weren't going to do that, we became dependent on him. For drugs, for food, for anything we could get. I knew there was nothing better out there for me, at least, that's what I thought. I know that's not the case now, but back then, I didn't think as I do right now."
"I'm so sorry you had to endure such hell. I'm so glad we're together now, and we can help you. We will help you, Merleigh. I promise you that."
She nods, and I can see her hands are shaking. "Things got easier when Cova arrived. He took a liking to her and eased up on me. I was able to work around the house freely, he didn't lock me up anymore. I had my own room, and it wasn't so bad. I was drugged, every single day, and if I refused, I would suffer dire consequences. I figured it had to be better than what was happening to me when I first arrived, so I accepted it."
"He didn't treat Cova the same?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "Oh no, he did. He did the same things to her when she arrived, but he was...I don't know, playing mind games with her. He'd do all this horrible stuff, and then treat her nice for like a week, it was horrible to watch. Even worse when she came to crave his attention. Cova had it harder than me in the world outside, so she was easier to break. She thinks she's in love with him. You should know that when she wakes up, she's not going to want to be here. She's going to do anything she can to get back to him."
That terrifies me.
I don't want to be the person who makes her think she's trapped here, captured again. But at the same time, I know what she feels for Bryant isn't real. It's a drug-induced haze of mental manipulation, and it's going to take time to get her out of it. I just hope that I don't damage her more in the process.
"Do you think she is truly in love with him?" I ask, worried now that I'm making the wrong choice.
What is she was really happy there?
What if I've gotten this all wrong, and I'm taking her against her will?
The thought makes me sick.
"Gosh, no. Please don't believe that she is in any way in love with that monster. The things he did to her, oh Briella, they were awful."
She's right.
No.
There is no way she's going back to that monster.
"She's confused and very, very drugged. He kept her that way more so than me. He couldn't break me, I didn't fall for his charms, but Cova did. She relished in the soft touches after the beatings, the gentle lovemaking after the rape, the wining and dining after being starved. She started catering to his every whim because it made him go easy on her. He treated her like a little abused pet."
And I hate to say it, but that's precisely what she is.
The dog that's abused so many times over, but when the owner gives it love, it comes running back.
She's going to need serious help. I'm just worried about her waking up, and realizing what we've done, is going to be too intense for her to handle.
"I should tell you," Merleigh goes on. "We're going to come down hard off whatever drugs he gave us. We're going to need to be restrained or locked somewhere we can't get out until our minds are clear again."
God, this girl is so strong it makes me want to cry.
She's an incredible force.
"I'll get Alarick to organize something right away. Tell me exactly what you need to get you through this as quickly and as effortlessly as possible."
She smiles weakly. "Just lock us up and let us ride it out, it's the only way. Then, and only then, will we be able to think more clearly."
"Are you afraid?" I ask her.
She shakes her head. "No, I'm not looking forward to it, of course, but I am looking forward to having my life back. You think it's hard before until you're trapped in that horrible world, then you realize just how many opportunities you had but didn't take. I'm going to start taking some of those."