Never Say Never (16 page)

“Sounds to me as if she just wants grandchildren.” Hayley laughed.

“That’s what I think as well.” Lucas laughed.

Hayley frowned, but then started laughing. Lucas looked at her with a puzzled expression and she laughed even more. “So that’s what
you meant before. That there was hope for you.”

Lucas laughed and nodded at her. “Exactly.”

They laughed together for a few seconds, but Lucas’ expression grew serious in an instant and he studied her face. “Why is everything so easy with you?”

She rolled over onto her stomach and looked at him. “I could ask you that same question.”

“I can’t explain it, but it’s as if I have known you my whole life.” He traced her jaw with his finger, looking into her eyes.

Hayley felt her cheeks flush and she smiled shyly. “You make me feel safe, Lucas, and that’s important. You’re important to me.”

“You’re important to me too, Hales.” He smiled at her and kissed her.

There was a sharp pain that shot through her skull and it was hard to focus. The grip he had on her hair was tight and she couldn’t move her head without wincing in pain. His breath on her face was sweet, but it disgusted her nonetheless. Her hips were aching, but luckily his rhythmic movement came to a stop. As she shut her eyes, she could feel the tears run down her cheeks, and down her neck. His hand on her thigh was cold and harsh, yet comforting and kind. Even though he was not the most compassionate, he wasn’t as cruel as his partner. His eyes were on her the whole time as he carefully pulled up her shorts. She felt bile rise in her throat at the thought of what had just happened, again, but after the beating she got the previous day from the other one, she swallowed it down. She let out a soft, barely audible cry and tightly shut her eyes. Her throat was dry and even though she wanted to yell as loud as she possibly could, there was no sound coming out. His grip loosened and she could feel the tension in her scalp lessen. Her head suddenly became heavy and she looked away. He brought his hand up and wiped the tear streaks from her cheek.

“I know you didn’t like that.” His voice was soft and gentle. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” She breathed, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Of course I am.” He whispered and she looked at him.

“Whatever.” She frowned, but the ache in her skull made the crease between her eyebrows disappear as swiftly as it appeared.

“Just try to understand why I had to do this.” He said, almost pleading.

“Because you’re an ass...” She glared at him, but he shook his head.

“No, that’s not the reason.” He said, not a hint of malice in his tone and brushed some hair off her face. “Because he wouldn’t have let you off so easily.”

She shut her eyes again and took a deep breath. He was right. The other guy wouldn’t have been so gentle with her. He would have ravaged her completely, draining her of every emotion, leaving her empty and feeling worthless. Not that she wasn’t feeling like that already, but The Kind One had a softer touch. His stare was less threatening and his voice didn’t make her heart want to jump right out of her throat. She would rather be raped by him a hundred times than let the other one just touch her.

“Don’t expect any gratitude.” She gritted her teeth.

“You are a beautiful girl.” He whispered. “You deserve better than this.”

“So you keep saying.” She looked into his eyes and she sighed softly, still feeling his hand against her face. His thumb was lightly brushing against her cheek, wiping a tear from under her eye. She suddenly heard footsteps and her body instinctively tensed up. His hand moved back to her thigh and gently brushed it. His eyes met hers and he frowned at her,
sternly, yet protective. She was confused, but she still shifted away slightly.

“Relax, I won’t let him touch you again.” He whispered, his tone haunting and comforting.

She felt her heart race and panic consumed her whole body. She knew that no matter what he said at that moment, it wouldn’t matter after the other one came into the room. The door swung open and she scrambled against the wall. The other man stood in the doorway, cigarette in his mouth.

“Are you done?” He asked.

“We both are.” The Kind One said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The other one snapped.

The Kind One stood up from the floor and walked over to the other one. “I mean she’s done. No more.”

“Wait a minute! You can’t have all the fun, man!” The other one exclaimed.

“I mean it, she’s done!” The Kind One walked over to the other one, shoving him back out the room.

“She’s done when I say she is done, Chad!” The other one yelled and shoved him out of the way. “What the fuck is with you all of a sudden?”

Chad, the Kind One has a name.

“She doesn’t deserve this shit!” Chad yelled at him. “Nobody does.”

“I’ll show you what she deserves.” The other one muttered.

Her body tensed up as she watched him walk up to her and she instinctively curled herself up. He glared at her for a few seconds and then started kicking and punching her. With every punch and kick, she let out a scream, begging him to stop. In the corner of her eye, she could only just make out the outline of Chad, shielding his eyes. She was not sure if it was because he was too ashamed of what he did to look at her, or whether, after all the things he said to her, he actually did not care at all. She felt blood fill up in her mouth and she spat a mouthful of blood on the floor next to her.

“Barry, stop it!” Chad yelled.

Barry, that’s his name. If she ever survived this, at least she had a name. The room started spinning and she could feel herself losing consciousness. Barry stopped kicking and grabbed her by the throat, glaring at her with dark and menacing eyes.

“I should just kill you right now, you worthless little bitch…” Barry growled.

“Barry, stop it!”

“Chad, shut your fucking mouth!” Barry yelled.

“Please…” She breathed.

“You know we have to kill you now, Princess.” Barry growled and let go of her throat.

“I didn’t expect anything less.” She fell back onto the ground and let out a soft groan. She could hear Barry pace around her for a few seconds and she looked up at him. He pulled a gun from the inside of his jacket and pointed it at her.

“Barry, put the gun away.” Chad walked towards him.

“She’s not as hot with that swollen eye, is she?” Barry muttered.

“Just stop it…” Chad frowned.

“Stop being such a chicken shit, goddammit.” Barry exclaimed and walked over to Chad, holding out the gun towards him. “Here.”

“Barry…” Chad shook his head.

“Take the goddamn gun!” Barry yelled and shoved the gun into his hand.

Chad glared at Barry and frowned. He looked at the gun and walked over to her.

“If you’re man enough to fuck her, you’re man enough to kill her.” Barry smirked and crossed his arms.

She looked up at Chad with wide, terror-filled eyes and felt her heart pounding in her chest.

“No…” She whimpered softly.

Chad pointed the gun at her, but hesitated.

“Do it.” Barry growled.

Chad shut his eyes for a brief moment and looked at Barry. “I can’t.”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me?” Barry exclaimed. “Just shoot her!”

Chad shook his head and marched out of the room, an enraged Barry following closely behind. They were shouting at each other, but her head was pounding so much that she covered her ears to block out the screaming. After a few minutes, the arguing stopped and she anxiously awaited their return. Her head spun as she tried to focus her eyes, but in the darkness it was no use. Her hips still ached and her throat was on fire. She has had enough, she could not take any more punches. She could not take any more harsh words. She heard footsteps approaching and the sound of a door unlocking made her head snap up abruptly. There was a ray of light that fell on the ground in front of her and she saw his silhouette in the doorway.

“Chad.” She whispered and looked at him.

As he walked over to her, she noticed the familiar look of remorse on his face. It made her think that maybe, just maybe, he might untie the ropes around her wrists and let her go, but she knew he never would. He owed her nothing, she was nothing to him, but sometimes, like now, she felt important, as if she mattered to him. He crouched down next to her and touched her shoulder.

“Are you hungry?” He asked, barely a whisper.

“No.” She shook her head and looked away. Actually, she was starving, but she would never succumb to either one of them.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” He asked again.

“You don’t have to do this.” She looked at him with tired eyes. “Just let me go, please.”

“You know I can’t do that.” He shook his head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I want to, but I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Please. I just want to go home.” She whispered.

“I’m sorry about everything I did to you.” He frowned.

“You’re sorry?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “After all of that, the only thing you can say is sorry?”

“I guess so.” He shrugged. “Barry…”

“You and Barry are sick. You need to be locked away and never let out.” She gritted her teeth.

“Don’t be so mean, Princess.” A voice from the door said.

Her head snapped up and felt her heart pound in her chest. Her blood ran cold in her veins and saw him walking closer to them. He had a smug smile on his face and was carrying a gun. She frowned and looked at him.

“It’s time to die, princess.” He pointed the gun at her. “Get out of the way, Chad.”

Chad stood up and looked at his friend. “I don’t think this is a good idea…”

“You’re chickening out again?” He asked.

“This isn’t right, Barry…” Chad frowned.

“You didn’t have the balls to shoot her, but I do.” He snarled and raised the gun, pointing it towards her face.

“Barry, don’t…” Chad shook his head.

“Get out of my way, Chad. I don’t want to shoot you too.” He growled.

Chad looked over his shoulder at her and she felt her whole world crashing in. For a split second, she thought he was going to grab the gun, but he didn’t. Why would a vindictive kidnapper put his own life at risk for a girl that he had raped four times? He wouldn’t.

She was paralyzed with fear as she stared at the gun pointing at her and she look
ed at Chad, with pleading eyes. “Please, don’t let him shoot me…” She breathed.

Chad shook his head, as if he was ashamed of himself and she felt a tear run down her cheek. He looked at her, a slight trace of concern in his eyes, those eyes, but then he turned away and she felt her whole world crashing down around her. She felt her chest tighten and another tear ran down her cheek. She closed her eyes tightly and turned her face to the side. She felt her hands shaking and thought of her father and Daniel. She wondered if she was ever going t
o see them again. She hoped they knew how much she loved them. She thought about her life and everything she still wanted to achieve, all the places she still wanted to travel to. She thought about her beautiful white wedding dress that was hanging in her closet and she knew she was never going to get the chance to wear it. She imagined herself in her dress, walking down the aisle, and Daniel waiting for her. She felt another tear run down her cheek and she breathed slowly. There was silence in the room and she held her breath, too scared to open her eyes. She heard a shot go off, but felt nothing after that. The throbbing in her head had stopped, the aching in her hips stopped, the pain vanished, and there was only darkness.

Hayley woke up with a start and sat up in bed, sweat running from her face. She ran her fingers through her damp hair and frowned. Lucas rolled over onto his side and looked at her.

“Everything okay?” He whispered and she looked over at him.

She frowned as he had a similar tone to his voice. “Yes. No, I don’t know. I had another dream, about them.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?” He whispered to her and ran his fingers through her damp hair.

“No, I started getting used to them.” She said and lied down beside him.

“I can’t believe that you went through something like that. It’s just so surreal, like something you would see in a movie.” Lucas frowned and lightly touched her chin.

“That’s what it felt like for me too. I was always the careful one, the responsible one, and in my mind that was enough to keep bad things from happening to me. I used to think that nothing bad could ever happen to me, but I learned that it wasn’t true.” She sighed.

“Never say never, right?” Lucas asked.

“Exactly. Never is a really long time.” She nodded.

“Does it still hurt?” Lucas ran his finger lightly over the almost invisibly silver line.

“No, not at all.” She shook her head. “The physical scars healed a lot quicker.”

“I’m sure. Those bastards.” He lightly touched her scar and she gave him a sad smile. “Did you know they were going to kill you?”