Resolution (Heart of Stone) (3 page)

The back of
his hand cracked against my cheek and I bit my lip at the pain. “Do you ever
listen to me? No amount of water can clean
your
stench Ava, the filth
and dirt inside you” he hissed and I nodded.

 An idea was
starting to form in my mind and I desperately needed him to let me shower.
“Please sir, I’m sure I would be better to fuck if I smelt nicer and I so want
you to enjoy making love to me, Sir” I clenched in preparation for the slap but
it didn’t come again. I glanced at him and he was eyeing my body, a disgusted
curl on his lip.

He huffed
and regarded me. “How do you behave, Ava?” he asked and I gulped, excitement
already building.

“You are my
master and I must behave” I said firmly.

He narrowed
his eyes on me. “I suppose you do smell a bit rank but I stay with you Ava, in
fact it might be good to screw you in there” he pursed his lips in thought as
he wobbled his head from side to side in deliberation.

My breathing
was getting heavier and I was frantically trying to calm myself down. He pulled
me over to the shower and powered it up. It spluttered to life, it obviously
hadn’t been used in a while and I grimaced at the dark brown water that spurted
through it.

Shit!

I needed him
to shower with me.

Dane curled
his lip at it in revulsion but it started to run clear and I silently thanked
God.

I swallowed
back my nervousness as he stripped, still handcuffed to me. He frowned when he
realised his shirt sleeve couldn’t be removed unless he set my hand free.

Keep calm
Ava… let him figure it out!
 

I chewed on
my bottom lip to stop my body trembling in anticipation as he studied me. “I
need to remove the cuff Ava, what do you do?” he barked.

“You are my
master and I must behave” he eyed me sceptically.

“And will
you behave?” he asked dubiously.

I frowned in
faux bewilderment. “Of course, Sir. There’s nowhere for me to go, Sir. I
promise to behave” I lied but held his gaze. He sighed and my heart sped and my
hands poured with sweat as he sighed and dug the key out of his pocket.

Calm Ava,
keep it together!

I stood
still and rolled my wrist, relishing the looseness and freedom. Dane watched me
like a hawk as he stripped but I stood still, biding my time, needing the
perfect time. “In” he barked, nodding his head towards the shower and I stood
against the opposite wall of the shower head.

 
Breathe
Ava, breathe slowly and calmly.

He joined
me, stood opposite me and his eyes perused my filthy body. “Yes, I think you do
need this you dirty cunt” I nodded as he stepped towards me. “You really are
stunning Ava” he breathed in my ear as his mouth started licking the skin
behind my ear.

I swallowed the
nausea away and placed my hands in his hair, feigning intimacy. “Oh you feel
good” I forced out and he chuckled.

“I knew
you’d come round Ava, I always knew you wanted me not that fucking bastard. I
can do so much more for you, Ava. I can give you the roughness and hardness you
crave” he said as I stroked his hair and pushed my body into his as though I
wanted him.

I needed my
fury now, needed it to bubble inside, needed it to take over but I couldn’t
find it, it had gone for so long.

Katie
help me Hun, find it for me.

I brought
the visions of her horrified face to mind as she burnt in front of me, I forced
the torturous screams into my ears, remembered her scorching flesh in my
nostrils.

There it
was; the tiny spark bubbled in the pit of my stomach.
 

YES!!
COME ON!

Dane was now
licking across my collar bone and I pushed that little bit further into him, needing
to get him back another inch. “Mmmm” I murmured as I called on my rage, brought
it up, forcing it to surge through my veins.

I closed my
eyes and welcomed it. My breathing steadied, the white calm enveloped me and I
fed from it, devoured it. “YES!!!” I growled but not at Dane’s actions.

I could feel
it surging to life, filling me and embracing me, powering me and eating away at
the fear in me, fortifying me. My fingers tightened in his hair and I opened my
eyes and focused on what I needed to do.

I inhaled
deeply and gripped his hair. “Oh Dane” I breathed. The pure ice and malevolence
in my voice caused him to frown and lift his eyes to mine. I smiled at him, the
malice evident in my eyes.

I gripped
his hair harder and pulled at my strength and slammed his head into the tiles.
I screamed in rage and did it again.

His hands
came to my throat but I was too far gone to feel them. I smashed his head again
and again, my rage powering me. I pulled at the shower head and ploughed it
into his skull, over and over. Blood splattered everywhere. “Ava?” Greg
shouted.

I yelled and
bashed him again and he crumpled to the floor. I kicked him in the face, one
last act of revenge as I dashed out to Greg.

“Shit Ava,
are you okay?” Greg asked his eyes wide at my appearance. I frowned but nodded.
“You’re covered in blood, Ava” he said as I skidded to his feet and frantically
untied the ropes around his ankles.

“Quick Greg”
I cried and scooted round to his hands, pulling and tugging at the ropes and
thankful to god for making the knots big enough to undo.

He wriggled
out of the last part. “We need to hurry Greg, I don’t know how long he’ll be
out.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head and handed it to me and I slipped it on
as we raced through the door and skidded down the stairs.

We both
looked around wildly for a door out. I flung up my hands in frustration. “Fuck,
where’s the door?” I yelled and Greg shouted to me from another room.

I shot
towards his voice and found him in a kitchen, yanking at a door. He slammed his
body against it when it wouldn’t open. He tried again and it wouldn’t budge. I
joined him, my rage was still flying through me and my power shattered the
door.

He stilled
and stared at me wide eyed, shocked at the sheer force I had.  “Go!” I yelled
at him and I looked around madly for a familiar location.

We were in a
back garden, behind a rundown house with boarded up windows. I grabbed Greg’s
hand and pulled him along a path at the side of the house. “Come on” I cried
and we emerged on a residential street.

We raced a
few houses down and ran up a path and banged furiously on the door. “Come on” I
yelled as I scanned the street behind me, “Come on.”

The door
swung open and a middle aged man stood in the doorway, uncertainty and shock on
his face.

“Please help
us!” I begged, still manically looking around but he just stared at me.
“Please” I begged, “I’ve been held hostage for nine days and I need to phone
the police from your phone, please” I pleaded.

His confused
eyes swept over my body and he sucked his lips, debating if I was a serial
killer.

I cried out
in frustration and Greg swore and pushed past the man and entered the house,
pulling me behind him. “Lock the door!” I shouted at the man as Greg hunted
round for a phone.

He held it
up to me when he found one and I observed the man, making sure he locked the
door. “Lock the back door” I demanded and he nodded rapidly, obviously thinking
we were now holding him hostage.

“Police or
Mason?” Greg asked quickly and I didn’t hesitate.

“Police” I
said and he paused but nodded.

“Okay” he
said as he dialled.

I stood to
the side of the front window, scanning the street for any sign of Dane. I
breathed a sigh of relief as Greg connected with the police and informed them
of our situation.

I sobbed and
crumpled to the ground as I heard the sirens approach and I closed my eyes in
pure relief that I would soon be with my man, the man that I needed so badly.

“For fucks
sake! Will someone please phone my Fiancé?” I shouted at one of the female police
officers situated in the hospital room with me. I had been prodded, probed,
photographed and examined a million times and my patience had snapped.

“Miss Stone,
I really need you to answer some questions first” the snotty policewoman said
severely. I glared at her, a proper ‘Fuck with me and you’ll pay bitch’ stare.

“Listen
love, I have been tied to a fucking chain, whipped, beaten, raped and fucking scorched
to within an inch of my life for nine
long
fucking days and right now
all I want, all I fucking
need
… IS MY FUCKING FIANCE!” she sighed and
bit her lip.

“Name?” she
asked in resignation and I exhaled heavily.

“Thank you”
I breathed, “Mason Fox, you need to tell him Greg is safe too” I told her.

She tipped
her head. “Mason Fox is your Fiancé?” she asked in amazement.

“Yes!” I
puffed and winced as the nurse applied more lotion to my back and the police
woman stepped outside the room.

“Fuck!” I
hissed and she patted my arm, unbelievably the nurse treating me was Teresa,
the nurse who had helped me recover after Dane had raped me last time.

“Oh Ava,
sweetie” she stroked my arm and I closed my eyes.

“Please
don’t Teresa, any sympathy and I’m likely to fall apart right now.” She sucked
in a breath but nodded as she came around the front of me and started to clean
my front wounds. He face was pained and sombre as she gently swiped at my burns,
welts and cuts. Her eyes kept shooting to mine, care and pity reflected in them
but I shook my head marginally at her.

She smiled
and continued her treatment. “I’m going to be sick” I whispered and she reached
her hand across me and grabbed a paper bowl from the unit and held it under my
chin. I vomited into it as she stroked back my hair. “You’re okay Sweetie, I’ve
got you” she soothed and a sob escaped.

I heard her
gulp back her own sob and I raised tear filled eyes to hers. “No” I shook my
head at her distress as she held my eyes. “No, I am not going to cry. Don’t let
me cry” I hissed.

Teresa
turned around, hiding her tears from me as I sucked in a breath and pulled back
my shoulders.

 
I will
not cry, I will not cry
.

The police
woman entered the room. “He’s on his way” she said softly and I closed my eyes
and let out a deep breath.

“Thank you”
I said and she smiled and nodded; a complete change of behaviour and I frowned
at her.

“He cried”
she said hoarsely as though she knew why I pondered her emotional change.

I nodded.
“He… he will have been frantic” I choked out.

She smiled
warmly. “Yes” she stated simply.

“Any news on
Dane?” I asked her but she shook her head.

The police
had stormed the house after I explained what happened but Dane had already gone.

Teresa
helped me into a gown and I winced as it brushed over my charred flesh and she
handed me some painkillers and a cup of water. I swallowed them down and she
handed me some more, I eyed them sceptically.

“They’re
antibiotics for your wounds, just to make sure they don’t get infected” she
explained and I nodded and swallowed them down as the door flung open and my
man stood immobile and wide eyed.

My breath
hitched at the sight of him and my body roared to life. The hairs on my arms
reached out to him, my blood flowed rapidly through my veins, making my heart
beat intensely and my breathing deepened and quickened.

His eyes
held mine and I was shocked at the pain, torture and desolation that flashed
through them. “I… I…” he seemed to be struggling to breathe and I held out my
hand to him. He shook his head rapidly “I… I can’t…” he reared back, turned and
ran.

Teresa and
the police woman stared at me as I stared at the empty doorway.

What the
hell?

Devastation
coursed through me and I stumbled onto the bed, swallowing my nausea and distress.
“He’s just in shock, Ava” Teresa said softly as she took my hand and sat beside
me.

I turned
slowly to look at her. “But… but… I need him…” I breathed and she tipped her
head in pity.

“Sweetie,
give him time. He’ll be feeling all sorts of different emotions that he can’t
cope with; relief, guilt, anger and pain Sweetie, He’ll be back, I promise” she
defended.

“I want my
babies” I whispered and I turned to the police woman. I should have really
caught her name but everything had happened so fast when the police had arrived
at the good citizens house.

 She smiled
and nodded. “Who do I need to call?” she asked softly.

“Courtney
Williams” I said, still stunned at Mason’s reaction.

Did he hate
me, think it was my fault? Did he think I was the whore he had so expressively
told me I wasn’t? Did he think I was dirty and filthy and couldn’t even look at
me anymore? Was he high and didn’t want me to discover it?

All sorts of
things raced through my head but the one that slammed to the forefront was
hurt, oh that had hurt. His face as he looked at me, the way he shook his head
in disgust at me… that fucking hurt, in fact it hurt me more than the fucking
sear of the poker.

***

The door
opened and Courtney stood and gazed at me. A sob broke free and then a scream
as she crumpled to the floor. I climbed off the bed and went over to her,
clambered down beside her and pulled her to me, disregarding the searing pains
that were shooting through me as she grabbed me tightly and pulled me further
into her, as though she wanted to be inside me.

My own tears
flowed as we both sobbed and wept and cried together, grateful for each other
in those moments. Our love as best friends, binding us together in need, as we
rocked each other in grief, comfort and ultimate relief.

She eventually
pulled back and palmed my face. “Oh, babe” she breathed as her fingers touched
every piece of skin, my eyes, my cheeks, my chin, my ears and finally my hair.
“You fucking stink” she said and I chuckled, then I laughed and then I was howling
hysterically. She giggled alongside me.

I suddenly
stopped and stared at her and I started shaking, uncontrollable trembles that
racked my body. An anguished cry broke free and I just stared at her.

“Oh, Ava”
she sobbed and pulled me in tight again. “I love you babe, so, so much Ava. I
was so scared, so fucking terrified I would never see you again” she cried and
I realised that she had been in pain as much as me, the unknown was a
terrifying thing and it tore at your soul.

“I’m here
Courtney, I’m here” I whispered and she nodded against me. “Did you bring them?
Katie and George?” I asked and she smiled and nodded.

“Kerrie has
them, I’ll go get them” she said and we climbed off the floor.

She left the
room and I went into my private bathroom and pulled off some toilet paper and
blew my nose.

I stared at
my reflection in the mirror and gasped at the woman looking back at me; she was
thin, gaunt and pale. A couple of cuts marred my face and my lips were ravaged,
sore and scabby. I had a black eye and my hair was dull, lifeless and mangled
with dirt. I wasn’t sure my babies should see me like this but I was desperate
to hold them.

I walked
back into the room and I stumbled over to the bed as Kerrie and Courtney held
each of my children. I swallowed and let out a relieved sob as I sucked in my
lips, wiped my eyes and held out my hands.

They had
just started smiling properly, great big gummy grins when I had been taken and
as their little eyes found mine they rewarded me with the most wonderful, happy
grin each and it boosted me, it was as if they knew exactly what I needed.

They were
placed in my arms and I immediately buried my nose in their soft hair, first
Katie’s stunning copper curls and the George’s soft brown wisps. I sighed in
relief as my body instantly relaxed into them.

They both
gurgled at me. “I’m sorry peanuts, Mummy stinks” I said and their hands reached
for my mouth and I sucked on each of their little fingers, relishing the touch,
smell and taste of them. “My beautiful babies” I whispered in their ears and
kissed their faces, lots and lots of tiny soft kisses. I couldn’t get close
enough, be near enough and love them enough. “My babies” I sobbed.

I really
thought I would never see them again and that had torn me apart on those long
dark nights, the nights when I would lay awake and picture them in their Daddy’s
arms as he nuzzled them and laughed at their shocked expressions as his growth
had tickled and tortured them.

Kerrie sat
beside me as Courtney told me she was going to sit with Greg. “He’s been
frantic Ava. He… he… I’ve never seen him so desolate, so inconsolable and so
fucking heart broken. He looked everywhere, had everyone looking for you, he
tore himself apart, Ava” Kerrie stated.

I turned to
her, “Shush, I know he’s back on the coke Kerrie, I know” I said gently.

She sighed.
“I tried to help him, Ava” she sobbed. “I tried so hard to keep him going but
after five days he couldn’t cope, he needed to obliterate everything. Get out
of his mind for a while and… well, I dunno if he’s had more since then” she revealed
and I nodded and blew a raspberry on George’s hand as he placed it to my mouth.
I smiled at him as he gave his wide gummy grin as I nuzzled them, breathing in
their scent and engraining it to memory.

Teresa
entered and walked over to us with a smile. “Well hello there beauties” she
gave them a finger each and they gripped it firmly, their own personal hello
they greeted everyone with. She grinned widely at them, “I can’t believe how
much they look like their parents” she said with amazement on her face.

“They’re
amazing” I grinned as I kissed their heads.

“I’m afraid
it’s time for your visitors to leave Ava, you need some rest, sweetie” she said
with apology and I nodded.

“Mummy will
be home soon peanuts” I told them as I kissed their heads and Kerrie proceeded
to strap them in their pram.

“We’re
having lots of fun, aren’t we my little pumpkins” Kerrie cooed at them and they
smiled at her and I was happy that they enjoyed her company as much as she
enjoyed theirs.

She came
over and kissed my cheek. “Don’t be too hard on him Ava, he didn’t know how to
cope” she whispered and I nodded at her and smiled as I cradled her cheek.

“I know” I
admitted and she nodded and left me with Teresa and WPC Haven, I finally found
out her name.

 “I need a
bath” I pleaded and WPC Haven nodded.

“Go ahead,
we have all the photographic and intimate samples” she said then smiled softly
at me, “Enjoy.”

I sighed as
I walked into the bathroom and ran the hot water. Teresa walked in and passed
me some antiseptic bath crème. “We don’t usually supply it but I figured you
needed a little bit of luxury and the antiseptic in it will help your wounds”
she said with a wink.

I nodded to
her. “God, Yes! I have dreamt of a bath for days” I admitted and she patted my
arm.

“I’ll just
be outside with WPC Haven Ava, you’re completely safe here” she said gently and
I choked on a grateful sob. She knew exactly how I was feeling, terrified of my
own shadow, terrified of any fucking shadow.

“Thank you”
I croaked.

“Do you need
a hand with your hair?” she asked after a pause and I frowned as I realised the
skin on back was so sore I didn’t think I would be able to reach round and
rinse it.

“Yes… please”
I said gratefully and she gave me a happy smile.

“That’s what
I’m here for sweetie; I’ll just get some shampoo while you sink in.”

She winked
and as she left I climbed in and sunk down. My back screamed in protest but I
grit my teeth and endured the pain until it eased a little and I sunk further
down, inch by inch, getting accustomed to the sting.

My body
relaxed, every muscle sighed with relief and my skin now sang with joy.

This was
heaven!

Teresa
returned with a jug and washed my hair for me, gently untangling the snarls and
knots and massaged my scalp.

“Thank you”
I said quietly.

“It’s my
pleasure. You are gonna get through this Ava, you’re gonna be stronger and
tougher for it. You will wake up one morning, before long, and you will be so
proud of what you have pushed yourself through, what you have survived and you
will realise what a strong, independent and beautiful woman you are” she told
me genuinely and tears streamed down my face.