Uncovering You 10: The Finale (17 page)

Eventually, I find a paved walkway leading through the yard. It makes spinning the wheels a hell of a lot easier.

I don’t go straight to the estate. Instead, I roll myself to the top of a hill. I want a vantage point from which I can look around.

We’re surrounded by the sea. Hugh didn’t lie. This is definitely an island. I only see two ways of getting on or off: by air, or by sea.

There’s a helicopter on a landing pad off in the distance. I see no boats. Air it is, then.

I look down at my feet. I wish I didn’t have these damn plastic straps binding me to the chair. Why aren’t I allowed to walk?

It’s not like I can escape.

But, once more, and in the most desperate of ways, my life is entirely out of my hands.

I turn towards the estate, and start my long, slow descent toward it.

On the other side of the building, there’s an enormous balcony. I hear communal chatter coming from the top. I turn the corner and see it for the first time. I discover Hugh, Rose, Esteban, and his guards up there.

Rose notices me first. She walks up to clay railings and waves at me. “Hello, dear,” she calls. “I wish you could join us, but…” she glances at the stairs leading from me to her. “I’m afraid the place wasn’t designed with the handicapped in mind.”

Hugh and Esteban surround her and they laugh. The three guards converse amongst themselves in another corner. My cheeks burn red.

I’ve never felt this helpless, pathetic, or desperate in my entire life.

Esteban checks his watch. “Oh!” he says. “It looks like you have some hours of lucidity left. We should probably make good use of that time.”

“Splendid idea, my boy,” Hugh says, clapping Esteban on the shoulder. “What do you suggest?”

“I think…” Esteban taps his lips. “…that another video shoot might be in order.” He turns away and barks at the guards. “Omar, Sergio. Bring her up!”

Big Man and Leader come down the steps. I assume they’re going to carry me in the wheelchair up the steps. I’m caught off guard when Leader kneels down and cuts my straps. Then Big Man takes my elbow and heaves me up.

I stagger, off-balance, a little light-headed. “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Scar Face says. “Too much sun, hmm?”

Big Man chuckles and prods me forward with one thick finger as if I were no more than cattle.

I plod up the steps, silently hating them all, wishing desperately I could find some way out of this situation. But I can’t. There’s nothing I can do. I’ve been rendered completely helpless.

I’m directed into another chair by the table. I sit. The two guards stand behind me. Hugh, Esteban, and Rose get comfortable on the other side.

I glare at them. “So?” I demand. “What is it now?”

Hugh shakes his head. “Whatever happened to that stripper wig, Lilly? I thought it was very fetching.”

A chorus of laughter. I am being humiliated.

I sit tall and try to pretend it doesn’t bother me.

Hugh motions with one hand for everyone to quiet down. “My son received our request a number of days ago,” he says. “Along with a certain video. We’ve given him until the end of the week to formulate a reply. But,” Hugh taps his lips. “He insisted on seeing you, first.”

My heart leaps in my chest. Jeremy is coming to see me? Could it be true?

“On video, of course,” Rose interjects, reading the excitement on my face all too well.

No shit,
I scold myself. How could I be so stupid?

“And so, here we are,” Hugh says. He withdraws the camera from beneath the table and turns it on. He points it at me. “Say hi to Jeremy, sweetheart.”

“Jeremy,” I begin in a rush, “wherever you are, whatever they want,
don’t
—“

Hugh slams the little recording window shut with a look of disgust. “She still hasn’t learned. Has she?”

“I told you she can be stubborn,” Rose mumbles, sipping at her drink.

Esteban stands up. “Let me,” he says. He looks at the two guards standing behind me. “I know a way to make her submissive.”

I grunt as I’m thrown on the floor of that cold, dark cellar. Metal pipes surround me. That constant,
drip-drip-drip
of leaking water reminds me of where I am.

The entrance door closes with a groan. The hinges scream.

I try to crawl away and am kicked in the gut. Pain consumes me. I don’t have the energy to fight or resist.

Laughter. Laughter from the guards. The sound echoes through the enclosed cavern.

Leader stands back as Big Man picks me up. I whimper as I’m shoved face-first into a wall. The smell of rust pervades my senses.

A hand grabs my ass. Squeezes, and then slaps me once.

I force my mind to retreat far, far away, to a distant corner where none of this feels real.

But alarm grips me when I realize I can’t do it. I can’t find a faraway place. I cannot disassociate.

I snap back to the present, and become acutely aware of all the aches and pains of my body.

Footsteps on the floor. Deep, ominous thuds made by army boots.

Leader appears at my side as Big Man pins me to the wall. He licks his finger, then in the most disgusting way possible trails it down the side of my neck, to my shoulder, past the collar of my robe.

I jerk and try to struggle free. All that earns me is an admonishing tsk, tsk, and a tightening of Big Man’s grip on me.

“Turn her around,” Leader says. “Give me her arms.”

I whimper. Sobs overtake my body as I’m twisted roughly around. The back of my head hits the unforgiving, unyielding concrete wall. I cry out in pain.

I’m shaking. Trembling. I’m cold. Oh so cold. Tears stain my cheeks and I feel like all the strength has been stolen from my body.

My left hand is held out. I hear a metallic
click,
and look in horror as I find a handcuff around my wrist. Leader reaches up and connects the other end to a horizontal pipe.

The same is done to my other hand. Both are locked in place above me so my arms make a V. I feel the burning stretch as my sore muscles are splayed out. The tightness runs down my arms and through my chest. It coalesces into a horrible ball of pain.

The metal cuts into my wrists. I flail a little, trying to find relief. When I see that it’s useless, I let my hand go limp. I let my whole body go limp.

My head falls and I sag.

“Beautiful,” leader says, stepping away. “Just…so beautiful.”

Big Man chuckles in agreement beside him.

What are you going to do to me?
I want to say. But I already know.

“Here.” Leader digs something up from a back pocket. He tosses it to Big Man. I catch a glimpse of purple through the air. “Put it on her. Make the whore look like a woman, at least.”

Big Man’s hand catches my neck. I choke and sputter. He holds me in place for a second, affixing the wig to my head. Then he stands back, satisfied.

I drop my head forward and gasp for breath. Tears blur my vision. Purple strands fall into my eyes.

“Now.” Leader drags a chair across the floor. The grinding sound is awful.

He stops beside me, sits down, and crosses his legs. He regards me, tapping one foot on the ground.

Suddenly, he shakes his head. “Something is still wrong,” he says to his companion. He lifts a finger. “Oh. I know.” He makes a crude symbol with his fingers, evoking another laugh from Big Man.

I glare at them both, hatred and loathing pulsing through my veins beneath the despair.

“The robe,” he tells me. “It’s hiding your wonderful breasts.”

In one swift move, Big Man pulls the sash of my cotton robe free. The two sides fall open. Cold air pierces my skin, making me feel horribly exposed.

“Ah,” leader says. “That’s much better.”

I press my legs together, crossing them, twisting to the side, trying to shy away. I’d let them have my body if I could just retreat. But something is wrong. I can’t find the mental capacity to do that anymore.

“Comfortable?” he asks me.

I glare at him. “What?”

“Are. You. Comfortable?” He repeats. He pulls back his sleeve and looks at his watch. “We’re going to be here for…oh another three hours or so.” He shares a knowing look with Big man. “And that is when our fun begins.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

No. No. No.

I will not succumb. I will not succumb. I will not succumb.

Over and over, I tell myself that. I repeat that mantra as I feel the crude hungry eyes of the two men on me.

I can’t retreat. But they’re not doing anything to me now. Just waiting. Waiting for the illusions to take hold.

“LET ME GO!” I scream. I begin to pant, to gasp, then to hyperventilate.

The men look at each other and snigger.

My breathing slows. “Please,” I beg. “Please. Please, don’t do this.”

I’m met only with silence.

“LET ME GO!” I scream again. I thrash against the handcuffs. They rattle against the metal pipes.

Big Man stands. “Do you want me to shut her up?”

Leader considers the option. Then he shakes his head.

“No. Let her get it all out. It’ll make the end so much sweeter.”

Spontaneously, I start to cry.

Eventually, my tears dry out. I’m left hanging there, raw, dry, exhausted, trembling with fear and horrible anticipation of the oncoming visions.

I’ve lost track of time. Shit! I’ve lost track of time! I start to panic. I’m hyperventilating again. I can’t keep track of time, and so I don’t know when I’ll lose control next. It’s terrifying.

Then I remember the anchor. My hair. My hair. I do all I can to focus exactly on that, to feel the cold around my scalp, to concentrate on the jarring absence.

The room morphs.

It doesn’t morph in an ominous or scary way. It morphs in a nice way. The walls ebb away like flowing water. The darkness disappears. In its place comes light. Sweet, glorious light that surrounds me and makes me feel whole.

Trees. Trees come into sight. Wonderful, ancient evergreens full of green branches. I’m in the woods of Jeremy’s mansion. I’m—

No
. I shake my head and scream. The back of my head, raw and tender, rubs against the rough concrete wall. No, I’m back in the dungeon, about to be raped by these two hideous men—

Men
? I blink.
What men?
I’m surrounded by trees and nature and light and sunshine. But my arms—something’s wrong with my arms. I can’t move them. They’re caught in a branch above me. I can’t shake free.

But somehow, I don’t mind. It feels wonderful to just sway in the breeze. The salty sea air tickles my skin. I want to laugh in delight.

And, why wouldn’t I? Everything is so wonderful. Clean. Pristine. I take a deep breath, loving the expanse of pure, unpolluted air in my lungs, then throw my head back and laugh.

I feel a presence beside me. I open my eyes—and my heart skips a beat when I see Jeremy there. He smiles sweetly as he reaches up and frees my hands. “Just caught in a tangle of branches,” he tells me.