Page 59 of Affliction
“What do you meanagain?”I ask. She raises her head to look me in the eyes, hers swimming with tears. She exhales and squeezes her eyes closed, letting them fall.
“I think someone’s been watching me. No, Iknowsomeone has been. But I’ve never been able to catch them. Not even on the cameras. But I can feel them watching me. I’ve heard them try to get in while I’m awake. I thought I was close one day, I heard someone walking on the porch outside of my room. When I opened the door to confront them though, no one was there. I feel like I-.” She hiccups and the tears begin to stream down her cheeks. “I feel like I’ve been going crazy, Maverick. I haven’t slept, I’ve barely eaten. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.”
“Hey, hey. Shhh” I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her. She starts to sob and I rest my chin on the top of her head. My mind wanders back to the day she almost caught me, and I smirk to myself. She was so courageous that day, bursting out onto the porch, gun drawn like a professional, ready to take them on. My smirk quickly falls, however, when her words register. The only time I ever entered her house, or even tried, she was either asleep or not home.
Who the fuck has been trying to get in?
“You’re not crazy, Sweetheart.” I whisper, doing my best to not let her sense the tension I feel right now. She remains silent for a while, then shifts herself to lean into me more. Her cries subside and she clears her throat.
“What else did he say? I have a feeling that wasn’t all of it.” She asks softly. Taking a deep breath, I decide to tell her the truth.
“Someone got inside in between Cole and Karson being there. They flattened all of your tires, broke a window to get in, and destroyed everything inside of your house. It’s all going to have to be replaced.” Her body snaps upright and her eyes slam into mine. Her chin trembles, and seeing the devastated look on her face makes me want to go on a warpath.
“Everything?” Her voice shakes. I give her an affirmative nod, and her head falls. Her fingers knot on my chest and she lets out a pained sigh. “You know, I never had anything that belonged to me before that house, or the things inside of it.” Her eyes lift to mine and lifting one shoulder slightly, she continues. “I know it’s juststuff,but it was mine. I thought no one could try to take anything away from me anymore, but I guess I was wrong.” A lone tear falls from her lashes and I swiftly wipe it away with my thumb. Her confession puzzles me, but I told her I’d let her keep her secrets until she’s ready to tell me, so I don’t push.
Sliding one arm under her knees, I stand and carry her back inside. Once back in the bedroom, I lay down next to her and pull her back to my front. Her silent sobs break my heart, and I feel my blood begin to boil.
May God have mercy on the son of a bitch that’s behind this, because when I find them, I fucking won’t.
Parker
“Everything needs to be replaced.” Maverick’s words echo in my mind as I lay in bed next to him, trying to fall asleep. I’m no stranger to loss. I lost my parents, Uncle Nick, everything I have ever known. I even lost myself during all those years with Preston. So, you’d think losing some material items wouldn’t be such a big deal, but it is to me. Those things represented hope, change, and peace for me. Having them ripped away from me like that, shatters those representations and completely obliterates any feelings of safety I had.
Rolling over slowly, my gaze lands on Maverick’s sleeping form. His lips are slightly parted, and his long, thick eyelashes rest on top of his cheeks. Some locks of hair fall into his face, and I raise my hand to gently push them back.
“Thank you.” I whisper softly as I feel an overwhelming amount of gratitude for the sleeping man beside me. Had he not barged into my life the way he did, who knows what could have happened last night at my house. Pulling my hand back, I tuck it into my chest and scoot closer to him. He tightens his arm around my waist and lets out a soft sigh. A smile pulls at my lips, and my eyes begin to flutter closed.
The next morning, we wake up and after Maverick fills me with his come, he makes us breakfast that we decide to eat outside on the deck. I finish my food and sit back in my chair, staring out over the ocean. I watch as the waves crash against the shoreline. It’s another chilly and gloomy day, but the scene in front of me is peaceful.
“I want to see the house.” I say, my gaze sliding over to Maverick, who stares at me for a moment before speaking.
“Are you sure?” He asks. “Karson and Slater got everything cleaned up already, so it’s empty now. There’s really nothing to see.”
Thinking for a second, I nod. “I’m sure. I don’t think it’s really going to sink in that I have to start from scratch again until I see it.” He pauses, then gives me a nod.
“Okay. But Parker, you’re not staying there anymore. It’s too dangerous. We’ll go back, but only to look. You’re going to stay with me, at least for a little while until we figure out who it was that broke in.” I want to argue, but the look of determination in his eyes tells me, this isn’t up for debate. It makes sense, I definitely don’t want to be there alone anymore. Not after everything that has happened over the last few days.
“Alright.”
We stay at the beach house for a couple more hours, I shower and change my clothes, then we make the drive back home. Anxiety slams into me as we pull back into my driveway. Once parked, Maverick exits the truck then comes over to my side to open the door. Stepping out, the gravel crunching underneath my shoes seems to echo all around us. It’s so quiet outside, leaving an ominous feeling lingering in the air. Looking over at my SUV, I notice a set of brand new tires on it and my brows furrow in the middle.
“Cole went to pick the tires up and put them on for you early this morning.” Maverick says from somewhere behind me. I nod and we make our way over to the porch, then climb the steps. Examining the front door, I notice that the wood trim around it is splintered. Reaching a hand out, I let my fingers lightly trace the wood and the reality of the situation finally starts to settle in. My intuition has been right all this time, someonehasbeen watching me. Realizing that I haven’t been going crazy is a bit of a relief, but the truth of it is, that means someone is after me. That thought sends a bitter chill down my spine and settles heavy in my gut.
Maverick steps forward with my keys in his hand and unlocks the door. He pushes it open and we step inside. Shutting it behind us, he places a hand on the small of my back as I take in the emptiness of the living room in front of me. Everything is gone, there is no evidence here that any of my things were here at all. It simply looks like no one has ever lived here. Turning, I mindlessly walk toward my bedroom, noting all the holes in the walls that still need patching. The sight causes my chest to tighten, and when I cross the threshold of my bedroom, tears pool in my eyes at the sight of it. On auto-pilot, I move to the french doors and pull them open. Stepping out onto the deck, my eyes dart to the spot where I first saw someone in my yard. Sadness washes over me as I stare, and I can’t hold the tears back anymore.
Everything’s gone, again.
Chapter thirty-two
Age Twenty-five
Snow gently falls outsidethe living room window as I gaze out over the expanse of the yard of my prison. That’s what this house is, a prison. Two years ago, I tried to leave again while Preston was at work. You’d be shocked to know…I failed. I spent too much time worrying about what would happen if I succeeded in leaving, and when I finally worked up the nerve, he came home early. He beat me for what felt like hours, and left me locked in the guest bedroom for two days. No food, water or a bathroom to use. He finally succeeded in breaking my spirit. I’ve accepted my fate at this point.Breathing Underwaterby Hot Milk plays softly from the tv and I let out a heavy sigh, dropping my head to the back of the couch, staring vacantly out the window.
About nine years too late, Elizabeth.
It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m here alone while Preston attends a party at his parent’s mansion. After he raped me the first time, he stopped letting me leave the house all together–even with him. My phone has no service anymore, and he’s changed the WiFi password so I can’t even use it. I justget to stare at the fucking thing knowing I’ll never be able to reach out for help. After those two days of total isolation, I don’t know that I will ever try to leave again. I can’t go through that again.
Continuing my empty stare out over the yard, I think of all the Christmases spent with my family. My heart shatters into tiny pieces, and I wish he would just kill me and get it over with. That’s what he’s going to end up doing anyway. Then I could be with them; my mom and dad. I often daydream about the day he puts me out of my misery, and they’re waiting for me on the other side. They’d run and hold me, and we’d finally have a happy ending. Though with my luck, there isn't another side, just empty.
