Page 45 of Shattered Silence Duet

A few minutes later, the lights in the house go out. “Heading in,” Dom says as I watch Atlas and him approach the front door in uniforms—one of many stashed in our car for situations like this.

Chapter 30

Mina

Ispent all day scared out of my mind, wondering what nightmare I’d face tonight. As time went on, I became more and more nervous. Now it’s dark out, and I’m trying to stop myself from completely freaking out, waiting for the sound of that basement door to open.

When it finally happens, it isn’t a loud bang like I’ve been expecting. Instead, it’s the creepy creak of the door being pushed open slowly. I see his feet and legs as he slowly comes down the stairs, like he has all the time in the world. My fists clench in fear when he comes fully into view. He stands at the bottom of the steps and extends his arm out to me.

“Come along, my pet. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

The thought of getting clean is enticing, but he’ll only dirty me up worse than I am now if I let him. I stay seated on my mattress and pull my legs tighter against me.

He frowns at me. “You know better than to not listen to me, Mina. One more chance to come willingly. If I have to come over there and drag you upstairs, you will not enjoy it. Is that what you want?”

Dammit.Knowing I can’t avoid what’s coming, I slowly stand up on shaky legs and walk to him, keeping my eyes on the floor.When I get close, he reaches for my hand and drags me upstairs after him. I can’t stop the tears that escape. All I can hope is that it’s over with quickly, but with the knowledge of this being an all night event makes that hope quickly dwindle and die before it takes root.

When we reach the main floor, he takes us through the living room, which I’ve never been in before. I can’t help but take a quick glance around. There’s a small brown sofa and recliner, both facing a small tv. Beer bottles and cigarettes litter the coffee table, along with some torn up magazines. Simon leads me to a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. My breathing starts to pick up again as we start to ascend.

“Calm down, pet. I’m just going to take you to the bathroom so you can clean up, okay?” Simon says, sounding exasperated. If he doesn’t like my hesitation now, just wait until we reach the bedroom. I don’t think playing possum is an option for me anymore, and I’m not sure what that will mean for me.

I don’t respond, but knowing I’m going to the bathroom right now, and not the bedroom, does help my breathing ease up a fraction. When we reach the top of the stairs, I see four doors, and he leads me into the last one, which is a large bathroom.

“Take your clothes off,” he instructs.

I look at him with wide eyes and wrap my arms around my chest in self preservation.

He glares at me, and I see his fists clench at his sides. “What did I say about doing as you’re told?”

My body shakes, unsure what to do. He’s mybrother,this is wrong.

His hand rushes out and grabs my bad arm, his thumb pressing into my wound. My mouth opens in a silent scream as my knees buckle beneath me.

My tears fall heavily as I watch the evil smile spread across his face. He enjoys seeing me struggling with my pain. I guess my mother hadn’t forgotten my wound after all, obviously telling him about it.

“Have I ever told you how much I love that you have no voice? I don’t have to worry about anyone hearing your screams. Mother should have done that to you five years sooner.”

Tears fall in steady streams now. The pain is awful, making my stomach roll with nausea.

“Are you going to listen now?” he asks, tilting his head as he considers me.

I nod, and he slowly lets go. I pull my arm towards my chest as I slowly get to my feet. He gives me an expectant look. Unwilling to endure any more pain right now, I turn away from him and take off my clothes. I don’t even bother wiping my tears away, there are too many falling now.

I hear him start the shower and take a deep breath. “All right, get in and wash yourself,” he tells me. I sense him leaning against the shower, waiting for me. If he’s telling me to wash myself, I hope that at least means he won’t be joining me in there, giving me a few more minutes without his hands on me.

I haven’t had a shower in years—over a decade, I think—and I won’t even be able to enjoy it. I don’t waste any time, instantly getting under the spray, which is a fraction too cold. When I go to adjust the temperature, he calls out, “don’t.” making me freeze in fear. When he doesn’t speak again, I pull my hand back from the faucet.

The shower is a tub with a clear curtain, and I know he can see me, so I keep my back to him as much as possible. I find the soap and run it all over my body as fast as I can. It’s not enjoyable, given my current audience, but the water and soap do feel nice. I use the shampoo to wash my hair, and that feels even better.

As I’m rinsing the shampoo out with my head tilted back, I’m suddenly wrapped in the curtain, water pouring in from the top. I splutter as I’m pelted with water. Simon’s trapped me in the shower curtain with his arms, submerging me under the shower head. The water has no easy place to drain around my head, so it builds up over my face, only a trickle making it down my body.

I don’t even have time to take a breath before I realize what’sgoing on. I cough and choke, swallowing some of the water. Finally, after I’m sure he’s trying to drown me, he lets go and pushes the curtain aside. I bend over, coughing out the water and vomiting into the tub as I try to breathe. My throat burns as I try to take in a full lung full of air.

I’m grabbed by my hair and throat, and pulled upright. My eyes shoot open, my hands grabbing his as I watch his evil face loom over me. He forces me back, so the water hits my face again and I splutter, unable to breathe with the water pouring over me.

“Downstairs, you didn’t come when I asked you to. Then you disobeyed my command to get undressed. I want to make it very clear to you how tonight is going to go,” he whispers angrily into my ear. I cough, struggling to breathe properly.

“When I give you an order, you will obey, straight away and without reservation. Every time you don’t, I will add a punishment to your list. When I figure out which part of tonight you hate the most, I will do it again for each time you disobey. Do you understand?” he asks, anger rolling through his voice.