Darkness Follows (3 page)

Emily

I held my breath as I waited for my dad to say the words.

“Lift up! Now, everyone under!” Dad yelled as a group of my friends and I all gripped the edges of the colorful parachute. We pulled it in under ourselves and sat down on it and let it float above us like a dome. “Jessie, you’re up first. Go stand in the center hole.” She popped her head through and laughed at the sight.

“Okay, buttercup, you’re up next.” I crawled to the hole and peeked up. “Ha! I look like a crab!”

I slowly shook my head. A loud chime filled my ears and hauled me away from the safety of my dream. My head flopped back and forth as I tried to fight off the dizzy fog. Wait, I knew that tune. I waited for it to end, and then I counted one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten…eleven. I forced my eyes open and looked at the crack in the ceiling. Sunlight beamed through.
It must be eleven in the morning!

For some unknown reason, this brought me a little comfort. Just to know the time made me feel like I had control of the tiniest thing. I’d been so rattled yesterday, I hadn’t heard it. Okay, I’d made it alive past the twelve hour mark. Was that something to be proud of?

“Morning, darlin’.” Lasko’s voice boomed from the doorway. Holy shit, I hadn’t even heard it open. As Lasko walked forward, the pit bull took a post at the door. “I was wondering when you were going to wake up so we could play a little.”

Play? I swallowed hard as he pulled me to my feet. My head spun. “Now, be a good girl and raise your arms.” He pulled off my nightgown. This time his eyes raked down me as he licked his lips. His hands shook as his fingers dragged along my stomach. “So soft.”

I bit down on my cheek but didn’t look away. I needed to be strong. His hand slid between my breasts up to my neck. He closed his eyes and breathed me in like I was a drug.

“You’d better get dressed before I do something ungentlemanly.” He left me, pulled out a pair of slacks and a tank top from the dresser, and tossed them on the bed. Again, no shoes.

He watched as I pulled on the clothes as fast as I could. It was tricky because my limbs did not cooperate with my brain. I wished the walls would hold still long enough for my stomach to settle.

“I-I need to use the washroom,” I whispered. He pointed to a bucket in the corner of my room. Oh, gross. I made my way over and hurried with my business. Nearly falling, I braced my arms on the wall for support. All the while, his eyes never left me. When I was finished, he seized my arm and pulled me out to the chair in front of the camera. He zip tied and gagged me, and then flicked on the computer screen so I could see Seth, who was already waiting. The deep ache burned a little more when he squinted. I knew I looked bad. My eyes were the window to my soul, and he saw how dim it was.

He blinked back the painful expression. He looked awful and mouthed a panicked, “Hi, baby.”

I shook my head. It was the only thing I could do.

“Will you behave for me if I remove your gag?” Lasko gave me a look as if to warn me to shut the hell up. I nodded. He loosened it and let it drop around my neck. Then he gently touched my cheeks where they felt raw. “Looks sore.”

I looked up at him. These were the moments I needed him to think I would slowly give in, so I gave him the best innocent face I could muster, given the circumstances.

“Here.” He held up a foam cup of orange juice and directed the red straw to my mouth. “It will help with the drug’s effect.”

I took it willingly. My mouth was so dry that I didn’t care what it was. I immediately felt the sugar pump through me, helping to clear my head.

“There, that’s better, huh?” He purred at me like I was a child. “Do you need anything?”

“I-I’m a little cold,” I murmured. He leaned over and ran his hands along my arms.

“I’ll get you a sweater from your room. Don’t go anywhere.” He smiled as he placed the gag back over my mouth.

I let out a small puff of air as his two fingers ran along my bottom lip. They smelled sweet. He disappeared around the corner, and I turned to the camera.

Seth moved closer to the mic on his laptop. “Has he…hurt you?”

I knew what he meant, sexually. I shook my head. The relief on his face was obvious. “Take in your surroundings, baby. Think of anything you can share with us—” He suddenly stopped and shot back to his seat on the couch. I heard his heavy footsteps getting closer.

“Here you go.” Lasko draped the sweater over my shoulders. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes.” He stood behind me. “Officer Connors…” He dragged out the last name. Seth leaned forward and squinted at the screen.

“I can’t—” Seth whispered and then stopped.

Lasko’s hands stroked along my neck and stopped at the gag before he slowly removed it. “She has the softest lips, doesn’t she?” His pointer finger traced along my bottom lip, like before.
Don’t bite, don’t bite, don’t bite.

“Shall I have a taste?” Before I could react, he lifted my chin to meet his lips.
Oh, shit!
His tongue forced its way into my mouth and flipped around like a fish out of water. He tasted like sweet tobacco. That was it for me. I started to gag, and he pulled back and anticipated my vomit.

“Get the fuck away from me,” I choked out.

This time he turned my cheek to look at him. “You’re so sexy with your smart mouth.”

I pulled away. “You’ll never have me like he does,” I muttered in disgust.

His eyes narrowed at me. Then he tilted his head slightly to the side as if to shake off a blow. “But that doesn’t really matter, though, does it? Because I have you now, and he doesn’t.” His fingers raked down and held my face roughly. “So I get to have you any way I want.”

“Screw you.”

His eyes lit up. “Screw me? You know what happens to the women who get snippy with me?”

“Hmm…” My tongue ran along the outside of my teeth as I tried let go of the anger. “Let’s see. I’m in a basement, tied to a chair, completely at your mercy. I think you can do just about anything.”

Lasko took a seat in front of me. He crossed his legs and folded his fingers together on his lap. He looked entertained. “Do I scare you, Emily?”

Oh no! What was the right answer here? I slowly turned my head to meet his gaze, and went with instinct. “Yes, but I feel more sad than anything.”

“Sad?” He sounded puzzled.

“Yes, sad. Hank Wallace, you remember him.” I paused as his face twitched ever so slightly. “Well, he said this all stems from your childhood.”

His nostrils flared and his neck muscles contracted. Okay. My bullshit lie might lead me to something.
Thank you, crime shows that scared me enough to watch you.
“He actually said quite a bit before he bargained with me.”

“Bargained?”

“Correct, he told me he’d answer a question of mine if I let him touch my skin.”

Lasko shifted in his chair and tugged at the hem on his shirt. “And?”

“And I let him. Five seconds up my arm. I can still hear his moan.” Oh gross, the memory of Wallace’s touch just about made me shake, but I could tell it bothered Lasko far more than it bothered me. So, I continued. “His hands felt warm and—”

“Enough!” he shrieked as he jumped to his feet. “Shut the fuck up!” He put his hands over his ears and started to pace the room in front of me.

Tread carefully, Emily.
My nails drove into my skin, and my knuckles turned pale.
“But Wallace said you gave him permission to.”

“You’re lying!” he hissed, inches from my face. “Stop talking!” He hit his head rather roughly with the palm of his hand.

Oh shit, I went too far.

He whipped around toward the table and grabbed at the bag and dumped it upside down. Scalpels, hunting knives, a small drill, screwdrivers, needles, and pill bottles all fanned out and rolled off the table and hit the floor. He grabbed a prescription pill bottle, shook out four round pills, and slammed the handle of the drill and crushed them. He repeated this until it was powder. He scraped it into the orange juice and stirred it viciously with the straw.

“Drink,” he ordered and shoved the straw through my locked lips. “Now!” His dirty fingers pried my mouth open, and he poured the orange juice in my mouth.

I wrenched my head back and forth as the liquid rushed down my throat. I coughed hard as I choked and gasped for air. I managed to force some of the juice to come back up. I bit down on his nasty fingers and made him scream.

“Stupid bitch!” He raised his hand to see the blood. His free hand slapped me across my face. He reached for the rag and tied it tightly around my head. He examined his flesh wound again and muttered, before he headed back to the table. He returned with the drill. “No one was to touch you. You’re mine!”

My eyes focused and the realization hit me that these could be my last few moments alive. I had so many things I wanted to do before I died. I wanted to start with Seth and tell him how much I loved him, and next…

“You like it rough, darlin’?” His eyes flickered. “I’ll show you rough.” His finger went for the button on the drill, when suddenly the pit bull jumped to its feet and started to bark wildly. It startled us both. Lasko looked up, and I followed suit. I saw a shadow pass through the beam of light.

Oh God, who’s here?

A look of panic traveled across Lasko’s face. Slowly he stepped back and placed the drill on the table. Then he pulled a pistol out from behind his shirt. “
Geh!
” He shouted at the dog, and took off up the stairs with the dog close behind.

“Ohhhh, wow, wow, wow,” I slurred as the walls started to weave back and forth. My eyelids grew heavy and I felt like I was stuck in a twirl and couldn’t stop it. The same cello song started to play again from upstairs. Then I was out.

***

Seth

I tossed back two Advil, then rubbed my hand over my lips thinking, “I wonder if Lasko knows he has the mic off.”

Patrick was going over the tape reading their lips. I leaned into Garrett. “Tell me if anything happens.” I walked to Patrick. “You have anything?”

“He didn’t know it was off. Here.” Patrick handed me a piece of paper with a play by play of their broken conversation. He’d gotten most of it.

“He was talking about you. Your girl is brave, I’ll give her that.” Patrick patted my shoulder.

I started to read. I felt a sharp pain when I read,
You’ll never have me like he does.
I put the paper down, not able to read any more.

I went into the washroom. I leaned over the counter and splashed some cold water over my face and neck, closing my eyes tightly.
I wanna kill this guy with my bare hands. I want to feel the moment his neck snaps and his body goes limp.
Then I opened the toilet and vomited.

“Here.” Avery handed me a bottle of water. “Take this too.” I closed the bathroom door behind me and eyed the little red pill. “It’s to help with the nausea.” I popped it in my mouth.

“Thanks.” I sank into the couch next to Garrett. I leaned my head on my hand and watched as my girlfriend slipped into a deep sleep due to some kind of drug. At the very least she would escape from this nightmare for a few hours. Lasko seemed to leave her be when she was asleep.

My eyes grew heavy and I let the pain drift off for a moment.

“So, what did you tell her?” Garrett’s hand covered his smile.

I concentrated as I pulled into the driveway, then replied, “That I don’t date.”

“’Cause you’re dating Emily.”

“I’m not dating Emily.”

“You like her?”

“Yes.”

“You think she’s sexy?”

I nodded to urge him to get to the point.

“Exactly. You have her around all the time?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t like men to touch her?” He lingered over the last word.

I gave him a glance. Then I opened the door and grabbed a case of beer from the back seat.

Garrett stuck out his hand in my direction as he waited for me to join him. “You are dating,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Whatever, man.”

“I’m just sayin’ it is what it is, and what it is, is you are dating Emily.”

I knocked on the door. “Are you done?”

“Yeah.” Garrett nodded.

Val opened the large steel door to her ten thousand square foot home in Manhattan Beach. The perks of a pro baseball husband. I grew up with Val, so from time to time we made it a point to get out to one of her parties.

“Hello, my boys.” She wrapped her arms around me, then gave Garrett a kiss on the cheek. “Come in, there’s lots to look at tonight, gentlemen.” She winked, then pointed to the kitchen. “Help yourselves. I will return.” She waved over her head as she walked down the hallway.

There was no more room left in the refrigerator, so we stacked our cases next to the fridge, grabbed a cold beer, and headed out back.

Her pool sported a swim-up bar in the center, where two men dressed in black shorts and bow ties took orders. Music came from every direction, and conveniently placed sprayers lightly misted the guests as they walked by.

I scanned the property and spotted Robby, Val’s husband, and headed over.

“About time you guys showed up.” He winked and slipped a hand around a little blonde girl who looked to be about nine. “Don’t worry, officer, she’s legal.” He smirked.

“Barely,” the girl giggled.

Robby has always been an asshole; Val is the same way.

“Val’s sister transferred colleges and brought a few hot ones with her.” He smacked Garrett in the chest. Garrett’s throat contracted. I knew he hated it when Robby touched him.

I turned to face the crowd and watched the people dance around under a giant mist sprayer. The music changed to Fergie’s
London Bridge
and the crowd started to pick up. Music waves wound through the sea of bodies that flowed to the beat. Amazing what money could buy. Many were probably only friends with Val because of her wealth. It was a sick way to go through life, but that’s the way it was at this level of society, and you had to expect that.

“Seth?” Emily’s voice had me spinning around on my heel. Her eyes brightened as she reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

“Hey.” My body flinched at how cool she was to the touch, which made her laugh.

“Sorry, we were in the pool.” She ran her hands through her damp, wavy hair.

“You’re here? How?” I didn’t mean to sound so surprised, but I was. I tried to lower the timbre of my voice as I realized it sounded way too high.

“We’re friends with Val.”

“Val’s sister.” She spotted Garrett, who looked uncomfortably stuck with Robby. I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander down and over her light pink bikini. She wore a white cover-up that sat low on her hips and barely covered the bottom of her ass. She had on a pair of heels, but Emily always wore heels. They drew attention to a gold anklet that was almost the same color as her skin tone. It glinted whenever she moved. Christ, she was sexy.

“There you are.” A guy came up behind Emily and rested his hand on her hip.

She tilted her head backward. “Hey, I was just about to join you.”

I clenched my jaw and held it firmly in place as I pushed my words back down.

“Who’s this?” The guy nodded at me.

“Oh, this is my friend Seth.” She stepped aside so we could talk.

The guy looked down at her. “I’ll wait for you out there.” She smiled at him, then he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Her shoulders tensed, but he didn’t seem to notice.

She looked over at me with a forced smile. “He’s harmless.” I cleared my throat.

Garrett returned with Robby, who immediately spotted Emily. She stepped toward me and folded her arms tightly over her stomach. I took it by her body language she’d already met Robby.

“You’re a quick little fox, aren’t you?”

I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her into my side. She molded to me and rested her hand on my chest next to her face. I kept my stare on Robby, who smiled.

“She with you?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t react, he just looked away. Robby wasn’t used to girls not paying attention to him. Garrett started to chat with Val when she joined us. Emily patted my back, then started to pull away. I stopped her, holding her in place, and wiped the place where the guy had kissed her gently with my thumb. Her eyes closed for a moment, then they opened with a strange expression that looked almost like hurt.

“I should go,” she whispered. Robby watched us very obviously as I slipped my sunglasses into my hair. I tugged on her arm, having her follow me around the corner into a little hallway away from everyone. I leaned down and hovered over her face. “Seth, I told him I’d be—”

“Where are your keys?”

She rolled her eyes. “Erin drove, and we’re spending the night in the guest house.”

“I’ll drive you home.”

“Seth, I’m fine to stay.”

“Emily,” I hissed. I just couldn’t leave her here. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“Or what?” She stepped into me and tilted her head up so her lips grazed mine. “What will you do, Seth?” she purred.

I stared back into her deep blue eyes; her scent clouded my judgement. I wanted to slam her against the wall and peel her out of her string bikini. Grab a fistful of her hair and bend her over the chair and take my male frustration out on her. She made me crazy. Everything about this woman was sexy, right down to how she fought me on almost everything. She liked to challenge me, and for some reason I was drawn to it.

My hand ran over the curve of her hip, and I moved in to whisper in her ear. “No ‘or,’ baby, you’re coming home with me.” I slipped my hand down and under her wrap and cupped her ass firmly. I knew from experience that many women wouldn’t put up with my shit. I needed to control, plain and simple. I was stubborn, but I expected discipline from myself, and right then I knew that control was about to slip.

“Is that so?” She started to rotate her hips as she ground into my erection. Both my hands squeezed her firmly, and I pressed her into me. Her head flopped to my chest as she let out a needy sigh.

“Seth,” she barely whispered as her hands ran along my back. Her hair slid off one shoulder, and I dropped my lips to her cool, salty skin. I inched a hand underneath her bottom and ran my fingers over her smooth flesh.

Suddenly it hit me what I was about to do. I froze. I couldn’t, not if—

With a sigh, she pulled back. “I’ll see you later, Seth.” I could see the frustration on her face that mirrored my own. I wanted her so badly, but I knew I couldn’t. Not yet. Not while—

“Seth.” Garrett nudged my arm. “Where’s your phone charger?”

Fuck. I opened my eyes to my hell and shifted off the couch.

***

Day 3 In The Basement