Run (21 page)

It still, however, didn’t change anything between them. She was still his prisoner. Dare walked into the room, with a glass in hand. Aya scrambled to the edge of the bed when he sat down.

He held out the glass to her. “Go ahead, take it. I promise it’s not poisoned. You’re worth a lot more to me alive.” His lips curved into a half smile as if he were actually attempting humor but she had to be mistaken.

She eyed the glass warily, torn between mistrust and trust.

Dare took a sip from the glass. “See. It’s just a regular glass of water, Aya. Take it, unless you don’t want anything.” He moved to stand up, but she stopped him by reaching over and grabbing the glass. She spilled some of its contents in the process.

She gulped down the entire glass in a couple swallows and was still thirsty.

“More?”

She wondered why he was being so accommodating. Aya slowly nodded, wondering about this change in him. He took the glass from her, left the room and returned shortly with a filled glass and a pitcher of water. Aya drank three more glasses before she felt somewhat satisfied.

“Feel better?”

She nodded.

“Are you sore anywhere this morning?”

Aya didn’t get a chance to answer as a spasm ripped through her body that shot to her core. She fell forward. “Oh, no.” She didn’t think she could handle this again. She had been certain he’d removed the device but maybe he hadn’t.

“Unfortunately, that’s one of the side effects of the pleasuretron. It may take a couple days before that doesn’t happen anymore, but as the time passes, they’ll become fewer and far between before disappearing completely.”

Aya wanted to scream and curse at him but after last night, she realized he could make things much worse for her. Once she was sure her body was over the last attack, she rolled away from him. She clung to the covers wrapped around her body.

Dare placed his hand on her back. She stiffened.

“Aya…last night. I went too far.”

She couldn’t take any more of this, maybe it was the way he suddenly acted like he cared, or maybe it was just the complete and utter helplessness she felt, but she burst into tears. She’d cried since this ordeal, but only in private and never in front of Dare. But now, all the anguish and pain and fear she’d held at bay burst forth.

Dare pulled her across the bed and she wanted to fight him but simply didn’t have the strength of the heart to do it. She held herself still in anticipation of his next assault on her body but to her complete surprise he wrapped his arms around her and held her against him. He didn’t attempt to kiss her or touch her in any other way than in comfort. This only made her cry even harder.

He began to rock her and she continued to cry for the life that she’d lost, for her uncle, for Macy, and for all the women unfortunate enough to find themselves in The Run. Aya had never felt so small and powerless in her life and it was all because of this man. Yet, somehow, she didn’t hate the feel of his arms around her. It killed her a little inside to know that despite all he’d done to her, the intense hate she’d once felt for him was gone. Aya melted into him whenever he touched her and what was worse, she looked forward to it. By the time her sobs had become hiccups, her head hurt and her throat was dry again.

Dare pressed his lips on the top of her head. “I hate that I’ve done this to you, Aya.”

She hated that he’d done this to her to, but unlike him, she didn’t have the luxury of vocalizing it like he did.

“Curse at me, call me a bastard, say something.”

She tightened her lips. He had to be joking.

“I want the old Aya back.”

Finally, she broke her silence, which ended his attempt at conversation. “She’s dead.”

Aya wasn’t exactly sure when it had happened, but something had changed at the house. It had been a week since the ball incident and she felt like she’d stepped into an alternate reality. The staff that had virtually ignored her couldn’t seem to do enough for her. When she appeared downstairs, Mr. Garrison greeted her personally and asked her how she was doing. Before then, she’d barely seen the man beyond his holographic image delivering messages from Dare.

The house manager had taken her to another wing of Dare’s home that had been cordoned off to her before. It was Dare’s own personal hall of records and history. She was shown how to access any piece of historical data for the last several centuries. But, the part that interested Aya the most was the access to the library and its collection of books. Dare’s collection was even larger than the town hall’s. His was filled with books that spoke of revolutions and radical thinkers throughout time. It didn’t surprise her that these works would not be accessible to the public. It would make too many people want to challenge the status quo.

She would immerse herself in this room for hours, pouring over old news articles and pictures of what the world had been like before the giant pharmaceutical companies had wiped out a huge portion of the female population. It surprised Aya that women had more rights back them, were protected by government against gender discrimination, and held powerful positions in media, politics, and corporations. Sure there were rich women among the Elite, but most of them had gained their money and power through rich husbands. Now, if women were fortunate enough to find work outside of lying on their backs, it was typically roles deemed suitable for women, usually in a serving or retail capacity. For the most part, women were simply commodities to be used. Of course things weren’t perfect back then, but they were certainly better than now.

Aya dreamed of being born in another time where it might have been easier for her to rise up from her circumstances and make a difference in other people’s lives, besides handing out day old bread the bar couldn’t use. It was for that reason she stopped going through the historical documents and turned to the fictional works. She could stay in this room for hours, reading until her eyes crossed or at least until she was summoned for dinner with Dare.

He was the biggest change of all. No longer did he spend his time engaged in his work as he ate, he attempted to converse with her, though Aya wasn’t compelled to talk beyond a mere yes or no. Another major change was her room. After they returned from the party, all of her clothes were moved to his room. She slept in his bed at night. His bed was large enough for a family of five, but he’d pull her close to him and hold her against him until she fell asleep. He made no other advances toward her beyond a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

Aya wasn’t sure if she knew how she felt about all of the changes. On one hand, she was relieved that she wouldn’t have to endure the shame that came from loving every depraved thing he did to her. And on the other hand, her body had come to crave his touch like an addiction she couldn’t shake. Aya liked being engulfed within his warmth and that frightened the hell out of her. How could she feel this way toward a man who had broken her down so thoroughly, she wasn’t sure which end was up and who kept her prisoner?

Aya didn’t know the reason behind this sudden change, but she was sure he was waiting for her to let her guard down so he could completely decimate her spirit in some way, shape, or form. Her nerves were constantly on edge whenever she was with him. At his slightest move she would jump, thinking he was up to something sinister. It had taken her three full days to get over the effects of that mad device he’d used on her. That thing had almost made her want to never have another orgasm for as long as she lived.

“Miss Smith, Mr. O’Shaughnessy requests the pleasure of your presence in his office.”

She frowned glancing up at the flashing time in the corner of the holographic book she’d been struggling through. Dinner wasn’t for another few hours and Dare wasn’t usually home yet.

With a heavy sigh, she uncurled legs from beneath her and swiped the book to an off position. Apprehension bubbled within the pit of her stomach as she headed to his office. Could this be when he would finally announce whatever evil plan he had in store for her?

The door to his office opened as soon as she was in front of it. She stood just over the threshold waiting for him to invite her in. He raised his head, his expression solemn. Aya took a step backward. She wasn’t sure what that meant for her but it couldn’t be good.

“Aya, come in.” Dare beckoned her forward. “Please.”

Taken aback by his plea, she slowly stepped into the room.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair directly in front of him.

Aya did as he said with apprehension. She kept her head down.

“Aya, look at me,” he said softly.

She raised her head without making complete eye contact.

He sighed. “I wish…” Dare released a sigh. “Your uncle....there’s been an accident in the prison.”

She looked him square in the eyes, then. Her heart plummeted. Was this accident part of his design to punish her? “What do you mean?” she asked in a whisper. “What kind of accident? I thought...didn’t you say he would be away from the general population?”

Dare nodded. “I did and he was. Actually, one of the prison guards has been roughing up the prisoners. Apparently, he’s been doing it for a while. Your uncle witnessed him getting physical with another inmate and he said something to the guard about it. The guard didn’t take kindly to your uncle’s interference so he….”

Aya was on her feet, tears burning her eyes. “What? What happened to my uncle?”

“He was beaten pretty badly, Aya. It doesn’t look good.”

She shook her head. “No!”

“Aya, I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen. I—”

All week, she’d felt half dead inside but something, a fiery rage, began to burn so deeply within her that it compelled her forward. She slammed her open palm against his cheek which turned his head. As the need to lash out grew stronger, she smacked his other cheek. And then, hit him again. She balled her fists and punched him in the chest.

“Aya, please listen to me,”

The sound of his voice only made her angrier. She’d lived in fear all week long, scared of what he’d do to her, never thinking that her uncle could be affected somehow.

“Shut up!” she screamed as she continued to pummel him. It didn’t matter that he was bigger than her and that her blows were probably no more than a mere annoyance to him, she wanted him to feel a little of the pain she felt.

“I had nothing left for you to take, you son of a bitch. Why him? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” She hit and kicked and slapped him, unleashing all the pent up emotion she’d been holding on to for several weeks.

He grabbed her by the wrists. “Aya, you’re only going to hurt yourself.”

She yanked herself out of his grip with a strength she didn’t realize she had. Aya raced out of the room, her tears nearly blinding her, but she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She would make him pay for what he’d done. Aya only had to make it there before he did. She ran fast as if her life depended on it, and it did.

Dare was closing in on her, her shorter strides no match for his. She made it to her destination, the weapons room. As she made it over the threshold, Dare grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against him.

“Let me go!” She clawed at the arms holding her tightly. She dug her fingernails into his hands.

“Shit,” he yelled loosening his grip enough for her to wiggle free. Aya looked around at the wall of weapons, not sure which one to take. She grabbed the closest thing to her, a sword that looked like something out of a children’s book she’d once read.

Aya barely managed to get it off the wall before nearly dropping it. It was long and heavy.

Dare, who had also entered the room, eyed the weapon warily. “Aya, if you’re going to attack me with one of my own weapons, perhaps you should use one that isn’t so heavy for you to wield. That there is a great sword, the ceremonial version of it actually, a weapon used among infantry men around the fifteenth century. Most considered it too cumbersome for battle. If you’re going to use it against me, I suggest you use both hands.”

Her arms wobbled as she lifted the sword to chest level. “I don’t need a history lesson from you!” She charged forward, but he easily sidestepped her attack. The weight of the weapon propelled her forward making her stumble.

“Might I suggest a smaller weapon?” He calmly walked over to the other side of the room as if he didn’t have a single care in the world. He pulled a long black tool off the wall that was approximately half a foot in length. “This is a Taser. It can be adjusted to give quite a jolt. This was used by law enforcement for years and eventually, it evolved into this, it can stun, but if you crank it up enough, it can kill. Here.” He handed it to her.

What was he getting at? This had to be some trick. She gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.

He continued when she didn’t answer. “Or if you’re more interested in swinging something at me, this here is a mace.” He pointed to a stick with a spiked ball at the end. “Not as heavy as that great sword you seem to favor, but it does make an impact.” Dare took it off the wall and handed it to her.

“I want you dead,” she whispered through clenched teeth.

He flinched. “Is that so? Do you think you have the guts to follow through?”

“Do you have the guts to hand me the weapon to do it?” she threw back at him.

“Fair enough.” He walked toward her and Aya raised the sword again, but he maneuvered his way around her.

“This is the wall of deadly force.” He pulled down a small gun. “This is an old service revolver, popularized in the twenty-first century.” He, then, headed over to a drawer and pushed a series of buttons on top. Out popped one of the draws. He retrieved a small white box. Dare placed the revolver in the drawer and opened the box. Small pellets spilled into his palm.

She watched, fascinated as he spun the middle of the gun and it opened up. He placed the pellets inside before closing the cylinder and spinning. Dare advanced on her. Again, she held up the sword.

“Here you go. If you want to kill me, go ahead.”

She glanced at the weapon and then at Dare with narrowed eyes. “This is a trick.”

“No trick. You want me dead. Here’s your chance.”

“You don’t get to distract me. I thought I had nothing left for you to take but I was wrong. Now, you’ve taken away the one man who has been like a father to me for most of my life. It wasn’t enough for you to humiliate me in any way you saw fit, but you had to do this, too.” She sobbed but fought to keep the sword steady although her muscles ached like crazy.

Dare edged forward until his chest touched the tip of his sword. Slowly, as he kept his eyes trained on her, he laid the gun on the floor, rose and then backed away until he was on the other side of the room. She didn’t know whether to trust him. Aya couldn’t be sure that the gun was actually lethal.

She could barely see through her tears. “How do I know this is actually deadly?”

“I could demonstrate, if you’d like.” He took a step forward.

“Don’t come any closer!”

“Try it.”

She took one hand off the sword and it proved too much for her to hold one-handed, it plopped to the ground noisily, leaving a dent in the buffed hardwood floor. She knelt and picked up the gun, simultaneously releasing her grip on the sword completely.

The cool metal felt foreign in her hands. She wasn’t even sure how to hold it properly.

“Wrap your fingers around the butt of the gun and place your finger over the trigger.” He gestured his instructions with his hands.

She licked her dry lips but remained frozen. “This is a trick.”