Taylor

Being imprisoned in a dark basement, I lost track of time. My bruises were still a little sensitive and Eric kept giving me painkillers to ease the pain. I think that was the reason he hadn't tried to push me for more. He made me food and let me out of the basement into the house to go to the bathroom.

I wasn't sure if I'd been gone for two days or three. The pain from my bruises had eased and any hope of being rescued had evaporated by now. If they had any idea who had me and where I was, they would have come for me already. Did they think I was dead already? It was difficult to nurture the hope that I might escape when in reality things looked very bleak.

There wasn't a way I could find to escape from the basement. I needed to get out of the basement and into the house to have any real chance of getting away. But I wasn't sure how to do that. The only time Eric allowed me to leave the basement was to go to the bathroom and he stood by the door to ensure I didn't try anything.

My healing bruises meant that my time was running out and Eric would make a move soon.

Eric had cared for me in a crazy, fixated way. He made sure I had everything I needed. It was bizarre that this same caring had made him want to kidnap and keep me locked up. He kept talking about how we were going to be 'together.' I wasn't stupid—I knew what that meant.

The nervous dread in my stomach grew when I heard the basement door open and Eric descended the stairs.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he smiled at me. The smile was supposed to be friendly and put me at ease, but it didn't. It scared me.

"Still a little sore," I lied. I was still trying to stall.

He studied me with narrowed eyes for a moment before he walked to the bed.

"Let me see," he instructed firmly as he bent down beside the bed. His fingers reached for the hem of my shirt and lifted it.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked as his fingers pressed gently onto the bruises.

"Yes, a little."

I was trying to buy time, but I didn't want to be caught lying outright because I feared it would anger him.

"I think they are nearly healed," he disagreed calmly and I tensed. He dropped my shirt and held my gaze. It was like he was trying to read me.

"I've been waiting a long time for you and I don't want to wait any longer," he told me and my fear was overcome by the horror that I'd finally run out of time.

"I had to sit by and watch you get it on with Sin," he spat suddenly at me, his eyes darkening with anger and I held still, not sure how to calm him down. "But now you are mine and he will never touch you again."

I swallowed hard.

"Why me?" I asked, swallowing hard. If something bad was about to happen, I at least wanted to know why he'd chosen me.

His fingers reached out and trailed down my cheek. And in a few seconds, the anger was gone and in its place was a calmness I didn't trust.

"You're beautiful and you were just as beautiful at the age of nine," he told me. So this obsession had started when I was nine?

"The murder trial tore my family apart and the only thing that brought any light into my life was the sight of you," he murmured as his fingers trailed down my throat. "You were so young and beautiful, like the sun shining through the dark clouds. I knew you were meant to be mine and now...you are."

I tried not to show my revulsion at his words. He was mentally sick and there was no negotiating with that.

"I came here because I knew you'd enrolled, but I couldn't believe my luck when I saw you arrive at one of the house parties. I didn't have to look for you, you came to me."

His eyes dropped to my lips and my horror intensified as he leaned closer and pressed his lips to mine. It took all my self-control not to shove against him. Instead, I let him kiss me.

"You are mine," he murmured against my lips as he pushed me down onto the bed.

Oh. My. God. I couldn't let this happen, I had to do something.

"I want to be yours," I whispered huskily, trying to keep the disgust out of my voice. "But this bed is a little small."

If we went upstairs, I would have a better chance of escaping. Fear gripped me. This would be my only chance. He seemed to consider my request for a moment before he smiled and stood up. He offered me his hand and he pulled me to my feet.

My mind was racing as he led me up the stairs, holding my hand. I had to do something. I held my breath as we entered the house and he led me down the hallway. My eyes quickly scanned the surrounding area for anything I could use as a weapon, but I couldn't find anything. He stopped at the second door on the right and opened it.

I tried to smile as he ushered me inside and I scanned the room, but there was nothing—just a small bed and a side table with a lamp. It was the pictures on the one wall that made me stop. There were various pictures of me through the years, starting at the trial.

My time was running out. I turned to face him and he stepped forward.

No! my mind screamed as he settled his hands on my hips and studied me for a moment.

"I've waited a long time for this," he whispered in awe as he leaned closer and I closed my eyes as his lips touched mine again.

His arms encircled my waist and pulled me closer. He backed me up to the bed. I was starting to panic as he pushed me down.

"Don't be scared," he soothed as he covered my body with his. I gave him a brief nod as his lips pressed against mine and his tongue pushed into my mouth. I opened my eyes to see if I could find anything to knock him out.

It was the only way I was going to stop him and get out of here. He reached for the bottom of my shirt and I resisted. It was going to end like this because there was no way I would allow him to go further. I would finally see the temper I'd been trying to keep at bay and it wasn't going to be good.

He stopped and looked down at me with a questioning gaze.

"I can't," I admitted, shaking my head. All the emotions I'd been suppressing came up to the surface and he could see plainly displayed on my face and in my eyes my true reaction to his touch.

I watched the change happen in his face. Gone was the depth in his eyes and I felt a shiver as his eyes darkened. His friendly smile spread into a cold and cruel smile.

"You are mine," he stated fiercely and slammed his mouth against mine so hard that his teeth cut my bottom lip.

I pushed hard, trying to get his bulky body off mine, but it was like trying to move a slab of concrete. It was then I realized that I wouldn't get a chance to fight and I wouldn't be escaping. He tore his lips from mine and then grabbed my hands and held them above my head.

"We belong together," he stated angrily. "And you will be mine."

The last bit of hope that I'd held on to disappeared and I wanted to give in to the darkness that would protect me. He pressed his body against mine and, as much as I struggled, I couldn't move. I was helpless and at the mercy of this crazy guy.