The Ocean’s City

I was in a sorry state. My jaw hurt to move, and blood trickled down my neck from where I had fallen. My arms were lined with scratches, my hair frazzled, and my clothes looked like I lived in a dumpster. 

Dalton stalked towards me, not letting his eyes lose sight of me. I remained lying on the floor, catching my breath. The way he walked to me like I was prey had me wanting to scoot away from him. It took everything in me to stay where I was. He took one second to look me over before kneeling down, wrapping his large hand around my arm, and pulling me up.

I went to wrap my arms around him and felt some sense of security, but he held me at arm’s length. I couldn’t help but frown.

“Where the hell did you get those clothes?”

I wasn’t looking into Dalton’s eyes anymore as they glowed fiery. I didn’t respond. The house shook, and deadly roars from outside exploded in response, causing me to jump. The girls let out several screams. Dalton shot them a warning glance and held my hand in place.

“Were you touched?” he barked at me.

It took me a second to realize what he was saying. I shook my head ferociously. He searched my eyes a second longer before wrapping me in a deathly tight grip.

“I will handle this. You are safe now.”

His warmth washed over me, gracing me with relief. Knowing that I could rest again, my body wanted to cry, but then I remembered Dannie.

“Dannie!! I think she is—”

Dalton’s lips crashed into mine, completely silencing me. They tasted better than how I remembered them before. I allowed a second for me to take in how they felt, but then I was pushing him off of me. This was important.

He let me pull away from his kiss, replacing his lips with his finger and giving me a stern look. I remembered the last time he kissed me and what he said. I nodded, understanding now. He dropped his finger and took my hand, leading me to Huston, who now stood by the door frame, giving me a pitiful look full of relief. His hand went to my shoulder as if to say he was glad I was okay. I lifted my free hand and squeezed his.

“Ask around,” Dalton instructed Huston as his thumb brushed the top of my hand, needing the reassurance. Then he spoke louder. “And make sure none of these ladies leave. I plan to show them the cost of fearing anything more than my wrath.”

“Please, sir, we’re sorry!” A girl in a yellow dress pleaded.

“Silence!” he roared. The lights flickered, but not even one of the girls dared to scream.

Dalton took their silence as acceptable behavior and then led me up the stairs. He opened the doors until he found a room with a bed, ushered me in, closed the door behind me, and dropped my hand.

I turned to see his serious expression. He folded his arms and asked again, “Where did you get those clothes?”

“I-I was lost in the swamp… these -these people found me and gave me clean clothes and fed me.”

He nodded his head, taking one step closer to me. His mind was deep in thought.

“Where are they now?”

“In their house in the middle of the swamp.”

“Why are you not with them now?” he growled in a low and deadly tone. His eyes met mine.

“I ran away,” I whispered, like the truth would get me into trouble.

Dalton took another step towards me. “Why?” he could barely contain his anger. He knew, but he didn’t want it to be true.

“They tied me to a bed. The woman… she wanted me for her sons.”

“How did you escape?” Dalton’s lips were thin; he seemed far away.

“One son helped me escape. He took me here. No one did anything to me.”

Dalton looked down at me, brushing his thumb across my cheek. I sighed the moment our skin touched. “Are you okay?”

I don’t know why, but that made me laugh. How could so much unexplained shit happen and someone think to ask you if you’re okay? He nodded his head, understanding. Then, his gaze traveled to my wrist. His expression was as blank as a new sheet of paper.

A thousand questions popped into my head: who is this man hunting us? Where was he now? Could this bracelet help us find Dannie?

Dalton delicately slipped it off my wrist, twirling it in his fingers. “Get cleaned up. I’ll send up some clean clothes.”

He walked towards the door, fully prepared to leave me. Blood boiled in my skin, and I wiped my hands, fighting the urge to ball them into fists against my thighs. I called to him. “Dalton.” I may not get all my questions answered, but there was one that must be answered.

My voice sounded so confident at first, but when he turned around and looked at me with glistening eyes, I found the following words I wanted to say more difficult. “Did you do this to punish me?”

He lowered his gaze, nibbling on his lip, and walked to the door. My breath hitched, and my feelings were hurt. There was some part of me deep down that had so much faith that he wouldn’t do that, but the doubts that swam rampant in my mind ended up being true. I was just in denial. What the man had said was true. I was a tool for Dalton to use.

He paused at the door, lowering his head slightly before swinging the door open and walking himself out, leaving me alone to my thoughts.

But what was there to do other than feel the horrible heartbreak, aching away at my soul, breaking my being?