“One of the guards took Celeste to the mainland for supplies. Only Clyde and Marie are here right now,” Julian explains. “If you need anything, I can still text them to pick it up for you.”
“I don’t need anything,” I say, my voice still breathy.
With one last lingering look, I dart across the room and over to the foot of the bed where my suitcase is. It’s not like I’m wearing anything overly revealing, a pair of sleep shorts, and a spaghetti strap top, but I’m not going to push him or give him another reason to shackle me to the bed because he will. I have no doubt in my mind that he will do everything possible to remind me of the power he holds.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him turn away from him. He pulls out his phone, giving the device his undivided attention. Quickly, I change out of my PJs and slip into a pair of shorts and a dressy tank top. Momentarily, I pause and consider putting on a bathing suit but decide against it. I’m not going to be going into the ocean alone, especially not when I can’t swim.
Julian has his nose buried in his phone, so I slip out of the room without notice. I’m bubbling over with excitement as I walk through the house.
The island isn’t very big, but I plan to search every inch of it. I enjoy being with Julian, but I want more freedom, and I need to see my father. To warn him of what’s to come. Eventually, Julian will forgive me for escaping.
The mansion is set right on the beach and is the focal point of the island. Julian claims there is only one way on and off the island, but I don’t believe him. What if there were an emergency? With the placement of the house as it is, there is nothing but open concept throughout. Every window you look out of, there is ocean and beach. It’s peaceful, and part of me wants to stay here in this bubble of perfection forever.
Rushing down the stairs, I enter the kitchen, which is empty. The French doors that lead outside are wide open, letting the breeze from the ocean in. Where should I go first? I walk out the doors and look both ways. I see nothing but the beach for miles.
The air is salty as I breathe it into my lungs, but I love it. Love the freedom that surrounds me, the sound of the ocean, and the way my toes feel in the sand. Randomly choosing, I go left and head away from the mansion.
Walking along the beach, the water creeps closer and eventually washes over my feet. The water is cold, and a shiver runs down my spine. I’m not sure how long I walk before coming to a small area that’s overgrown with trees and vegetation. I almost don’t see the small boathouse peeking out in between the green leaves.
I consider turning around because the last thing I want to do is go trespassing into something, but there is a nagging at the back of my mind that tells me to investigate further.
Julian said there were no other boats on the island. Was he lying? Or is this boathouse empty? Maybe it’s not a boathouse at all?
Curiosity gets the best of me, and I continue walking toward it. My steps are hesitant, and fear coils deep in my gut. It could be nothing just a small abandoned outbuilding, or it could be something bigger than that.
Just a small peek inside, I tell myself. I just want to know what’s inside.
As I get closer, walking deeper into the overgrowth, I realize how old and run down this building is. The slats of wood are debilitated, and the paint on them is chipped away by the elements. Smiling to myself, I feel as if I’ve won a trophy.
I bet Julian has no idea that this is here. I get to the door and tug on the handle, which is barely hanging on. I find it’s not locked but cracked open. The hinges creak as I pull the door open and stick my head inside.
My eyes go wide as I take in the motorboat inside the wooden building. I could leave right now, without a word, get a head start. It’s what I should do, but deep down, I know I can’t.
I can’t leave Julian. I want to warn my father, and I plan to, to tell him to leave me alone, that I’m happy where I am, but I can’t leave, not yet.
Taking a step back, I let the door fall closed, and feel like I’m betraying myself a little as I walk back through the heavy foliage and onto the beach.
Awareness washes over me, and I realize that I’ve been gone for some time, so instead of continuing on with my adventure, I head back to the house.
Instead, maybe I’ll find Marie, and we can do something together. Make some cookies or watch some tv together? The secret of what I found presses heavily like a stack of bricks on my shoulders. I’m walking up the backside of the mansion, returning the same way I left when I hear what sounds like scuffling in the kitchen. I’ve not yet reached the French doors to see inside, so I have no idea what is happening, but my heart thunders in my chest, and my legs kick into overdrive when I hear a deep male voice.
“You’ll do as I fucking say, or I’ll tell Julian that you’re a spy…” I know that voice. It belongs to one of Julian’s guards, Clyde, I think.
“Please, don’t…” Marie softly cries, and I know whatever is happening is bad.
Rushing into the kitchen, my blood is pumping, and I’m ready to destroy. When I spot Marie facing me, her eyes are wide with fear, and tears slip freely down her cheeks.
Clyde is tugging at her clothes like she is a ragdoll.
“I’m going to fuck you, and you’re going to enjoy it. Do you understand me?” Clyde’s voice is nauseating, and I hate that I have to slow my steps. My eyes dart to the butcher block sitting on the counter near the stove, and I don’t even think, I just react.
Darting toward the butcher block, I grab the first knife my fingers touch, which also happens to be the biggest. The blade gleams in the light, and my hands shake while rage simmers just beneath the surface.
Rushing around the island, I lift the knife above my head just as he slips a hand beneath Marie’s maid dress. All I see are her tear-stained cheeks, the pain in her eyes.
I put everything I have into that strike, and the knife cuts through him like hot butter and sticks like an ax in a piece of wood in his back.
Immediately, he turns on me, fury in his eyes, his lips curls up, and he roars with rage. I reach for the knife, attempting to tug it out of his back, but a sting of pain ripples across my hand as my palm makes contact with the blade instead of the handle.
“You will pay for that, you little fucking bitch,” he snarls, and before I can comprehend what is going on, his fist is flying at my face.
The blow lands against my cheek with the intensity of a house slamming into me, and nearly sends me to the ground. Somehow, I manage to keep my footing, even as pain radiates across my cheek, and blood fills my mouth.
Clyde takes a menacing step toward me, his eyes gleaming with red hot rage. Lifting his hand as if he’s going to punch me once more, and my eyes drift closed as if out of instinct.
Oh, god.
The hit never comes. Silence surrounds us, and that’s when I open my eyes again and find Clyde on the ground, his eyes vacant and Marie standing in front of me.
“He will blame me for this.” Her voice is nothing more than a tremble, and I know she is right. Julian will kill her for this, even while knowing it isn’t her fault.
My face aches, and my hand throbs, reminding me of the fresh cut there. Warm blood drips down my fingers and onto the white tile, where an even bigger splotch of blood is forming beneath Clyde’s body.
Instantly, I know what I have to do.