Chapter 2- The Present Fears The Past
*************
Roses are red,
Blood is too,
I want your dead body in my hands,
And there's nothing you can do.
-Z ♡︎
*********
FIVE YEARS EARLIER,
APRIL 13th, 2015.
GREENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
It's been about three months since I've started talking to Zane, or you could say on and off dating him.
Everyone tells me he's dangerous, not someone I should hang around, but he's the only one who actually cares for me.
He knows it and I know it.
No one else loves me.
No one else likes me.
But he does, and that's all that matters.
Zane is known to be manipulative, but why would he manipulate me?
Is he manipulating me?
Is this all a lie?
Yes...I'm a naive sixteen year old girl helplessly falling for an eighteen year old emotionally unavailable and deemed unstable boy.
My heart trusts him, but my head really doesn't.
One thing led to the next...and Zane became extremely possessive...and what I don't like to mention...extremely violent.
Sometimes I fear he'll hurt me, but he said he wouldn't so I'm sure he won't. Right?
That caused me to end it completely, and he does text me every now and then.
I try to avoid him as much as possible...but you guessed it. It doesn't work.
Once you get yourself entangled with someone like Zane...there's no way out. Especially when I agreed to be his.
******
"Daisy..."
"Yes, Zane?"
"I need to know..."
His bright blue hair is ruffled and dripping a little wet from the rain we just ran through.
I nod, watching him with large grey eyes.
"Will you be mine? And mine only?"
I smile brightly.
What I've always wanted.
To be wanted. To be loved. Is that what this is? Love?
"Yes. I will be yours and yours only, Zane Maserati."
I take a step closer to him, reaching up to stroke his cheek.
"Forever and always?"
He smiles down at me. Genuinely. Something I don't see often.
"Forever and always, Daisy."
*******
Although that sounded like the best thing ever at the time, it wasn't.
It was a mistake.
Ring! Ring!
I jerk my head up from my desk, the late bell disturbing my half-nap type thing.
I rub my eyes, looking around the classroom.
All the kids are gone, and my teacher sits at the front of the room with her reading glasses propped up on her nose as she scans over student's essays.
She looks up from her work, looking slightly surprised.
"Daisy! I thought you'd left!"
"I feel asleep, I guess. What time is it?"
She looks at the clock.
"3:20, sweetie."
"Ugh! My dad wanted me back at home by two fifty!"
I jump up, throwing my bag over my shoulder.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sue!"
I run out of the classroom, stopping by my locker to grab the remainder of my books when I pause, my hand flying over my mouth, masking a small scream.
It looks like a murder scene at my locker.
My heart thumps loudly in my chest, blocking out any other noise as a sick feeling settles deep in my gut and my stomach does somersaults.
There's blood.
Everywhere.
All over the floor, oozing down the other lockers underneath mine, and dripping out of the small slots.
I instantly feel like I'm going to barf, as a note splattered in bright red catches my attention, pasted right on the front of my locker.
Open your locker for a big surprise, love.
I left one for you.
Now you'll see what happens when you go hoe around with other men, my little flower.
They pay the price.
And if you do it again, it'll be you.
-Z ♡︎
With shaking hands, I hesitantly open the locker, letting out a blood curdling scream and tumbling onto the floor out of horror, scrambling back as the head rolls onto the floor.
A head.
Organs.
Blood.
All of Matthew Rioux, who I talked to yesterday for my school project.
I start to sob, actually vomiting all over the floor next to me.
I hear footsteps, then hear another scream.
"911! Someone call 911!"
Two arms wrap around me, pulling me off the floor with ease and away from the mess, cooing comforting things in my ear.
"It'll be okay. You're okay."
But as soon as I heard the voice, I tensed up.
"Y-Y-You—"
"What was that, Daisy? I couldn't hear you. Say it louder, why don't ya?"
"You k-killed h-him—"
"Shhh, I know, baby. I did it just for you. You're mine, remember little flower? And if you keep hoeing around I'm going to have to do something worse."
He strokes my cheek gently, something that comforts me and makes me lean into his touch.
Why?
Why can't I stay away?
He killed someone...yet I feel okay with it?!
Because he did it for me.
He would kill someone for me...
Something about that solaces me.
But it's wrong.
I'm wrong.
I need to get away.
My stomach churns as I rip from his grasp, giving my best extremely angry look.
He only looks amused, watching the police behind us with a small smirk.
When he finally realizes I'm practically yelling at him, he moves his eyes to me.
"Zane! You killed someone! Like, murdered someone! I don't know what's going on in your head, what is wrong with you, but don't ever come near me again! I'm not yours, in fact I'm not anybody's, and you are never going to contact me again! If you do, I'm putting a restraining order against you! I will do it, Zane, I promise!"
He only laughs.
"Dearest Daisy, you're so naive! Once you're mine, you're mine. And if I haven't been caught for murder before, what makes you think a little piece of paper telling me to stay away from you will stop me from doing so? You're going to drive yourself insane without me, Daisy. You need me. You know you do."
His large smile makes me frown, makes me scared.
He's right.
He's always right.
He knows what's right.
"And even though you want to stay away from me, Daisy, you know you can't!"
His words echo in my mind.
I know I can't...but that can't stop me from trying, can it?
I rip my arm free from Zane's grasp, fleeing as fast as humanly possible.
I turn my head over my shoulder for a split second to see if he's chasing me, but he isn't, simply just standing there with a small smirk, turning and walking away without another word.
A part of me believes he's finally leaving me alone, but a bigger part of me knows it's just the start.
*********
PRESENT DAY, MARCH 10th, 2020.
As I stand, unarmed, my mind starts racing.
Zane, Trevor, and Taylor, against me?! Me?!
"Three against one, huh?"
I smirk.
"Three people to murder!"
I start laughing, and they all look at me funny.
"And I thought I was crazy." Taylor says.
"Literally. This girl thinks she can beat us?! Me?! Bitch please, I could flick her and she'd go flying."
They all start laughing, and a sad and angry look crosses my face.
Just like the olden days...people would laugh at me.
Am I just a big ass joke to them?!
I'll show them flying.
I back up a few paces, charging forward and ramming into Zane like a bull, causing him and me to go flying to the floor, me landing straight on top of him.
I lift myself up slightly, looking down at him with a surprised but amused look.
With one of my legs between his, I grab his knife from its sheath, pointing it at him.
"Why don't you look at that?"
I raise the knife closer to my face, examining my reflection before looking back at him.
He's smirking, seemingly extremely amused.
"Who's in control now, Zaney boy?"
He chuckles underneath me, propping himself up on his elbows.
"Maybe I like it better this way, Daisy." His eyes move to my chest before back to my face. "I mean, how can I not?"
Trevor and Taylor laugh, leaning against the wall while simply watching us.
My eyes follow his and I move my hair from my face with my spare hand while still pointing the knife at him to see somewhat threatening. I know I don't.
"Enjoying the view now, are we Booker?"
His eyes move to mine with a lopsided grin.
"You gotta problem with that, babe?"
I open my mouth to say something, instantly shutting it.
I throw the knife, watching as it nails into the wall before glaring at Zane.
"You're repulsive."
"Repulsively hot."
I'm tired of him! Tired! Tired of his stupidly hot deep voice and especially tired of that damn smirk!
Unable to control the surge of violence running through my veins, I raise my hand and bring it full force at his face, slapping him with a loud smack.
His face goes to the side, and he starts shaking slightly with silent laughter that soon becomes loud.
He slowly turns his head back around, showcasing the red hand mark on his lightly tanned skin.
Fuck.
That wasn't a good idea.
He shakes his head, meeting my eyes with a nasty grin.
"You'll pay for that, bitch."
I jump back, scrambling to my feet and backing away.
Now I'm scared.
He stands up, examining his hand.
His eyes then snap on mine, and he simply comes closer, backing me into the far wall.
He raises his hand, slapping me hard across the face.
He slaps the other side, making my head snap to the left.
"How you like that, bitch?! Huh?!"
He slaps me again, and my cheeks burn with pain.
He grips me by the throat, lifting me up and off the ground so I'm face to face with him.
I struggle to breathe, prying at his fingers with my own.
But his grip is too tight.
Crushing my air pipes.
I start to choke, frantically prying and smacking his hands to let go.
My lips turn blue, and Zane simply smiles.
"It pleasures me to see you in pain, Daisy. To see you suffer. I enjoy that."
I look into his eyes, a plead for help as my head starts spinning, and my eyes start to droop.
"H-Help, p-p-please, I can't b-breathe—!"
He looks at me, tilting his head to the side before dropping me onto the floor, watching as I instantly shrivel up in a ball, my knees hugged against my chest and my head resting against the wall.
My hands find my neck, which still have the constricting feeling of Zane's hands wrapped tightly around it.
I look up, weakly meeting his amused eyes.
"Now, now, Daisy. I'm guessing you've learned your lesson on hitting me, haven't you? I wouldn't do it again. Your boss made a big mistake sending you to kill us, baby. Big mistake. He just helped me get closer to my goal. What I came back to California for."
I look at him with question.
Five years. He's been gone.
To where? I don't know.
The last time I saw him he was getting sent to prison...because of me.
He took the blame for what I did.
I'm one hundred percent sure he hates me now.
"Well of course, I came back just for you, my little flower. To finish what we started. Fix this unfinished business shit going on. And you know what."
He smiles down at me, tilting his head somewhat creepily to the side.
"Now. I will give you an option."
He crouches down to my level, looking into my fearful and pained eyes.
"Easy way, or hard way?"
"It depends what the hard way is."
I croak out.
"Hmm...up for a small challenge, aren't ya? Even after I choked you for two minutes. Funny."
He blinks a few times, motioning for Taylor and Trevor to come, which they do.
They stand behind him with their arms crossed, all of them towering over me.
"Well, Daisy. You're going to have to come with us either way."
He pulls out a needle with some sort of liquid in it.
I back away instantly, backing as far as I can into the wall.
"I know you aren't going to inject me with that thing, Zane."
"Just a little rohypnol, baby. I promise you it won't hurt."
"Rohyp—what?!"
Before I can say anything, he grabs my shoulder, dragging me closer and inserting the needle into the flesh of my neck, watching as the liquid goes into my skin and I drop unconscious, slouching into his arms.
"Perfect. We got her."
Zane smirks at Trevor and Taylor, throwing my unconscious body over his shoulder and pulling his sunglasses back over his eyes.
"Come on, boys."
He grins, showcasing his bright white teeth.
"Now the fun begins. First by inflicting a little pain."
***********
"Daisy!"
I turn to look at my popular best friend Stellina.
"Yeah, Stellina?"
"You wanna come with me tonight to Teresa's party?!"
"Just for you to ditch me for Ryler again? No thanks."
I turn back to my work, and Stellina rolls her eyes.
"Come on! It'll be fun!"
I frown.
"You promise not to dump me again? That was horribly embarrassing."
"I won't, I won't!"
I give her a little smirk.
"Fine."
"8?"
I nod.
"8."
*****
I change into a middle length yellow floral dress, leaving my hair flowing down my shoulders.
Good enough.
I hear a knock at my door, and scramble down the stairs.
Must be Stellina.
I open the door, and of course, it's Stellina.
"Hey!"
"Hey..."
She looks at my outfit.
"What the hell are you wearing?"
I shrug, looking down at my mom's old dress.
"A dress...it was my mom's."
"Ugh. Come on, Daisy. You can do better than that old rag. Come on."
I frown.
This is the only thing I have left of her.
The memory of my mom in the burning fire of our house, the dress the only thing left in the debris, I sigh.
"Okay. What do you have in mind?"
"Hmm...definitely something more sexy."
After changing into a "sexier" outfit, which consists of a tight mini skirt and crop top, I was convinced that it would make the Zane Maserati notice me.
Even though he already has.
I haven't told Stellina yet that we're kinda talking...
And I don't plan on it.
She's too boy crazy.
I look at myself in the mirror, squishing the bit of fat on my stomach.
"Are you sure about this? I feel like I look fat. And ugly."
I frown.
"So ugly. Am I ugly?"
I've always struggled with my weight and eating, sometimes I binge eat and other days I eat nothing.
Anorexia was something I used to struggle with...and just looking at myself makes me feel bad.
"No, Daisy! You look great, okay?! You look awesome."
She hugs me tightly.
"You're beautiful."
I smile, hugging her tightly back.
"You're way more beautiful, Stellina. You're gorgeous. We both know that."
"So I'm pretty. But you are too. I promise you. Now come on!"
She takes my hand, dragging me out of the house and to her Mercedes.
We drive over to Teresa's house, and I immediately regret it.
I see people making out, vomiting, drinking, smoking, and almost die inside.
Eek.
"Stellina...I'm not sure about this..."
"You'll be fine."
She climbs out of the car, and I follow, following her down the road to the large mansion.
We walk inside, and we both see Ryler and his friends, which consist of Lukas, Jaron, Jade, Xenia, and Zane.
Stellina catches eyes with Ryler, and waves.
She runs over, dragging me by the arm across the room with her, causing me to stumble a lot in the colossal stilettos she put me in.
I catch eyes with Zane, who's grinning at me.
I blush, trying to fix my form so I don't look as ridiculous.
He winks at me, causing my eyes to widen and me to stumble again, before catching my fall on a table.
Jesus.
I see that he's laughing, and roll my eyes, flipping him off.
I continue ahead to Stellina, who as expected, ditched me for her boyfriend.
Typical.
I walk over to the rest of their friend group, who's drinking.
And smoking.
Isn't that illegal?
I look at all of them, waving.
"Hi!"
Xenia looks at me and smiles.
"Daisy, right?"
"Yeah. Wasn't aware that you even knew my name."
She laughs.
"Well of course I do silly."
I feel eyes on the back of my head, turning a little and seeing Lukas eying me hungrily almost.
I smile awkwardly, and turn back to Xenia and Zane, who's eying him strangely.
*****
After being convinced to start drinking with them, I got pretty drunk.
And when I say pretty drunk, I mean really drunk.
While on the dance floor, I hold out my hand.
"I don't feel too well...I'm going to go out back and get some fresh air."
Zane smiles.
"Would you like me to come with you?"
"No, no. I don't want to trouble you. Have fun with your friends, Zane."
I wave to him, stumbling my way across the dance floor and out the back door, standing outside in the nice cool air.
I hear someone clear their throat and see Lukas, standing a few feet away.
I smile at him, waving tiredly.
"Hey, Lukas."
"Hey, Daisy. Tired?"
"Very. I think something was in my drink, I feel weird."
"It was probably nothing."
He walks a little closer to me, and I back away.
"What're you doing?"
"You can't tell me you don't want this, Daisy. I've seen the way you look at me."
I frown, pushing away at his hands that are finding the curves of my waist.
"No! Stop!"
He pins me harshly against the wall with a nasty grin.
"Don't resist, girl. You'll like it, I promise."
"No! I said no!"
As he continues to do what he's doing, a surge of violence overcomes me, and I grab my pocket knife, slitting his wrist and watching as he staggers back, looking at me like I'm crazy.
I charge at him, stabbing him over and over again.
He yells out of pain but I don't stop, still stabbing him and slicing him.
"Daisy! I'm sorry! Stop!"
"How do you like it huh?! When no one listens to you?!"
I stab him again in his temple, watching as he goes silent.
I then look at what I've done, all the stab wounds all over his body.
The blood all over my hands.
I reel backwards, dropping the knife.
"No..."
I start shaking, sobbing hysterically on the ground.
I killed him. I—I—
I hear footsteps and don't move, just sobbing.
Someone runs over, their tall silhouette taking up my vision.
They kneel down next to me, and I become familiar with the comforting face of Zane.
"What happened?!"
He takes my shoulders, turning me left and right.
"Who hurt you?! Did someone hurt you?! Did someone even touch you?! Daisy, answer me!"
His hand touches something wet, and he frowns, pulling his hand up to the moonlight.
Red drips down his fingers, and he looks at me with great concern.
"Are you—bleeding?"
"No. No. I—I—I killed h-him—"
He looks down, and his eyes widen as police sirens are heard.
Someone called the police.
I'm going to jail.
I'm going to juvie.
I'm—
"Run. Hide."
I look at Zane as red and blue lights run across his face.
"It was me, okay? I killed him. Go. Run. I'll take the blame."
He stands up, pushing me behind a large wall.
"But—"
"No. I'll be fine."
He puts his finger over his lips, going back out.
I peak out, guilt weighing down on me like a rock.
I see the police run around the side of the home, pointing their guns at him.
"Hands in the air!"
Zane lifts his hands, and my eyes start to water as I see them secure handcuffs around his wrists.
No...
"Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to remain silent."
I see him tense up as they tighten the cuffs around his wrists.
When his eyes meet mine as he's dragged away towards the police car, his eyes are no longer filled with concern. Sympathy. Forgiveness.
But pure hatred.
My eyes widen and tears roll down my cheeks as he glares at me.
"This is all your fault. I'll kill you, Daisy. If it's the last thing I do."
*********
(ZANE'S POV)
My plan is certainly going to plan so far.
L-O-L.
This is all just too funny for me.
And she really thought she could escape me?!
For good?!
No, honey. I always win. And if not fairly, then unfairly. I'd say unfairly is death...that's what happens to most of them.
**********
(DAISY'S POV)
I wake up, my eyes scanning my surroundings, landing on the ropes tied around my wrists.
Was I kidnapped or what?
Wait a minute—
I look around a second time, my eyes now catching on him. I'll kill him.
"Zane. Let. Me. Go. Now."
"How. About. No."
He stalks closer to me, crouching down to my level.
His bright hair falls over his face, and it makes me look at him. Really look at him. Makes me realize why I—
"Well, Daisy. As you can see, you have yourself in quite the situation."
"Yes. Tied up and kidnapped by who I thought I knew."
"You have that right."
He ignores my snarl, standing up completely.
"I have a deal, an offer for you, little flower. You simply just have to agree with it. And agree with what I'm about to tell you."
"Seems easy enough. Once you let me go I'll feel your blood all over my hands. I'll fucking kill you, Booker."
"You see, that's where you're wrong, honey. If I untie you, you must promise me one thing."
"What is it, Zane? Get to the fucking point."
"Rude ass slut. You're going to promise me you won't slaughter me."
"Of course I won't, Zaney boy."
"Call me that again and I'll shove a knife up your—"
"Woah, woah, woah there, I was just kidding. No need for the graphics."
"I feel there is a need for you to completely understand, babe."
He bends down again, carefully and teasingly untying my restraints.
I stare into his honey eyes, at the small freckles dotting his cheeks, the piercings, the tattoos, the beautiful man underneath all he's worth.
He obviously notices me staring, pausing his work and looking down at me.
"Yes?"
I avert my gaze.
"Nothing."
He tilts my chin so I'm forced to look at him all wide eyed.
"When you give me that innocent look on your cute little face, Daisy, you really make me want to take that innocence away from you. Let you see what this world's really like. But why spoil it for you? You'll find out yourself."
I frown, pretty confused.
He lets go, continuing his doings.
"Zane?"
He looks up again, a bored expression on his face as he looks at mine.
"What?"
"Why did you leave?"
The nice facade is gone.
He looks me dead in the eye.
"You gave me no choice. It was either that, or death. It was all your fault, Daisy. I went to jail because of you. And you'll pay for it, with your life, motherfucker. You'll pay for every single little—"
He pauses, seeing the absolutely horrified look on my face.
"Why do you look so scared?"
"A-Are you going to k-kill me?!"
He blinks a few times, and the usual warm look comes back into view.
"Sorry for scaring you. It was another one of my episodes."
Lie.
He looks down at me, the corner of his lip lifting up in a sort of a half grin.
"I would never hurt you, Daisy. Ever."
Lie.
A liar.
Because he already did.
By leaving me behind in the first place.
**********
After a butt load of convincing, Zane finally untied me and let me out of that darn cell thing.
I'm now sitting on his bed, watching as he gets ready.
I'm sure he hates me...but at least he's nice enough to let me out of that hellhole.
My head hurts like hell from the darn drugs he injected me with.
Rude ass bastard.
"What's the deal, Zane? Or what do you want me to do?"
I'm laying flat on his bed, watching him as he pulls a clean shirt over his head.
"Well, Daisy, you're going to go on a robbery mission with me and everyone else."
"Robbery?! Who the hell are we robbing?"
"Easy. And we're doing it without the police because this person would simply give their stuff up just for you."
My face pales.
"We're robbing—"
"Kade Farquel, yes. We're also kidnapping two people."
"Kidnapping?! Have you gone insane?!"
"I am insane, and that's right, flower. Kidnapping. Now that you're with me that's a word you should get used to rolling off your tongue."
"But I can't—"
"You can, and you will, because if you don't I'm going to have to do something you won't like."
I shut my mouth.
"Good girl. I'll have you know we're kidnapping Petra Barker and Alyssa Barkwell. We need answers. And I also need you to do one thing for me, sweetheart."
I look at him as he sharpens knives.
"What?"
He glares at me.
"Try again. I would like a better answer."
I discreetly roll my eyes.
"Crazy ass bastard."
"What was that, flower? I'm afraid I didn't hear you right."
He gives me a wolf like grin, and my eyes are wide.
"Nothing—"
"Don't even think about lying to me, bitch. Lie one more time and I'll slit your throat and put your dead body on display. Learn how to talk to me, slutty brat. I won't take this from you, ever. Do that again and I'll kill you. You're lucky I didn't when I saw that innocent look on your face, my bloodlust makes me want to slaughter you, spread your blood all over my walls like red paint. You don't want that, do you, babe?"
He's straddling me within seconds, with one of those freshly sharpened knives pointing at my throat.
My chest heaves up and down with each ragged breath I take, and I see his eyes, watching it move up, then down with a small smirk.
"The things I could do to you, Daisy Saunders, making you breathe so heavily like that. What makes you breathe like this now? Does me straddling you like this turn you on? The knife to your throat? You dirty, dirty little Daisy."
My eyes meet his, widened with fear...or something else.
"Oh how I want to ruin you, Daisy Marie Saunders, I want to ruin you so there's simply nothing left for you. I want to rip that innocence, that fearful look off your face, let you see what I'm seeing."
He gives me a somewhat warm smile while still holding the knife dangerously close to my throat.
"Would you like that? Would you let me do that?"
Two questions I can't answer.
Even though I know desperately that I want to say yes. I'll always want to say yes to him.
Either one will lead to my demise, I'm sure of it.
But right now, there's only one choice that I couldn't rewind that will save my life just for this moment.
Save me from feeling that sharp point of the knife sink deep into my neck, taking my life away.
All I have to do...is simply say yes.
"I'll give you exactly twenty-four hours to answer that, baby. For now, we best move onto the more fun stuff."
"What?"
"The training. Then the killing. That's the best part, Daisy. You'll learn soon enough. You made the right choice, by the way."
He smirks at me as he approaches the bedroom door, slipping out of it.
"Now we simply have more time to have some real fun, babe. See you at training in ten. I'm excited to truly see how you've grown up, babe. Way more curvy then a fifteen year old."
I give him a concerning and disgusted look.
"Shut up. You're looking at me like I'm some sort of pedophile. I promise you, I may be a psychopath, and a killer, but I'd never lay a finger on a child. That's wrong even for me. Lucky that you're not a child anymore, Daisy. You're an adult. Which gives me permission to finally do what I've been waiting to."
"I—uhh—what is that?"
I blink a few times, and he simply just smirks.
"You'll see, babe, you'll see. And don't forget to dress hot just for me."
As he's shutting the door, he cracks it open again.
"One last thing, Daisy."
"Yes?"
"I'm loving the new look. Violet looks good on you. But, I'd suggest you dye it neon green."
He smiles.
"Then we'll be twinning."
********
(ZANE'S POV)
Knowing myself?
This isn't going to end out to be a training session.
Probably a make out session.
But either is great.
L-O-L.
I'm so hot.
And sick in the head.
Very sick in the head.
*********
(DAISY'S POV)
After changing into something better for this "training" session, I open his bedroom door and head out into the hallway.
Where the fuck even am I?
And why am I not worried that he basically kidnapped me?!
I'm demented.
Definitely.
And knowing good old Zane?
I'm pretty sure he isn't even doing a training session.
That dude is too unpredictable.
And too psychotic.
But weirdly...that's just what I like.
Unpredictable psychopaths.
*********