Chapter Twelve: Haunting Memories 

Avery’s POV

Emptiness. Void. Emptiness.

Standing by my window, I peep through the blinds a million times. Still, there's not a single sign of Thane.

The compound is as quiet as he left it, and it's over twelve hours and he's not back, not even his shadow.

I have food and water and every little thing I could possibly ask for, but none seem to just make up for someone’s presence. I guess nothing can compare to someone’s presence, and I'm not one to only settle for vanity.

Slowly walking to my bed, I pick up my phone that's lying carelessly on the bed. I'm bored to my bones and it's sad that I can't do a single thing about it.

Going through my call logs, I dial Piper’s line. As usual, it rings, but she doesn't answer it or return any of them, and with time, it reads off to voicemail.

“Are you okay?” I record a voice message. “Please, call me back as soon as you get this…”

“Are you in danger?” I record yet another voice message. “Please, can you say something, you're getting me worried sick.” I plead.

Going crazy, I heave a loud sigh, looking around and hating everything in split seconds. What if Piper isn't safe? And I'm here, in the four walls of Thane’s mansion, eating the way I like and breathing in fresh air.

One thing is undeniable, I know that when karma comes for me, I will be as vulnerable as the others, but I wish that Piper has the same comfort and security, even if it's just a little.

“Piper… What's the matter with you?” I voice out my thoughts, tapping my phone’s screen with the tip of my short fingernails.

I hurl it to the side, frustrated about everything. The noise downstairs makes me rush up to the window again and peep through the blinds.

It's Thane.

Finally, he's back from work. I know he's a pain in the ass, but I can't totally discard him, besides, I'll be needing his favor from time to time.

He gets down, and stern-faced as ever, walks past the lot and into the building. Rufus follows directly after him, helping with his briefcase and a few things in hand.

Closing the blind, I step out of my room and just linger by the door. His room is upstairs, the third floor precisely, so when he's heading towards it, he will see me, and maybe come to me to scold me as usual.

“Have this too… coffee?... Yeah, coffee is fine.”

I hear their soft murmur as they get closer. Taking a few steps forward, I wait patiently to be seen.

“No milk or sugar, hot and…”

Thane stops giving Rufus a directive when he sees me by my door, to be honest, a few steps away from it. Golden rule; I should never step out of it, so I'm more in the danger zone.

“Take them upstairs, and do as I've ordered.” He leaves Rufus and takes my direction. Subconsciously, his hands play with the buttons of his suit, as he flexes his hard muscles and closes the distance between us.

“Avery.”

He says my name for the first time.

Although tiredness is etched in his voice, I find it sexy and deep, regardless. I watch his forehead furrow, as his eyebrows knit and meet in the middle.

“What is it?” He completes his sentence, gently rubbing the pads of his fingers against his forehead.

“You took longer than usual,” I say, not finding the right words.

He scoffs and laughs wryly.

“What are you now, my wife?”

“No!” I catch myself right on time. “Of course not.” this time, it comes as a whisper, with me murmuring under my breath.

“Okay?”

My lips open at their own accord, but nothing seems to come out of my mouth. I didn't intentionally wait up for him.

“Maybe I should elaborate on the terms and conditions of our contract,” he pulls closer, causing me to draw backward. “On no account, should you poke your nasty nose in my affairs.”

His harsh words make me touch the bridge of my nose, subconsciously. Right now, his opinion about it doesn't matter.

“Avery, you seem to have a knack for breaking rules… I'm beginning to get frustrated…”

“I was wondering if Piper can come over.” I hastily add, dancing on my toes restlessly, and playing with my fingers.

“What?”

His face goes from angry to mad, like the extreme on the spectrum.

“It's boring being alone and…”

“Watch series on the TV, are you a child in need of breastmilk?”

Actually, I don't mind. But aside from the company, I want to be sure she's fine.

“I really want to see her, please, can I, just once…”

“Damn, Avery.” He exhales deeply, covering his face for a minute. “Call her.”

“She isn't responding…”

“Then she doesn't want you, freaking move on!”

Okay, this is the limit. I step back like he's about to go wild.

“Go back to your room and don't make me repeat myself.”

“I'm…”

“Don't,” he stops me from reciting my favorite line. “Just do as you're instructed, not act stupid one minute and become repented the next.”

His order is direct, so I just take a U-turn and return to my room.

It's obvious that Piper is not okay. My heartbeat spikes, and I try my best not to overthink things, but not talking to her for almost twenty-four hours straight, is weird.

Desperate to find a solution, I pick up my phone and sneak out. The hallway is clear. Rufus should be downstairs already, I should try her line with his phone.

Slowly, I take each step, descending down the stairs. One more step, and I go rigid, grabbing the banister for support.

Thane is downstairs?

What is he doing here? I thought he went back to his room.

All of my worries are not relevant right now, because all I need to do is flee for my life.

“The only reason I'm not going wild on you is because of my child.”

He says without sparing me a glance like he scents my presence from afar.

“One more time, I dare you to defy my order.”

Should I? Should I not?

What's the worst that can happen? I analyze the whole situation, still on the spot be noticed me. Deciding to give it another shot, I turn and pause, thinking my words through.

I clutch my phone in my hands, not moving an inch. This is Piper I'm talking about, I will never forgive myself if she gets hurt for my sake.

When he notices that I still persist on my spot, he stops focusing on the screen of his laptop. He slightly tilts to the side, demanding that I start speaking without further delay.

“I only need to make…”

“Go! Now!”

He drives his fist on the table, sending chills down my spine. Startled, I run upstairs like a spanked toddler.

Once in my room, I slam the door hard and run into bed. I don't know why his words make me feel the way I do, but I'm so hurt and it feels like my heart is unable to pump blood anymore.

He treats me like a child and acts so inhumanely. Despite him not physically assaulting me, I feel violated. And no matter how much I try to get used to his demeaning behavior, it still hurts, every damn time.

“I hate you!”

I scream and kick my feet against the thick folds of the duvet. One hundred and seventy-eight days left. I can't wait to be out of his hair.

Argh!

Throwing the thick sheet over my face, I sob silently, partly for the maltreatment, and partly because I'm worried as hell about Piper.

Slowly, I plunge into sleep, my eyelids flickering nonstop as I battle with nature and try not to sleep. Just maybe when I'm sure that he's gone, I will go back and sort for Rufus. Besides, I doubt that he will sleep on the couch.

All I need to do is wait it out. For Piper, I'll risk it all.

Nonstop, my lids keep blinking, as I slowly plunge into the endless and deceitful depths of sleep.

I don't know how much time I'm immersed in my world, but I can tell that I'm uncomfortable as fathomable.

My limbs are weak as I turn restlessly. Thick sweat drips from each pore, rinsing my face and soaking the bed linen.

Left and right, I turn in quick succession, my nightmare pulling me deeper into its abyss. Seconds tick, with my pillow getting soaked, and my pajamas, also in similar condition.

Orion.

No matter how much I try to stay positive, he haunts me and I doubt that I will ever be able to get past this stage.

“No!”

I shoot upward, panicking like a scared crow.

It's Orion, and he's coming for me. This time, he's indestructible.