Flashbacks novel Chapter 12

“No one will believe you. We all know you asked for this. If you walk out with such slutty clothes, what do you think men will think? Such a shame they’ll never get to touch you like how I do. You belong to me. Don’t you ever forget that.”

“Elle?” I heard a voice say. My heart stops. It’s him. He came to get me again. This time, I wouldn’t be able to run. I couldn’t move my legs. Why won’t my legs move? I need help. Why isn’t anyone helping me?

I drop onto the floor and begin crawling away. I couldn’t breathe. He grabbed me, though, and pulled me close to him.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here now,” he softly whispered, touching my hair.

“Please,” I begged. “Please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry.”

“I won’t hurt you. You’ll be okay,” he said.

I couldn’t look away from his eyes. He looked so different. He looked happy now that he finally found me - I can’t do this. I have to get away.

“Calm down,” he said as I began moving a bit. “You’re safe here. I’m not going to hurt you.”

I didn’t believe a word he said. When I finally built up the courage, I punched him straight in the face. He quickly held his nose as blood began leaking out.

“Noah, go after her,” he said. “She’s gonna get hurt.”

My heart fell to the ground. This whole time, he was playing me. I thought he cared, but he didn’t. He never did. He was just acting to try and get me close to him. I hate him. I hate everyone.

But…things aren’t adding up. What happened to my dad? Where is he? Dominic and Norma are out with their friends, so they should be safe. But what about Celeste? I have to call the police when I get somewhere safe. I can’t do anything while I’m in danger.

I was so close to the door when I felt someone grab me. I screamed, yelled, and kicked. I fought with everything in my body but I couldn’t overpower him.

“Noah, please. Let me go. Don’t bring me back to him,” I pleaded.

“Don’t worry, Elle. You’re safe.”

“You work for him. You have no fucking idea how much pain he caused me. He raped me, Noah. Please,” I begged over and over again. At this point, I was crying hysterically. I couldn’t breathe properly. “I thought you were different. I told you -” I couldn’t finish what I was saying as sobs overtook my words.

He brought me upstairs to my room and laid me on the bed. He looked conflicted. And he should be. He betrayed me. The door opened and my dad walked into the room. Is he working with him, too? This was the whole plan, wasn’t it? He didn’t actually want to get to know his now 20-year-old daughter.

I looked at Noah with pleading eyes. He held my gaze for a moment before looking.

“Dad, please let me go. You said you wanted us to have a father and daughter relationship…How can you possibly work with him knowing what he did?” I asked, about to cry for what felt like the millionth time.

“Sweetie, what are you talking about? You’re safe, don’t worry.”

I felt my heart stop again. I began screaming and begging them to let me go, but they didn’t let me. They just stood there and wouldn’t let me leave the room. Then, when my dad touched me, I passed out due to being too overwhelmed by emotion.