Chapter 5

• The truth
• Sighing….
• Watching the bugs and rodents crawl across the room. Damn pests have more freedom than I do, and yet I would give anything to just feel the sunlight hit my face for one more day. To feel the grass under my feet once again. Whether it is damp, dusty, or even had stickers or not. I would not care. Just being able to get the option to enjoy it again would be so nice.
• If only I would never take it for granted again.
• I hear footsteps coming as the door opens to the basement and the steps creak.
• Then the dreadful chuckle that haunts my nightmares since the day I arrived here.
• “There’s my pretty girl.
• How are we doing today, my dear Storm?”
• I do not even bother answering because I know who it is. Truth is, it is a rhetorical question. Daniel just enjoys hearing his own voice.
• “Not going to talk to me today?”
• Staring up at him like he is crazy, I wait for his next question to come.
• “Are we ready to give up the information I seek today?” And there it is!
• Now, I know you want to know what the hell is Daniel talking about! Well, I will tell you because I was the same way when he kept torturing me for information that I had no clue about. See my parent’s sells guns to lenders around the world. Crazy, right? Who would have thought it? I would not have guessed it, but here we are.
• Anyway, the government uses them often when our troops are in need. Especially monitoring firearms and ammunition distribution across the globe. My father not only is the Top-of-the-line manufacture of their brand but each year corporations around the world try to steal their innovative designs, so security has been tripling. I know dad is producing something significant because Daniel is very adamant about where Dad does his drops. Besides the firearms, he dabbles in blades and clothing lines because of my mother and her team.
• I knew my parents were something special, but man was I surprised to find out that they were totally bad asses.
• Now, to top it off, I also discovered that my father does transactions with gangs, the mafia... The works…You would think because he did this, the government would put him behind bars! Wrong, my father has them in his back pocket. Like I said, he works for the government producing the weapons that they require, but if he ever stops, they will not have what they desire and by understanding, no other company can give them these weapons.
• So, they must overlook what my father is doing to keep them secure with weapons. I know Dad reviews all his production for the underground world, so he protects himself from each sale he makes. He keeps records on each transaction and only sells certain items on the streets.
• For example, he does not sell grenades, bombs, rocket launchers to the streets, but he will sell it to the government. Daniel craves to change that if he ever can get to direct Dad’s drops. I am glad that dad never told me anything because I was too young to know about it.
• Years ago, Michael, who is Daniels’s older brother, decides he wanted to make a side deal with my father. Everything was going well until Michael wanted to renegotiate terms. Dad would not have it. A deal was a deal. Nothing could change it unless dad said otherwise. All transactions that were carried out had terms, and they were final.
• Dad told Michael to take it or leave it, but again Michael was not happy, so in the end Michael pulled a gun on my father. Let us just say Dad walked out. Michael never did. “Well, they walked him out, but in a body bag.”
• A war begun.
• Since then, Daniel has been on a revenge run. Anytime he would see any of our guys, he would try to take them down. There have been countless attacks. Shoot outs, knife fights, hand to hand combats. People went to jail over the years. While many fled the city. Everyone has lost so much from both sides, but still Daniel will never back off on his vengeance.
• So, all those questions have answers, and it made me understand the ordeal between the families. You would figure because I know everything now, that it would make me bitter, but I am not. I just want out; I just wish for my freedom back.
• Hell, just end it all if it will stop all the pain that I must endure every day.
• Without warning, I felt a slap to my face.
• Snapping out of my dazed state, which seems to happen regularly the longer I am here. I would rather fixate on anything else than give my attention to the monster in front of me, but he does not give me the option.
• Daniel jerks me up to my feet, causing a yelp to escape my lungs. I try to support myself but stumble as he drags me to the torture chair in the light of hell. The light shines straight in my eyes, making it feel like I looked straight into the sun for hours. It feels like my eyes are sun burned but what can I do? All I can do is deal with whatever is coming my way. Eyes cannot seem to produce water as they are drying out. Irritation is setting in, but I cannot wipe them.
• Daniel wraps my arms behind my back with a determination, causing him to not pay attention to how tight he was wrapping them around my wrist and ankles. With that in mind, I could feel the rough edges of the ropes digging into the skin, causing rope burn like you would if you were on a carpet before. With my ankles also bond, I was stuck to the chair to where I was at his mercy. All I could do was bow my head and wait for the inevitable.
• “So, why don’t we try something new today?”
• “What do you think about that Storm?”
• Shaking my head, does he want my honest opinion because if so “GO TO HELL” would be what struck his ears? Though I know he is not looking for that answer, so I just bite my tongue as I feel the last tug on the ropes.
• Peering up, I feel his fingertips slide up the back of my neck, causing me to quiver. He detected my discomfort because his dark chuckle bounced off the basement walls as greeting my already resentful ears. He made his way around me, but still drag his finger as he came into my line of sight.
• As our eyes met, I welcomed his black as midnight stare, which always pulled me in with his darkness. I always felt trapped in the depth of his eyes searching, questioning, or just waiting for the unexpected. Growing up, everyone always said you could tell so much by someone’s eyes; I believe it because at this point Daniel’s eyes show complete darkness. Blackness that is just waiting to gobble anybody who dares. He continued to look at me, awaiting my answers. All I could do was stay lost in the bottomless pit of hell.
• Lifting my eyebrow, he plastered a wicked smirk on his face, causing a shiver to make its way up my spine. Daniel walks off in the shadows of the basement and for a split second I thought he changed his mind about this torture, but I got too far ahead of myself.
• He returns with a wrapped-up ring. I was so at a loss as I watched as he took the last few steps to get back to me. Daniel, as always, liked his games, so one is a mind game, causing my mind to freak out on its own, as he took the ring, swapping it from hand to hand. Heart felt like a drummer beating faster as the moments ticked by. I had no clue to what was about to take place so all I could do was stay bond, wait and try not to pass out.
• When he determines enough with the silences, Daniel takes the cover off, and what was before me causes my eyes to develop a fearful tear. It made me stare back at him in complete terror. Tremors are taking control of my body, but I cannot get a handle on my nerves.
• Silver barbed wire showed in his hands. One of the frightful thoughts is the wire is not new and carries rust all over it. I know that if he sticks it on me and it mixes with my blood, it could do some severe harm to my body if left untreated.
• “So, Storm, where does your father do his drops?”
• DROP’S? What drops is he ranting on about now? I ask myself.
• “I do not know Daniel…”
• Sighing… He walks closer.
• “Storm, where does your father do his drops?”
• “I told you I do not know, and I will keep telling you that. I DON’T KNOW. Better yet, Daniel, why don’t you tell me what drops you want, and it will click,” I fire back.
• A snort made his way out of Marcus as it come apparent that Daniel did not just have the typical minions with him today but Marcus his nephew. I see Daniel is showing Marcus the family tricks, torture techniques.
• Who knows?
• I just know that I will never have the answer Daniel is looking for, regardless of if I have the answer or not. I look over in Marcus’s direction and see his pearly whites shine in the shadow of this cave they call my home.
• Daniel did not find my comment near as funny as Marcus did, but I always thought he had a stick up his royal ass.
• He looked at me and then beamed at the barbed wire. I swallowed down my salvia.
• “Now, I know you know something, Storm. You have two choices. You either tell me the uncomplicated way, or we can do it the hard way.”
• “No, Daniel please do not,” he pauses.
• “Do you have anything to tell me?”
• I shake my head and state, “I do not know where my father does his drops Daniel.” He unrolls it and makes his way to me.
• “Please Daniel, you do not have to do this, please stop…
• You must believe me; I do not know anything.
• Please, have you not done enough to me?
• Have I not suffered enough?
• When will you let me go home?”
• He hesitated again.
• Staring with such motivation to concur, I saw something flash in his dark eyes.
• Was that guilt, lust, pity?
• What was that? I ask to myself.
• He shakes his head and leans down to where I could see the tiny specks in his eyes. So, they are not just black, or is that deep brown? Give me strength to get through everything. All I could do was close my eyes and do a silent prayer.
• “NO, you will never suffer enough, my dear Storm.”
• With that, Daniel wraps the barbed wire around my ankles as I try my hardiest not to shriek as the wire digs into my skin. I feel the blood crawl down my ankle, making its way down my heel to my toes. I could not contain my scream any long as the wire kept digging into my skin.
• Tears were tumbling from the edges of my eyes, but it did not stop him. It did not faze him. When he felt like he had enough, I hear a clamping noise behind me and then watch as Daniel makes his way around me, laying the wire down on the nearby table and grabs a towel to wipe his hands.
• I felt nauseous and weak, but I could do nothing.
• Turning back in my direction, Daniel speaks.
• “Storm, where does your dad make his drops?”
• “I do not know.”
• Throwing the towel down, he clutches my head, forcing me to look at him, causing me to gasp.
• “I am tired of these games, Storm!!!”
• I spit in his face, causing him to release my hair. “So, am I…”
• He wipes his cheek with the back of his hand and laughs. Daniel leans in to where I can now see the complete darkness in his eyes. I thought there I would still see those specks of color in it to break off the black hole of his heart, but nope, complete and utter soul stealing darkness. You know “Storm; I know how broken you are and with no one that cares about you; you have nothing left to lose, right?”
• Ding… Ding… Ding, please give this man a medal. No Shit Sherlock!!! I know I have family and friends that care, but it is pointless to argue that with him. Also, I agree I don’t have nothing left to lose now, so why not make him angry? After years of torture might as well continue to keep a little of myself even though deep down, I just want him to end this so I can be free from this misery.
• His breath is coming out steady as he takes my features in, like he is searching for something significant. I stare back at him; except I was not studying. I am glaring at him. Man, I detest this man. Growing up, my elders encouraged me to never hate someone but as I grew up in this four-wall cell and got to know me, myself, and I; you understand just how you can loathe the one that could do something like this. If I get the chance to do something before I die, I will look forward to giving him a taste of his on medicine. Man, will it be the day?
• Sighing… I noticed I had dazed out again… oops,
• “You still have fight left and I can respect that Storm, but as he leans in, I can now feel not only his breath on my ear, but his whiskers are tickling my earlobe as he whispers his last words; before I give you what you have been pleading for, which will be a slow, painful death, I WILL BREAK THAT FIGHT TOO. That will be a promise.”
• With those absolute words, he stands and turns away. I thought all was going good until out of nowhere came the sound like lightning striking, then the, of course, stinging sensation of the force where he back handed me on my right cheek. As time ticked, the more pain sits into my face. I should not be stunned by his abuse, but once again, he throws me off guard. It also should not surprise me by the force of his hit if he separated a bone from my jaw. It has been easy to break anything on me lately.
• This will not happen again. Next time I will prepare myself for the inevitable. I cannot protect myself physically, but I can protect myself mentally and emotionally the best I know how.
• “One last time Storm, Where???”
• “Where’s what Daniel?”
• “Where is the damn site of the gun drops, Storm?”
• “I DO NOT KNOW. When will you tune in? I will not know whether you give me extra minutes from now, more hours, enough days, weeks, months… Daniel. Get it through your head. I DO NOT KNOW.”
• “THEN SO BE IT,” with that I can hear the dissatisfaction in his voice and know what is coming will not turn out well for me.
• He shuffles behind me and wraps the barbed wire around my hands, and I cannot help but let out whimpers as it delves deeper as he draws it up my arms. I feel how tight he is pulling the wire on my arms and with each wrap he places, the deeper it digs into my already shattered skin. Once done, he throws the remaining against the wall and wipes his hands with determination. Like my blood is the most outrageous thing that could be on him.
• “Marcus, let me know when it has been two hours!”
• “Two hours boss? She will bleed out!!!” I hear a thundering pop resound from the base of the stairs.
• “Do not challenge me again, you got it?”
• “Yes, boss. Good, now stay at your post and notify me when the time is up.”
• “Will do.”
• I listened as I heard Daniel’s footsteps move up the staircase. Once I heard the door slam shut, I took in a deep breath while I study the position I was in. The chills slither through my skin like death is caressing me, mumbling my name, but I keep struggling to fight the urge to give in.
• It is a fight I experience all too well, but even if I give in, I would always awaken, improved and be ready for another round of misery. I know one day they will not be fast enough and when I give in to the chills, I will be forever free.
• If only that day could be today!!!