Ten: back in my dungeon

Temperance

Thoughts of my disgusting body storm in my head.

Why did I let him know what happened to me? He thinks I'm disgusting. Fuck. Fuck. I'm so disgusting.

Its clear to me now that I have to leave. I'll never be safe from my father. No matter where I am.

I tried to blind myself but this assault brought me back to my senses. I'll never be safe, and there's no use burdening Alec.

I grab a paper and pencil and start writing.

I know you find me gross now. Don't worry. I find myself gross too. I will get out of your hair now. And I will go home. I will see you at school if you decide to come. I know you are busy with gang stuff.
Xoxo Temperance

I place the note on his nightstand, folding it up neatly. I know people will start looking for me soon, so I have to get out of here quickly.

I have nothing to take back with me, so I leave with the clothes on my back and the prescribed pills.

I ignore the pain and sneak my way out of the house and down the driveway.

I can't stay here anymore. I know I have to go home even if I don't want to.

It is dark all around me. It's probably ten at night or so. I don't know, I didn't check any clocks while I was inside.

I slowly walk down the road, avoiding being hit by cars.

I am scared—more than scared. I am terrified of what I was going to face at home.

I've only run away one other time. Then I ended up in the hospital when I came back.

I was only gone for two days, sleeping on park benches until a squirrel tried to kill me.

When I returned home my father beat me so bad I thought I was going to die.

The doctors questioned me for hours. I had to blame it on bullies like always.

If I'm lucky, maybe a car will run me over. Then I won't have to live in this shit world anymore.

I am tired. I hurt where no girl is supposed to hurt like that. It is burning as I walk. I try my best not to let it bother me. But I still have a limp when I walk.

I look at the door that will lead me into my house. My stomach is in knots. My anxiety level is at a thousand. I feel like I'm going to throw up.

I open the door, almost dropping to my knees as I see my father calmly watching tv.

His eyes catch me and he stands to his feet.

Maybe I should just turn around now? Run for my life?

Before I can make my decision his fist connects with my face, causing me to stumble backward into the wall.

"You stupid fucking bitch!" He kicks me in my stomach.

I know this isn't good for my internal bleeding but who would care if I died right?

He continues to kick me. Then he picks me up by the neck and holds me against the wall so high that my feet can't touch the ground.

I try to pry his hands off of my neck. My chest aches from not be able to breath. I swing my legs, trying to kick him.

"Think you could just leave without punishment?!" He squeezes tighter before he suddenly lets go, letting me fall to the ground.

He kicks me, sending waves of shock through my body.

"You're lucky I even came back!" Blood runs down my chin as I glare at him.

"It would be better if you were dead. You're a worthless curse!" He smacks me, my head swings to the side from the force.

He looks at me with disgust, scoffing at my worthlessness.

I lay still for a moment, watching him turn around and go into his room. He slams the door behind him.

I stand, my legs wobbling as I sneak into the kitchen. I plop two pills into my mouth and wash them down with faucet water.

Ignoring the pain I have radiating through my body, I climb my way up the stairs.

Yeah, this is my normal.

**************************************************************************

Alec

I kick open the door to find the man that hurt Temperance lying on the couch.

He looks at us, pausing the tv. He smirks as if seeing men burst into his house with guns is amusing.

"Here because I had sex with your girl?" He laughs, I can tell he's reminiscing on the act as he lays.

"You raped her." I correct him.

"Ah yes. She was really tight too." He tells me, taunting me.

My face scrunches in disgust. I want to kill him. I should torture and him right now.

Zander grabs him by the arm and flings him onto the ground in front of me.

"Why would you do that to her?!" I put the gun to his head, stealing the words from Zander.

"Her father owed me money. What better way to get my payment?" This man is completely disgusting.

I knee him in the chin, knocking him backwards with his chin busted open.

"I doubt she will last long anyways." He tells me, laying his head on the ground, his face still full with peace.

Zander looks down at him, "What do you mean?" He asks for me.

He laughs instead of answering.

I kneel in front of him with tears stinging my eyes.

I look into the eyes of the man that raped the girl I've been taking care of for the past few days.

"What do you mean?" I repeat Zanders question.

"If she has too much pain inflicted on her, the internal bleeding will take its course, and she will bleed out." He answers with a smile. "Meaning she needs to rest. No more physical damage." He adds as if he thinks she will get severely hurt again.

I stand silently and look at my men. I know they will protect her.

"How broken does she look now?" I know he is saying things to get to me. And I hate to say it but it's working. He's making my blood boil.

I point my already cocked gun back at his head. A shot rings throughout the house as I shoot him right in between the eyes.

I feel my phone buzz in my back pocket. I take it out—a call from Rea.

"Hello?" I speak into the phone. She takes a minute before responding. "She's missing..."

"Who's missing?" I ask her rolling my eyes.

"Temperance." Rea sighs.

"Boss, let's go. We can't be here when the police get here." Connor takes me by the arm and leads me out.

"What do you mean she's gone?!" My voice straining as I get into the car. "I mean, she's GONE." Rea slightly raises her voice. I pull out of the driveway, still on the phone.

"Did you check my room?" I ask her. "Yes. There's a little note she left for you."

Why would she write a note? Why would she leave? Does she have to do something? Did I somehow make her feel unwanted?

"Did you read it?" I ask her.

"No. I wanted you to. It's none of my business. I hope she is alright, sir."

"Me too. Go find whoever is in the security room right now. They may have seem her on the cameras."

"And then what?" She asks. I hate when people ask dumb questions like this.

"Get whoever you find to look at the cameras for when she left. Then get them on the computers to hack the cities cameras. If she was headed home, we still need to make sure she is safe."

I hang up the phone.

"Is everything ok, boss?" Justin asks. I shake my head, my mind full of aggravation.

"What happened?" Connor asks before Zander had the chance to. I look at him in the rearview mirror. "She left."

"She left?"

"She left the house. I’m not sure if she’s coming back."

Where could she have gone? Aside from home. But if she were there, then there would be no need to go to get her. After all, that is her home.

I shake my head, thoughts whirling around faster than I can process.

If she didn't want to be here, then I can't do anything about it. She can go wherever she wants.

I try to believe I don't care. I really try. But sometimes it doesn't work like that.