Chapter Seventeen

Sophia

''I know this isn't much and it's probably not going to be much inside either but—''

Dimitri is cut off by me cupping onto his face before immediately kissing him, causing him to kiss me back with the same rhythm. As soon as I lean back, ''—you're an idiot if you think this isn't enough for me. In fact, this house could be smaller.''

My eyes wander back to the cozy looking house. From outside and from anybody's point of view, it would seem that a regular family lives there with literally regular day jobs; not some CEO or boss of the year. The surrounding looks normal as well, something basic and not out of a movie where everything is perfect . . . not how Dimitri had been living before it all fell apart. I'd say, it's the exact life I wanted and have always dreamt of. Not the fairytale beauty.

''You like it?'' He smiles, gazing down at my lips.

''You crazy? I love it!'' I exclaim, excitingly.

''God, you're so perfect.''

I'd say that was the beginning of how we started living our regular lives. I ended up getting a job at the diner and it's not as pretty as back in New York but it was the kind of job I depended on when I was in Tennessee. Now, that we're living in a small town as well, it's like how I was living but now with a complete different person. As for Dimitri, he's actually good at building things and making things new out of sketches. The neighbourhood was impressed by how talented he is at making furnitures, it's how he earns a living.

We appear like the normal couple to everyone else. Apparently, this town is filled with religious people going to church every Sunday and in order to fit in just like everybody else instead of being the talk of the town, we ended up joining their weekly preaches. Now, I've learned more about God and how there is always a good side in life no matter how challenging it might be, I've come to accept that life is a challenge. Challenges are a blessing, a gift from God to always remind us of how small we are and how we must always return to Him.

Well, Brody tried fitting in as well. It's pretty good how fast he had made new friends and it was only a matter of days. Now, he has two friends to hang out with after school and in fact, they're pretty good kids. From as far as I can tell, they're intelligent. They'd do homework together after school and it has been a routine since then. Brody hasn't bothered complaining about the fact that we're in a different place either, he had been trying to enjoy this whole different scenery and it worked. He seems far more relaxed.

It has been a month since we moved and it wasn't always easy. It has its own ups and downs but we manage to overcome it. As much as I hate to say this, Dimitri has been stressed out lately because of money. We're lacking it and he's trying to get used to all the changes and all the normal living but he's mostly stressed out about not being able to sleep well at night, knowing the fact that this 'creeper' or 'lunatic' is out there, probably hunting him down. Hunting us down.

Even though I've spent my time trying my best to comfort him, he'd give me the silent treatment.

Just like he is doing now.

''You can't keep on doing this to me. You can't keep on shutting me out,'' I say, continuing to trail behind him as he runs his fingers through his hair—clenching his jaw in frustration. Deep down, I'm still surprised by how he can keep up with all of this. If I were him, I'd even beat the crap out of someone and even trash the whole house in frustration but all he ever did was clench his jaw or slammed the door. Again, deep down, I don't think I deserve this beautiful man in front of me. He's far too perfect.

''What do you want me to do? Huh, what do you want me to say? I'm on the edge here, Sophia.'' He turns to look at me, eyes piercing through my own as if glaring at my soul. ''I'm trying to fix my life here. I'm trying to fix our lives,''

''Why can't we just be content? Why can't we?'' I breathe out, sighing.

His eyes gaze away, ''You don't understand, do you? Do you think just because we moved and changed our names, got rid of our old identities, we'd be safe? We're not safe. We're not fucking safe until we find the person who did this to me. Who did this to us,''

''We'll find him, for god's sake! We're trying our best, Dimitri.''

''What are we doing? What are we even doing?'' He slams his fist on the kitchen counter which causes me to flinch but keep my calm, knowing how he needs to be comfort and not being more stressed out but I can't help it. I can't help it that he won't tell me his problems, that he won't let me in. ''I'm trying my best to make you happy. I'm trying my best to make us happy—so, that we can be a family. Not just three people living in this house trying to get through the day,'' He adds.

''Then, stop. Stop thinking about him,'' I lean forward to grab his arm but he pulls away, making me take a few steps back.

''Why can't you understand?''

''How can I understand if you're not letting me in? How can I when you shut yourself out in the garage and come out days later? How can I know what you're thinking if you won't—''

He cuts me off, ''—you know what? I can't take this.''

My eyes follow him as he grabs the car keys before heading towards the front door which causes me to immediately run after him, ignoring any stares I'm getting from our neighbours. Just as he's about to enter the car, ''Where are you going? Where do you think you're going, Dimitri? You're not going to walk away,'' I try to grab his arm but it appears, he's too strong for me. He pulls away just as easy, causing me to stumble. The look of regret appears in his eyes but he pushes it away by starting the engine, ''Don't do this to me. Talk to me,''

''I just need some space. I deserve that,'' He replies, pushing the gas pedal as the car speeds down the road, leaving me to stare onto the empty space where it was parked.

To say I'm hurt, it doesn't feel that much. Maybe, I was pushing him too hard but it felt like I've been holding everything in for a long time and it was finally an urge to let it all out.

Minutes have passed. Hours even but there's no absolute sign of Dimitri returning, even after Brody got back from school. He did ask for his dad but I had to lie, there was no other choice than to tell him that Dimitri had work to do in the city. As painful as it was to lie to an innocent soul, it was the safest option. Now, the sun has set and the sky's getting darker but Dimitri seems to be nowhere in sight, making me worry about him and his whereabouts.

It's like everything seems to be moving slow as well.

I've been sitting and staring at my own hands for the past eight hours until it feels like my back is going to break. However, no sign of Dimitri. It's starting to hurt me more than just a little but I keep on saying to myself that he'll be back and he'll be smiling, he'll be wrapping me around his arms and I'd apologise. It'll all work out at the end, I just need to be a little patient and wait for him a little bit more. Don't give up.

Just as I stand up to walk towards the kitchen, I hear someone knock on the door—instantly making me know, it's Dimitri out the front door. He left in such a hurry and in such anger, he must've forgotten to take the keys and I had locked the door for safety reasons. It's how it has always been ever since we moved, we lived with precautions. Always worrying about the worse.

''Coming!'' I say, wanting him to know I have been waiting.

I push the door open and my smile drops immediately to find two men standing instead of Dimitri. My eyes widen at the sight of their clothes, seeing them dressed up in black with their faces covered up by their masks. So, it doesn't take me long to close the door but to only being pushed further inside with the other man shutting the door behind us, making me stumble onto the ground at his push—instantly causing me to look around, wanting to make sure Brody is nowhere in sight.

''Please, don't hurt me.'' I beg, sounding like a whimper.

''Where is he?'' The other man asks.

''I—I don't understand.''

The other man starts to grab me by the arm before pushing me roughly against the wall, making me scream in pain but his grip on my neck continues to tighten—as if he's trying to kill off an animal. A beast. My heart begins to beat fast in panic as everything within me feels like in pain. His other hand runs down to my thigh, lifting up my dress which causes me to shake my head in fear as the tears continue to escape, streaming down my cheeks like a rainfall. ''Please, don't. Don't hurt me,''

''Where the hell is he? Tell me,'' He leans closer, his hand continuing to lift my dress up until he finds his desire place.

''She seems precious to play with,'' The other man says from behind.

''It'd be fun to,''

I feel my knees weaken at the thought of them roughly hurting me, knowing how it all felt when it first happened. It has been awhile since I had my anxiety attack but it's all changing at the thought of them ever doing that to me; knowing they're monsters, they have no fear and they have no moral. Even with the strength of my hands pushing them away, the man in front of me is much more capable of gripping me back and the pain he causes me to feel is only making me struggle.

''No, no, no. Please, don't.'' I scream, kicking my legs out and pushing my hands but he only pushes me harder against the wall.

''Shut the fuck up or I'll kill you,'' He groans, grabbing my waist before picking me up and throwing me onto the couch—causing me to lean further away from them, eyes wandering around to find Brody but it appears as if I'm the only one in the house.

The previous man grabs me by the hand to roughly place them behind my back as the other man begins to rub his fingers on my spot. My legs begin to kick out all over the place as my scream fills the house but they only continue to hurt me more, slapping me, punching me and even throws me away like a rag doll. With my body growing weaker, the pain grows intense as soon as I feel something insert inside me, a rough and hard force which causes me to scream.

''Fuck, yeah. Just like that,'' The man moans from behind me as I struggle, groaning in pain.

It feels like hours when it has only been minutes but the two of them manage to take their time, exchanging me like a toy. When the first one is done, the other would replace and it feels as if my body is burning and raging with disgust. Their movement is only causing me pain in a whole lot different ways, a pain I one felt but worse as they torture me—kicking me.

The sound of their moans were loud and clear while I kept quiet, biting the inside of my cheeks in order to silent myself. It was until they were done with me, they had already pushed me down against the wall and I have never felt dirty in my life. The sight of them was disgusting and it was even more disgusting just laying on the ground, not being able to do or say anything. ''Now, we know you're such a good fuck. We want to know if you're good to kick as well,''

It starts off with them kicking me by the rib, letting me scream but it ends up with me laying almost lifeless on the ground with their hands punching me and hurting me. It's as if my life is ending and I have no way to end it but to only give in.

''Let's go. This will let him know,'' I hear a voice say as I close my eyes, feeling my body ache in pain.

Every single spot feels like they're burning.

The sound of them walking out of the door and slamming the door shut is clear, making me try to stand up but the pain on my lower body continues to merge with the rest. ''Brody . . . Brody, where are you?'' I force out to say, even the sound of my voice doesn't feel like my own. ''Brody, it's me. Where are you?'' I groan, feeling as if something had been broken but I force myself to stand up, using the wall to support myself from falling.

''Sophia?'' I hear him answer.

As soon as our eyes meet, I immediately fall onto the ground. ''Brody,''

''Sophia. I'm scared,'' He replies, his eyes filled with tears. ''What should I do?''

''It's okay. C—call 911,''

''Sophia?'' My vision starts to blur and the sight of Brody is somewhat replaced by something white, more like lights. Then, another familiar face begins to appear but it feels as if I'm not capable of doing anything but to hear people calling out my name in worry. ''Sophia, can you hear me? Sophia? Sophia?'' The voice sounds familiar enough to make me know I'm probably going to be safe.

It's as if the world is ending.