Forever Us (Always and Forever 4)

“What—what do you want?” I stutter.

“Oh, sweetie, what do I want? You must have forgotten just who I am to you, pet. I fucking own you, and I told you I would never let you leave unless your blood was on my hands and your heart wasn’t beating.”

I let out another sob, knowing this is it. He came back to finish me, just like I always worried he would. My crying wolf was finally a reality.

“Joel, I’ll leave with you. Let’s go. Just take me and call someone to help my mother.”

“I’m not fucking stupid. Don’t play the sudden damsel. I’m not here to take you back, baby.” His words are daunting, a glimpse into the hell I’m about to endure. “Turn over, whore!” he barks, and I jump, turning fast. That’s when I see the shiny knife in his large hand. I scream as he straddles me and holds the knife to my throat. The image of him above me with the blade brings me back to that night all those years ago, where he carved that scar into my skin. But what’s worse is not only am I slipping into a flashback, but I’m currently in the present, being attacked in the same way again.

“You still have that pretty little scar I gave you? My mark.” He goes to rip my top and I react, screaming, pushing him away. It’s a failed attempt, and the more I struggle, the more he fights me back. As he slaps me in the face and brings the knife to my neck once again, I try to grab at it, but he slices the palm of my hand before I can fully get a handle.

“Ahh!” I scream, and he grabs my hands, slamming them down at my sides and pushing his knees in the center of them. I almost pass out from the pain of his strong knee digging into my fresh cut. I want to scream but I can’t. The pain has me in shock, the blood pouring from me, making my head dizzy. My left arms starts to go numb from the blood loss, and my eyes feel heavy.

“One,” I choke out, trying to bring myself back. I squeeze my eyes shut and remember what I have been taught.

“What are you doing? Shut up!” He uses the knife and rips through the fabric of my shirt, right down the middle, where it falls open and exposes my lacy bra and chest to his eyes. Growling, he drags the cool edge of the now bloody knife down the center of my breast.

“So fucking beautiful. Your blood on your soft, tan skin, such a sight.” He inhales deeply, as if trying to breath in the scent of me bleeding. I want to vomit.

“T-two,” I stutter on a full body shiver.

“Shut up! How many fucking times do I have to tell you, bitch?” He slaps my cheek hard, the burn lingering for long seconds. I don’t speak again, already hurt more than what I can handle. I’m losing blood too fast, and I can’t get my heart rate to settle.

He waits a moment to make sure I’m done, and when I don’t say anything else and my heavy tears fall, he starts again. “Now, let’s have some fun, shall we?”

Knowing I have to play along or suffer another injury, one bad enou

gh to possibly hurt my child, I nod.

“Good.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, he messes with it for a few seconds. “Here we go.”

The sound of ringing comes from the speakerphone, and I look around the room, trying to avoid his gaze. Taking it upon himself, he grips my cheeks and brings my eyes to him. Joel’s mouth opens to speak, but before he can, I hear the voice of my savior.

“Lana, mama, you’re late. Where are you?”

“K—Kings!” I cry, trying to shake my head back and forth, but Joel’s hand is too tight.

“Baby! What’s wrong?”

“She’s fine. Just a little emotional over my homecoming,” Joel cuts in, and I sob, pinching my eyes closed.

“You motherfucker!” Kingston yells into the phone a brief second later.

“It’s been a while, but don’t worry. I’m here to take back what’s mine. But what kind of monster would I be if I didn’t let you get a goodbye?” he responds sarcastically, tracing my neck with the edge of the blade, not enough to break skin, but enough to feel as if he did.

“You let her go, Joel! Now! Don’t you fucking hurt her!” Kingston barks, but I hear the thick cloud of fear in his every word. My heart officially snaps in two, because I can feel him inside my soul. I can feel his heart breaking. My protector, my king knows this is it. He isn’t here this time, and I will be long gone before he even has a chance to make it here.

“Kingston, baby, listen to me.” Calling him baby earns me a backhand to the cheek. I wail, my body jerking, trying to break my hands free so I can touch the pained skin.

“Lana! Fuck, baby!” he screams, and I only cry harder.

“I don’t like the way this is going at all. My little nice streak is over. Say bye now, pretty little slut,” Joel spits in my face, and I close my eyes, knowing this is the last thing I will ever get to say to my love.

“I love you, Kingston. I love you all. I’m sorry, and know that you saved me. You brought me back to life,” I cry.

And with that, he speedily replies, “Don’t you let him win, bab—”.

Before he can finish, Joel throws the phone, and it makes a deafening sound as it shatters against the wall. The final goodbye and I didn’t get to hear his last I love you—the three words so often used by habit, but for me it was my life saver in the darkest hours.