Chapter 3 ~ Taken

SLOANE 

“Where have you been?” I ask, looking up.

Ian gives me a once over. His jaw locked, and his eyes that now look at me with such a cold stare drill holes into me before he walks by without saying a word. 

 I push the covers off and stand up, the silk of my nightgown clinging to my skin, my chest rising and falling with frustration.

“Where were you? You left me alone on our honeymoon, Ian!” My voice sounds as frustrated as I I feel.

“I told you I was working. Something urgent came up.” He says in a clipped tone, making me scoff.

“Do I look like a fool to you?” Anger starts eating at me. I've been trying to be patient, but he's slowly starting to eat the little patience I'm holding onto. 

He stops mid-stride but doesn’t turn around. His back is a wall. Wide. Rigid and unmovable. Without a second trace of any human emotion on his face.

“I didn't take you for a liar.” I speak with disdain.

This makes him turn to face me, a chilling smile on his face. I'm shocked I'm still standing and not a pile of ash.

“Neither did I. But I guess people change.”

His words hit me like a slap.

I blink. “Excuse me?”

Ian’s smile fades slowly, replaced with something darker.

“Don’t act shocked. You’re not as innocent as you pretend to be.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He walks closer, each step calm and calculated, like a predator eyeing his prey. He stands so close to me that I can smell his cologne mixed with the unmistakable scent of whiskey and cigarettes. 

He touches my face in a lazy way, his eyes drinking me in before releasing me and walking into the shower. 

But before he can get in, I block him.

I will not be treated like a fucking fool.

“Answer my fucking question! Where were you!” My voice is higher pitched than I intend.

“Somewhere you were not. Looking at you is driving me crazy to the point of madness, Sloane. Stop antagonizing me.” 

“What? You're really a sick piece of shit, Ian. Why did you marry me of you were going to torture me like this?” I spit. 

He stares at me.

Looking at me like a child throwing a tantrum. .

And suddenly, I’m not twenty six anymore

I’m twelve again.

In my mother’s kitchen.

Her hands shaking with the same rage Ian now wears like cologne. Her voice laced with the same venom.

"You’re filth, Sloane. You hear me? You’re ruined. What man would ever want something that dirty? The least you can do for this family is agree to go with them.”

My throat tightens. My fingers begin to tremble. The edges of the room start to blur.

Tainted.

That word echoes like a gunshot in my skull.

I blink and the room comes back into focus. My chest heaves with shallow breaths and I feel the sting before I feel the tears. One drop falls, then another. Then they just… won’t stop.

I grip the edge of the table beside me to stay standing.

“I-Is it because I’m tainted?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, like the wind could carry it away if I didn’t hold it in place with my heart.

Ian’s face changes.

The cold mask he wears cracks, just slightly. His brows twitch, and something flickers in his eyes. More anger? maybe. But not the usual kind. It’s softer. Regret? Guilt? I can’t tell..

He opens his mouth.

Then closes it again.

But still doesn’t say a word.

And that tells me everything.

I nod slowly, taking a step back, the floor icy under my bare feet. “Right,” I whisper to myself. “That’s what I thought.”

I turn away, dragging my body with me toward the door. My hand is on the handle when he finally speaks.

“Sloane-”

But I don’t let him finish.

“I don’t want your pity, Ian,” I say, not turning around. “I just wanted your honesty. And I guess that was too much to ask.”

I close the door behind me and rush down the stairs, the silk of my nightgown clinging to my legs as I move. My chest feels hollow, like my heart was yanked out and I just hadn’t realized I was bleeding yet.

The air in the garage is cold as my bare feet slap against the concrete while I press the button to open the gate, my fingers trembling violently around the key fob.

I don’t know where I’m going.

I just know I can’t stay here.

I start the car, his sleek black sedan. The engine roars to life and I throw it into reverse without thinking. My mind is a mess of shaking thoughts and choking memories. My tears blur the road as I drive, the streets swimming behind my eyes.

To make matters worse, my mother’s voice still won’t shut up.

I slam my foot on the gas.

Maybe if I just go fast enough, I can outrun the echo.

The roads are slick with morning dew, and before I know it, the tires scream against the curve. My hands twist the wheel too late. I barely have enough time to control it when I feel an impact..

Glass shatters like a thousand shards of pain. My body lurches forward, then whips back. A sickening crunch of something. I don’t even know what, fills my ears.

Then everything goes still.

Black and quiet.

Except for the faint ringing in my ears and the taste of silver in my mouth.

I think I passed out for a second because when I blink again, it’s not the same. The world is sideways. The car is tilted into a ditch. Steam rises from the hood and my door is jammed.

I try to reach for my phone.

It’s not in my robe pocket.

Great!

Panic claws up my throat like fire.

I push at the door with what strength I have left but before I can think of crawling out the passenger side, I hear footsteps. 

Boots crunching against gravel.

Relief washes over me.

“Help! Please help me!” I scream hoping I'm loud enough. 

I can’t see clearly through the shattered windshield, but I catch the outline of someone approaching.The relief that I felt turns into something horrific as a masked face comes into view. 

The door wrenches open.

But not from my side, from the back.

Two hands that are rough and gloved grab me.

“No, wait!”

A sharp sting hits my neck before I can finish the sentence.

A needle.

I try to scream, but the world is spinning too fast now.

I regret that even as I'm about to die that handsome bastard's face is the last thing I see as darkness consumes me.