Endless darkness

Fiona’s POV

My phone kept ringing in my bag which had probably been flung to one side. I can imagine what could be going on in my dad’s mind if he didn’t see me in my room.

Everywhere was still dark and silent, I could feel a presence with me, quiet and still. I couldn’t even think straight, I just knew I was waiting to meet my doom so I could at least join mum wherever she is.

My phone stopped ringing, then the person dialed a number. The phone was answered on the third ring.

My heart jumped weakly in my chest, waiting for the next instruction she was about to give again but I heard Jalen’s voice, or so I thought until he spoke again, then I confirmed it was him.

The man walked closer to me and he landed a heavy slap across my already swollen face. The force snapped my head to the side as pain exploded across my cheek.

I yelped loudly, gritted my teeth, and sobbed.

“Hello? Fiona?!” Jalen’s voice came through, loud and frantic. “Fiona, is that you? Talk to me!”

The man pressed the phone closer to my ear.

“Jalen…” My voice came out hoarse and broken. “Help… me.”

“Fiona?! Baby, where are you?!” His voice cracked with worry. “Tell me where you are right now. I’m coming to get you!”

“I… I don’t know,” I cried weakly. “I’m blindfolded… I can’t see anything. Please… it hurts so much—”

Another brutal slap cut me off. The phone was snatched away.

“No! Give it back!” I screamed, but my voice was barely a whisper now.

The beating started again.

Fists rained down on my ribs, my stomach, my back. I tried to scream but only broken whimpers escaped. Every punch felt like fire spreading through my body. I tasted blood in my mouth. My nose was bleeding. My whole body was one giant pulse of agony.

“Please… stop…” I begged, but the hits kept coming until I had no strength left to even cry out.

Eventually, I slumped in the chair, barely conscious.

My phone kept ringing from somewhere in the corner. I could tell Jalen was trying to call me back. He must be losing his mind.

Morning turned to night. Night turned to the next morning.

I was left completely alone in the darkness for two whole days, and I hadn't eaten or tasted water.

My throat was so dry it felt like sandpaper. My stomach cramped painfully from hunger. My body was sore, bruised, and weak, I could blow away from one light breeze. I drifted in and out of consciousness, whispering Jalen’s name like a prayer.

The night of the second day, I was barely alive.

The door finally creaked open.

Rough hands snatched the blindfold off my face.

The outside light suddenly pierced into my blurry sight— even the dim bulb in the room — burned my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust. The room was empty except for a rusty chair I was tied to and some old crates in the corner. It looked like an abandoned warehouse.

Marian stood in front of me, perfectly dressed, arms folded. Jordan stood beside her, smirking.

I wasn’t surprised. Just heartbroken.

Marian stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. The sting was nothing compared to everything else I had endured.

“You stupid little girl,” she laughed. “I warned you, didn't I? I told you to stay away from my husband. But you just wouldn’t listen. Now here we are.”

“You know, you are just so stubborn, because after everything I did to break you, to separate you from him, he still came crawling to you dirty little creature, I don't know what you did to him, and I think I could use a few lessons from you hun?” she added and yanked my head up with my hair.

“Aaaahhhhhh,” I cried. “Please, let me go,” I pleaded.

“Please? Now? Oh no darling, you missed it. I gave you more than enough time for your plea to count, but you chose to be a slut instead.”

She flung my head to the side, finally letting go of my hair. “So tell me, what did you do to Jalen to make him love you? I wanna know,”

My head remained bowed, I had no strength to look at her.

“Answer me!” she screamed and I startled in my chair but I said nothing. Cause there was truly nothing I did.

She lunged towards me and landed another slap on my face so hard I could barely get my voice out. I only winced. Blood dripped out of my mouth, and my head tilted weakly to the side as she stepped away from me.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Jalen.

He picked up immediately.

“Marian,” Jalen growled. “Where is she? If you hurt her, I swear to God—”

“Relax, darling,” Marian said sweetly. “I have a deal for you. Simple and straightforward, trust me you don’t have an option. Publicly destroy Fiona. Post something online calling her a liar, a whore, a homewrecker — whatever you want. Make sure the world hates her. Then come back to me like a good husband. Do that, and I’ll let her go.”

Jalen’s voice shook with rage. “Let me speak to her first.”

Marian hesitated at first. “Just for a minute, since it will be the last,” she said and laughed dangerously before holding the phone to my ear.

“Jalen…” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Fiona! Bunny, hold on, okay?. I’m going to get you out of there. I promise. Just stay with me, okay?”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m… so tired. It hurts…”

Marian snatched the phone back and laughed.

“You heard her. Now make your choice, Jalen.”

She hung up before he could reply.

“Give her some food and water,” she ordered Jordan. “We need her alive for now.”

Marian gave me one last disgusted look before walking out.

Jordan returned a few minutes later with a piece of stale, hard bread and a bottle of water. He untied one of my hands roughly.

“Eat,” he said coldly.

My hands shook violently as I took the bread. It tasted like dust, but I forced it down, choking between sobs. The water felt like heaven on my cracked lips, but it wasn’t enough.

I looked up at Jordan with broken eyes.

He only smirked and walked out, locking the door behind him.

I sat there in the cold, dark room, chewing on stale bread, body aching, heart shattered.

Waiting for a miracle I wasn’t sure would come.