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Forty-five: the choice between staying and leaving
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
A Thousand Lies Forty-six: sold to the man in white
Temperance It's been three weeks since Austin told me I would be traded. Today is the day for the auction. Then tomorrow I will be taken to the sick person who buys me. Other than myself, Austin, and Vicki, no one else knows about the auction. Not a word goes out to Chris or Kenli from the threat that they will pay for my mistake. Meaning that my selfish actions for help could get them hurt. I can't have them get beat for my actions, so I remain silent. I don't cut anymore... It's more of that I can't cut. The beatings died down in the last week in hopes that I will have little to no bruising for the day of the auction. Meaning, that Vicki also checks my body for bruising or scratching. Imagine her surprise when she found self-inflicted cuts lingering on my body. She ran to Austin, and they tore the room apart until they found my weapon. My cuts are just scars now. They look gross. Uplifted and discolored skin in a line on my body. Scars aren't supposed to look pretty, though.
A Thousand Lies Forty-seven: Pills
TemperanceI sit in the middle of my room with my clothes tucked away neatly into a backpack. I can at least look like I'm going along with this shit plan.I am supposed to be picked up today by my buyer. My cousins are at school and my caretakers are at work, leaving me along with my wandering thoughts.A loud ringing pierces my ears, causing me to jump in shock. Once my ears adjust to the sound I realize it's the house phone.I thin my lips in question since no one ever calls the house phone.I stay on my mattress for a second, waiting until the ringing comes to the end, bringing back the silence from the almost empty house.With only a few seconds of silence in between, the wretched phone starts to ring again, stirring up my annoyance. I curse under my breath, standing to my feet and leaving the room. The sound gets louder as I approach and stop in front of it.It's an old white phone that sits on a coffee table beside Austin's recliner. I have never seen him use it before.I look
A Thousand Lies Forty-eight: waiting game
Alec As soon as I park in my driveway, I jump out of my car and go into the backseat. I pull Temperance out and rush her inside. Immediately I get the shocked expressions of my family and some of the guys that had stayed over the night before. Tearing my attention away from everyone I hear Chris behind me, screaming at the doctor through the phone. I ignore my father's disapproved look towards the situation. He would've never expected me to fall so low as to risk everything for this girl. "What's going on?" Arella scrambles to her feet, stepping towards the unconscious girl in my arms. I immediately step back, refusing to let anyone Temperance doesn't know to touch her. "Holy shit! TEMPERANCE?" Zander jumps up from his seat on the couch and runs over to me. His eyes switch between Temperance and me. "What the hell happened?" Connor appears beside Zander, stealing a question Zander was seconds away from asking. Avoiding their questions, in a hurry, I lay Temperance down on the ne
A Thousand Lies Forty-nine: hate filled eyes
TemperanceMy whole body aches. Am I dead?Obviously not. My body feels sore, and I feel sick. I wait a few moments before opening my eyes, the bright light blinds me, forcing me to close them again.Monitors beep around me and I can feel my heart drop. I didn't die. I'm still alive. How had my plan failed? No one was home to see me... do anything.Many times you see people wake up in the hospital and not know what happened. But, I, however, remember everything. The thoughts and actions up to the point of shoving pills down my own throat.I was supposed to die earlier.My ears again focus on the monitor beeping beside me. The smell is familiar, like, Alec. I open my eyes, confirming the place I reside.I am in Alec's room.Why am I in Alec's room and not a hospital? Did Chris come home after I fell?My eyes go to the doorknob which slowly turns and I immediately shut my eyes again, fearing that Alec will be the one opening it.If I'm here, there's no doubt he read the note. Everyone
A Thousand Lies Fifty: I hate you
TemperanceWith my back pressed firmly against the door, I feel my feet start to slip from under me. As Alec continues his attempt to get the door open I reposition my feet to hold the door shut. I can feel my legs weaken, threatening to give out as tears stream down my face."You have to let me in at some point!" His pleading voice is muffled through the door. I slide down the door, careful to keep my weight against it. My hands find their way to my mouth, covering a sob that threatens to spill out.With his attempt of ramming his shoulder against the door, I feel the anger inside me spill out. "I hate you!" I yell only to immediately regret my words.The ramming against the door ceases with, "Do you mean that?" His voice shows signs of him being displeased as if his worry has turned into shock."Did you ever care about me?" My mind wanders through the months where he was a constant thought in my mind. "I thought about you every day. It turns out I should have tested my luck somewher
A Thousand Lies Fifty-one: come to me with open arms
AlecMy eyes study the wood of my father's desk as I sit in the chair across from him, Instead of being in a room with my father I'm in a room with my boss. I guess you can say it's always been like that though. He's never been my father, just a man who relies on me to take the gang of all the fathers before him and make it great."So you have been dicking around while I've been gone instead of taking care of what I left you with?" My father's stern voice agitates my ears, I'm barely able to keep my eyes from rolling back.I meet his piercing eyes for a split second before leaning forward, "I've done everything you asked."I'm used to being the one getting the short end of the stick, it's been that way all my life. My brother's grades were perfect, he had excellent manners growing up. My parents constantly praised him. It's not much different for my sister, just add on being the youngest child and the only female.There's a saying I heard from somewhere, "I bear it so they don't have
A Thousand Lies Fifty-two: Questions answered
TemperanceI stare at the ceiling that is not my own, my head replaying my actions last night. I still feel Alec on me from last night, my mind running in circles from the things we had done only a few hours ago.I don't think death is what I want anymore. Of course, that's what I wanted a few days ago... but maybe I just wanted to kill the situation around me.Yesterday I thought I hated Alec, now I think I love him again. Is that the effect of sex? Is your brain forcing you to think you love the man that entered your body? No, I don't think that's it, I've always loved him, the anger inside of me just blinded me. My emotions have spun me into a sticky web I have no idea to get out of.I shut my eyes and put my hand on my growling stomach. I guess sex be a beautiful thing as long as both sides want it. I turn my head, glancing at the empty spot that was left by Alec. I don't hate him, I just hate what he did to me. But do I have a right to feel that way?Shaking my thoughts away I
A Thousand Lies Fifty-three: I'm not planning to let her go
AlecWhenever my father saw her, I knew it would be nothing but hell for us. He had always wanted to pick my future wife. Whichever one would be good for business. Temperance has no ties to anything that could enhance our power. But I'm not going to let that stop me from having her.I watch her as she makes herself a bowl of macaroni and cheese. "What?" She looks up at me and asks.I shrug. Is it wrong for me to just want to look at her? I don't see it that way. She is beautiful. She is perfect. I want her to be mine, more than she was last night, I want her to belong to me."Your dad doesn't like me." She blurts. I look at her, lifting one brow. Why so random? How does she know that?"Well it takes some time. Soon he will love you." I tell her. I don't fully believe myself. My father isn't a kind person, if you aren't good for the business he sees no purpose in having you around.Getting him to like her would be a challenge seeing as she would ruin his plans on an arranged marriage.
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A Thousand Lies Seventy-three: the lies
Alec"You think this isn't hard for me?" Chris runs his fingers through his hair."I didn't say that." I grit my teeth, my ears ring with annoyance.I slam my hands on the table, snapping everyone's attention back to me. "Even if she's happier gone, did you guys forget that she was almost taken a few weeks ago?"I can almost see her small body fighting off her attempted kidnapper. If he would've overtaken her I swear I would've shot him right then and there."So you think she's in danger?" Chris grits his teeth."I'm saying I don't know what kind of trouble she's in!" I want to yell at everyone, telling them to search until the bottoms of their feet are rubbing off."I have something you need to see!" Bee and Rea bust through the door. I watch as Rea slightly glances at Connor before pushing her long hair out of her face.I stand to my feet, glancing at everyone at the table before leaving with the two girls. My heart races in my chest as we enter the security room."So... you're not
A Thousand Lies Seventy-two: I'm happy to be here
I stand completely still, my hands behind my back as my posture tightens."Is this fun for you?" My father asks me, shoving his pointer finger at me. My head gets knocked back and my body follows before catching myself with a stumble."I-is what fun?" The corners of my lips threaten to turn downwards."Watching me take care of you while you stay completely selfish. Do you not understand that I'm suffering because of you?" He squats down, bringing his hands to his face.Tears fall down his cheeks and onto the floor. Light sobs fill the room and I can't help but copy his crying.My hands come up to my face to wipe my tears away.I don't know why I'm crying because of him. Maybe it's this love I still have for him that makes me upset when he cries."I-I'm sorry." I hiccup, watching him lift his head. He crawls towards me, bringing himself upwards and wrapping his arms around me.He places his chin on my shoulders and softly cries.Maybe this is a turning point? Maybe he will finally real
A Thousand Lies Seventy-one: She's dead
TemperanceMy legs threaten to give out as I continue to pump them, trying to find my destination. In some sick way this reminds me of the times growing up that I was forced to run away from my father. Through my life with him, the familiar pain I would feel in my bones would cause me to sob as my legs continued to sprint.After years of the abuse I suffer with complex ptsd. I have a slight limp in my left leg where my knee is. Every-time I run like this I feel fire ignite in my knee. Not only that but my eyesight has also faltered through the abuse. From constantly pouring alcohol into my eyes as a form of punishment I was forced to get eye surgery two months ago. Even with the surgery I will eventually need glasses since my eyesight is still poor. My body is littered with scars from that monster. I got out alive but with the cost of my leg, my eyesight, and my skin."S-she's dead Temperance!" Danny yells at me, dragging me out of my thoughts.Her breathing is rigid as she slows down
A Thousand Lies Seventy: Lack of understanding
AlecI thin my lips out, wanting to crush the note she's left me in my hands. I've read it over and over.I love Temperance with everything in me but the notes she always leaves when she runs away are starting to get annoying.I've never understood her reasonings for running away aside from right now. In the past, she knew I could protect her. She knew she didn't have to go back but she still did.Now, she thought I was replacing her. I almost did replace her."Dear Alec, I don't know why I bother with these notes anymore. They seem like such a childish thing. How else would you know I left on my own will Vs if I was kidnapped?Anyways, I can't stay here while someone else is in my place by your side. I can't watch you be happy with another woman while I'm simply cast aside. I know you say this is for me but I never asked you to do this. I love you dearly and I want a future with you so bad but now I know that I can't have one with you. As soon as you picked a stranger over me is when
A Thousand Lies Sixty-nine: Strength
TemperanceTossing and turning through the night.My sleep has always been weary. The only time I ever got a full night of sleep was whenever my father would knock me unconscious.Being by Alec would help me. All I would do is put my hand on his chest. His chest moving up and down would help lull me to sleep.I turn towards the wall on the stained twin sized mattress. I look at the door, staring through the fist sized hole.Alec isn't here anymore. It's just me.My sheets and pillow smell like my room. Our room. They smell like Alec.I inhale the scent, letting a tear slip down my scarred cheek.I feel disgusted letting my wonderful sheets touch this disgusting mattress. It's the only thing blocking my skin from touching the stains but it still makes me cringe.People have no doubt had sex on this mattress. This is a whore house after all. My only question is how long will I be able to stay here?I have to pay up someday and they will make me do it with my body.I don't want that.I'v
A Thousand Lies Sixty-eight: Another note
Alec I sit uncomfortably in a seat in an empty meeting room. My heart aches in my chest. I feel physically fatigued from the pain I feel mentally. Who knew a breakup could hurt like this? I can't help but want to cry as I replay the events from hours ago. I can't forget the pain in her eyes as she screamed. There was so much emotion built up. Her eyes showed so much pain... so much anger. I was almost afraid she would punch me. I never would've imagine she would throw things at me. Arellas words play in my head over and over again. "You took her in and killed her father. The day you took her in is the day you signed a contract to protect her. That girl is more of your responsibility than I am." I've always thought of Arella as my responsibility. Temperance too... but not in the way Arella has put it. I have taken everything Temperance has never known away from her. I've stolen her old life and basically forced her to live with me. "Alec, what the hell are you doing?" I feel a
A Thousand Lies Sixty-seven: Gracelyn Sinclair
Temperance"He might not even go through with the marriage." Connor states, leaning on my dresser beside me as we stare at the wall opposite to us.I shake my head no, giving a sad smile, "The fact t-that he's e-even going is enough d-disrespect to me. I'm... I'm not-not staying here." I try to twist my ring around only to get a stab in the heart when I find nothing there.Connor turns towards me, "You're leaving. What about us? You'll be leaving everyone. Me, Zander, Ethan, Damien, Rea, Bee, and Ella. Can you really handle that?"I have made amazing friends while being here... but I can't just walk around this mansion like it's mine whenever Alec will take a wife soon."I c-can see you... and Z-Zander-no not him. Chris, I can see him. No o-one else." I love them all but I know I'll only be able to keep a tight circle if it means leaving. I know Alec will look for me when I leave and I'm not planning to let him find me.He tries to speak, trying to get me in my right mind before I beg
A Thousand Lies Sixty-six: Temperance
AlecI watch in shock as the woman I love throws things at me, glass cutting my face as she screams.She looks insane as she screams. In her eyes there's an emptiness. Like she's not all there. Somethings different about her.Connor has watched this whole thing play out, I can tell he's clearly on Temperances side. He watches with a hint of interest as she screams at me. Like he's studying the human emotion on someone who is severely angry.Ella turns the water off, pulling Connor back as Temp makes her way to me.Temperance isn't after Connor. She wouldn't hurt Connor. She's after me.She doesn't understand my reasons. I'm doing this for her. I love her so much that I would marry another woman just to keep her safe.Her safety is my main priority.There's multiple eyes from our friends on her. I feel almost embarrassed to be screamed at by her in this manner.Zander stands in front of the crowd. Rea clings onto his arm. Damien and Ethan stare dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.I ca
A Thousand Lies Sixty-five: Just like you
TemperanceI thought everyone is supposed to have character growth. Not just in books but in real life. Yet it's been a year and a half and I'm still stuck on what happened during my adolescence.I stare in the mirror I stand in front of. Things are definitely different from back then. My looks included.Back then my hair was long and thin. Now it's thick and short, down to my shoulders. My eyes used to be dull and lifeless but now they are bright. My thin and honey body is now healthy and I'm never starving.To think I almost killed myself.If I would have I wouldn't be where I am now. Both of my parents are dead, anyone who's wronged me is gone, I'm surrounded by a loving husband and amazing friends.Several times my mind has gone back to the one person that escaped my grasp. The one person that slipped through my fingers.Emaline.My best friend.I see her every time I closed my eyes. Her face is morphed now, it's blurry. Her face has faded from my mind. I haven't forgotten her, ju
