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Forty-one: Threats
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
A Thousand Lies Forty-two: under the ice
TemperanceI am deep in the forest. Deep enough not to know my way back. Trees and snow surround me.As I stupidly walk along the edge of the iced-over pond. I hum a song my mother once sang to me whenever I was younger. I don't know the song's name. Or words. I remember the rhythm.Then I stop and turn towards the pond. I took a deep breath and stepped into the ice. I balance myself on the slippery ice below me.I start walking out towards the middle of the pond. Then to my horror, I hear cracks from under my feet. I hold my breath and stand perfectly still.Then the ice cracks more. I try to shuffle away. Then the ice gives out under me. I plunge below the ice into the freezing water. The water feels like knives stabbing me.Under the ice, it is dark. I swim back up to the surface and struggle to catch my breath. I grab onto the ice that is still holding up.I weakly pull half of my body out of the ice water, leaving my legs in for a second. I take a deep breath of the freezing air
A Thousand Lies Forty-three: two hearts break
TemperanceI lay under the mounts of covers on top of me. All I remember is closing my eyes after I fell into the river. But here I am... in a bed.I shoot up as Kenli steps out of the bathroom. "Oh! You're awake! I'm so glad!" She walks over to me and sits on the edge of my bed."Who brought me here?" I ask her. I look down and notice I am in different clothes. My heart speeds up. Someone saw my cuts."Alec and his guys did. And so did Chris and I. Alec carried you here..." She explains, her eyes not leaving me once.Oh shit. This isn't good. Austin is gonna find out. Fuck. Maybe if he just beats me to death he will be satisfied? I only hope that it will be quick."Who changed me??" I ask frantically. "I did." Sadness laces her eyes. She saw. "Who did you tell?" I ask, grabbing her arm roughly. She winces, "No one!"I stare at her, thinning out my lips as she looks at her feet. I let go of her arm, apologizing to her. I watch her open her mouth to speak, but I hold my hand up to sile
A Thousand Lies Forty-four: nothing good lasts
TemperanceI open the door to be filled with shock. Alec stands in front of me with Connor and Zander behind him. I feel my heart drop as I make eye contact with the man I had just broke. "W-what are you d-doing here?" My hands shake with anxiety coursing through my body. I watch Alec carefully, flinching as his arms embrace me. I stay still for a second, assessing the situation that I have been thrown into. His arms wrap around me tighter, my head starting to feel light. Do I tell him that he's making me light headed or do I let him continue?I thin my lips, agreeing with my heart to let him have this moment. "I am so so so sorry for the things I said. I didn't mean them." He whispers into my hair. Tears pull in my eyes at his words, my hands gripping his shirt. God, I missed the smell of him. My mind spins in circles on what I should do. I know I can't see him. I know Austin will never let me be with him. Is it fair to hold him back? Is it fair to hold myself back?FUCK I
A Thousand Lies Forty-five: the choice between staying and leaving
Temperance Kenli dabs a wet cloth against my bloody lip as I reposition myself on the countertop. "How does your eye feel?" She glances at my swollen eye before taking the rag away from my lip and rinsing it out with cold water. I don't answer her question as I adjust my ears to the sound of Austin's footsteps. His steps echo in the living room before the door opens and then slams, signaling that he's left. She stops for a few seconds, listening for the sound of the foot opening back up. Once it's been a few seconds and she's sure he's gone she relaxes. Her chest rises, signaling her sigh of relief.My head spins as my body violently throbs. I stare at the wall behind us, letting Kenli dab my blood away. Through the closed door, I hear ice clanking in the freezer. "Maybe I'm not supposed to be alive," I state, not thinking much about the words I'm spouting for Kenli's ears. I feel her tense up, her eyes darting to my eyes and the back to the cloth. "I have had this thought sever
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
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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
