Page 16 of Devil's Sinner
I reached for a light switch and was met with the same result. Everything had been turned off. I stumbled to the sink and a prayer left my lips as I twisted the knob. The rush of water was almost enough to make me squeal with excitement.
The vineyard had a well, so that was the one thing that didn’t get shut off. The water didn’t taste completely fresh. If the power was out, the well wasn’t pumping, but there was some left in the storage tank. That was plenty for me.
I drank from the faucet until my stomach felt like it was swollen, and started trying to clean my wounds.
The realization set in that my only way of escape from Cabot Vineyard was by foot. I was naked and miles from civilization. I didn’t know if my legs could handle the walk, but collapsing in the forest nearby sounded a lot better than waiting for Connor to return. I searched the house for clothes, but all I found was an old blanket. It still smelled like the grapes that used to grow in the vineyard. I wrapped it around my body and walked to the door.
My freedom was mine to earn. I started walking towards the wooded area. That seemed safer than trying to follow the road. The grass was overgrown and I didn’t even want to think about what I could be stepping in. My feet weren’t used to the terrain, but I did my best to ignore the pain.
It was still a slow trek and I regretted not pushing my limits when I heard a car.
“Fuck. That has to be Connor!” I pushed my protesting muscles to move faster.
I tried to run, but I simply couldn’t support that kind of effort. My system was too weak. The water had given me a hint of nourishment, but not nearly enough. The car veered from the road and started plowing through the overgrown grass. Connor had spotted me. I refused to give up and begged for more adrenaline as I broke through the edge of the wooded area.
The car stopped. I didn’t. I heard Connor’s voice behind me. Shouting profanities. They didn’t stop me either. I just kept moving as fast as my weary legs could carry me. The blanket did its best to protect my skin, but a few jagged pieces of the bushes I waded through still dug into my flesh.
I heard stomping behind me and I dared to glance over my shoulder when I saw a shadow.
A split second before Connor tackled me to the ground.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Connor flipped me over and jerked the blanket away.
“Anywhere but here!” I writhed and fought.
I slung my arms wildly and one of my jagged nails caught Connor underneath his eye.
“Fuck! Bitch!” Connor’s hand went to his face and I squirmed free.
I scrambled back to my feet and started running again, but in a different direction, towards the idling car behind us. Connor didn’t take time to kill the engine, which meant the keys were still in the ignition. If I could get to it, then I was free.
I burst through the edge of the wooded area and hope began to surge through my body again, but it was short lived. Connor hit me from behind with what felt like his shoulder and I left my feet as I went flying through the air and crashed into the ground. The impact was enough to leave me stunned. Connor was on top of me before I had a chance to recover.
“At least you’ve still got some fight left.” He wrapped his hand around my throat. “Good!”
Connor lifted up and yanked me to my feet. He quickly grabbed my injured wrist and I screamed as the agony shot through my arm. I made him bleed, but it wasn’t enough to hurt him. Probably not even enough to leave a scar.
My chance of escape had been snuffed out and I barely grazed my tormentor.
“I’ll make sure the fucking ropes are extra tight this time, dear Violet.” Connor pulled me forward.
“Then I’ll fight harder to escape!” I lunged at Connor, at his eyes with my fingernails, but he caught my other arm before I could hit him.
“I hope you fight this hard the first time I fuck you.” He squeezed my wrists. “I’ll enjoy it.”
“That’s never going to happen!” I twisted and turned in his grip, but it was no use. The pain in my wrist made me want to scream and I refused to give him that satisfaction again.
“We’ll see…” Connor’s lip slowly spread into a grin. “This little escape attempt will give me enough satisfaction for one day. Especially since it gives me all the permission I need to punish you.”
“Permission?” I blinked in confusion.
“It’s complicated, but nothing for you to worry about, dear Violet.” He jerked me towards him. “You’re going to be too busy suffering to worry about it.”
Connor let go of my injured wrist when we got to the wooded area and I tried to slam my hand into him, but he easily dodged my attempts. He reached out and ripped a long, slender branch free before he started dragging me back towards the shed where I had previously been tied up.
I dug my heels in and did my best to resist, but I wasn’t able to put up much of a fight. The adrenaline had nearly exhausted what limited supply I had and he was way too strong for me. The second that we got to the shed, he slung me forward so hard that I stumbled and landed on the floor. I looked up at him with every ounce of hatred and contempt I could muster.
“Maybe if your father would have done less sparing the rod and spoiling the child, you would know your fucking place, dear Violet.” Connor started plucking the leaves off the branch and throwing them on the ground.