Dio Brutale

XIV

~ Karina Belle Westley ~

I don't remember when I fell asleep. I'm surprised I was even able to sleep. I was paranoid someone would come in here and hurt or kill me.

Their red room was a lot different than the one at the club. There was a table covered with a bunch of different knives and tools, a pile of ropes sitting in a corner, the chair I was tied to, and I'm pretty sure the hundred of red spots I counted was blood.

Is this why they call it the red room? Because of the blood?

My head was hurting from the headache I have myself from crying but I had nothing to soothe it. I always keep pain killers in my bag but I didn't have it.

I really hope Arabella comes back. She seems like a genuine semi-decent person. She didn't degrade me like the others did. I honestly felt safe around her.

And I also really hope who came in here and chained to this pole doesn't come back. I understand he had a job to do, but he didn't have to smack me.

I was just kidnapped. I was terrified. Did he expect me to be Irish jigging?

Have I said I want to go home yet? I really wanna go home guys. I miss my friends and pets. I haven't even been here a full 24 hours.

Nobody in my situation is going to be bouncing off the walls jumping for joy or Irish jigging.

And I really don't appreciate the way Charlene disrespected me. I'm a stripper but that doesn't make me a whore. I'm not going around fucking guys at the club. I dance. Simple as that.

I must've been completely lost in my thoughts because I didn't hear the metal door open. The blonde girl, who I'm assuming is Aphrodite stood at the doorway looking at me.

I'm assuming she's Aphrodite because she said her parents were coming in the room after her and when her and the other girl left Apollo and Charlene walked in. If Arabella comes to see me I'll have to ask her to tell me who's who.

"Where'd you get those clothes from?" She asked me.

I opened my mouth to give her an answer but my mouth wasn't producing any words. They were stuck in the back of my throat.

"I asked you a question. Answer me."

"A-Arabella gave them to me." My words came out shakey due to the amount of fear lingering in my body.

"She's too fucking nice." She chuckled to herself, "You're being moved. We need this room."

Moved where? Maybe as I'm being moved I can try and run out.

I didn't respond. I curled myself up into a ball.

"Get up. Now."

Was she stupid? If I could get up doesn't she think I would?

I shook my wrist so she could see that I was handcuffed to the pole next to me.

"Fucking Rowan." She cursed, "I'll be right back to grab the key. Don't go anywhere."

Not like I could go anywhere.

She left the room and re-entered a couple minutes later. She was holding a small key as she walked closer to me.

She got on her knees and grabbed my wrist so that she could unlock the cuffs. We were so close that I could smell her. She smelled like cinnamon.

Once I was free she told me to get up and I did as I was told, too afraid to disobey. My life was in her hands.

We left the room and as we walked down the hallway I took in my surroundings. The carpet was a blood red color, there was pictures along the walls, and guns littered the space the photos weren't taking up.

I averted my eyes to the other side of the hallway. I could easily run. The grip she had on my arm wasn't too tight.

"Don't even think about it." She whispered in my ear. Shivers rushed down my spine.

Could she read my mind or some shit?

The two of us reached a wooden door that she opened. Her hand began searching the wall and a small click could be heard as the lights cut on. They were very dimly lit so I struggled getting down the old wooden stairs.

Without saying a word she practically dragged me to a corner of the basement and re-handcuffed me to another pole. Tears swelled in my eyes but I stopped them from falling. She couldn't see my cry. I didn't want her to. She had too much power over me.

"I'll send Arabella to give you something to eat. We have to keep you alive in the event we need you to talk." It didn't seem as though she was talking to me. Instead it felt like she was talking at me. Like I wasn't worthy enough to have her complete attention.

I was just thankful Arabella was coming back. I've only been here for a couple hours, but it felt good to have someone who didn't treat me like an animal in my space.

I'm surprised the woman didn't smack me like the man did yesterday. God I hope I never see him again. Indiana would've beat his ass for laying a finger on me. But she wasn't here to defend me. It was just me and my constant thoughts.

I watched as she walked up the stairs. She turned around to look at me and then proceeded to open her mouth as if she wanted to say something. She clenched her jaw before deciding to keep her words to herself and disappearing behind the basement door.

I'm not good with time. Even when I had some form of clock in front of me I was never good of keeping track of time. Arabella came down the stairs holding a small plate and a bottle of water. I don't know how long I had been in the basement but it felt like years.

"Karina? I have your food."

"I'm here." I smiled weakly.

"I wasn't supposed to give you this much but I don't know how long it had been since you last ate. Don't tell anyone." She whispered.

I mumbled a "thank you" before taking the plate out her hands and digging in.

I bit into a strawberry. I don't know if it was because I haven't eaten in two days, but that strawberry was the best thing I've ever tasted.

"Can I ask you something?"

"I more than likely have an answer. Shoot." She nodded.

"Who's who?" I asked, stuffing another strawberry into my mouth.

"Aphrodite is the one who moved you down here, Million, her girlfriend, is the one with curly hair. Uh...Artemis looks just like his twin sister, Gabriel is the guy with the tattoos, and Rowan...Rowan's the one who cuffed you after I left."

Does she know he hit me? Is that why she was hesitant telling me his name?

I nodded. We had a little chat as I finished stuffing my face. The plate was licked clean when we finished.

"I have to head back upstairs," she frowned, taking my plate, "I'll try to sneak back down here to give you any information I overhear."

I didn't want her to go, but she had a job to do. A job that didn't involve wasting her time on me.

I was left alone yet again. I couldn't live like this. I had to find a way out of here before they killed me.

This is not the way I want to go out.

1276 words

A/n: I love the relationship Arabella and Karina have. Arabella took one look at her and said "you're my best friend." Poor Karina. Shorty is going through it.
-Mj