Uncovering You 2: Submission (11 page)

“Oh, but we do,” he interrupts. “Yes, we definitely do. Ah!” He stops the fast-forward and hits play. “My favorite part.”

I watch, horrified, as I see the television version of myself venturing past the boundary. I see myself stop a few steps outside of it. I flinch in real life as I remember the sharp zap under my left ear. The Lilly on the screen tenses, then, after a few moments, starts to walk forward again.

I almost yell at her to stop. Dread builds inside as I see myself take careless steps toward the curtain. I’m going to get shocked… I’m going to get shocked…

Stonehart pauses the tape just as my collar is about to send me writhing to the floor. He looks at me.

“Do you remember what happens next?”

Unconsciously, I finger the collar that’s so tight around my neck. “Jeremy, please…”

“This is why you’re here,” he says. “This is why you came into this room, isn’t it? Now watch.”

He presses
play
. I see myself collapse to the side and start thrashing on the ground. The video makes me relive all the horrible sensations. There’s no sound, but I can remember the pathetic, high-pitched squeal I made just before passing out.

Stonehart is looking intently at me. I want to rip my eyes from the screen, but I can’t. I know he wouldn’t be pleased.

My nails dig into the palms of my hands as I watch the horrific movie. I’m panting. My heart is pounding as if I expect the collar to shock me at any moment.

Finally, the Lilly in the video goes limp. I tear my eyes away.

“Did you enjoy that?” Stonehart asks. “I’ve got a whole collection, you know. Let’s see… what else might you be interested in? Oh.” His eyebrows go up. “I know.”

He turns his attention back to the surveillance software and starts searching for another date. This one is marked November 18
th
, 2013.

The monitors show me and him together in the sunroom. We’re sitting at a table, having dinner.

I know what is going to come next.

I can’t watch. I can’t watch him rape me on the table top. It’s too soon. The memory of that night is still fresh in my brain.

I need to get away.

I stand up. Stonehart notices.

“Sit down, Lilly,” he growls, “Or you’ll face worse consequences than a little video stream.”

My eyes dart to the open doorway. My chest is heaving. I never thought I would want to be back in the sunroom. But now, I wish for nothing more.

“I said, sit down!” Stonehart yells.

I cast one last, despairing look at the doorway. I need to get out of here. But, the longer I remain standing, the worse Stonehart’s anger is going to get.

Defeated, I plop back down on the seat.

He smiles. “Good. Now, watch.”

My entire body is shaking as I watch the video start to play.

“Wait,” Stonehart adds maliciously. “I forgot to add
sound
.”

He taps the keyboard, and, all of a sudden, our voices come from all around me:

‘How was your day?’
Stonehart asks on the video.
There’s a pause in which I don’t answer, and then he says,
“You look surprised. Lilly, it’s customary to reply to a polite inquiry at dinner.’

‘It was fine,’
I sputter.
‘How was yours?’

Stonehart’s expression changes to one of darkness. ‘Need I remind you of our rules?’

I cringe as the conversation plays out. A dull throbbing starts up in the back of my head. Apprehension grows inside.

‘…Of course I’m right,’ Stonehart says. ‘You’d be hard-pressed to find situations in which I’m not…’

My heart rate ratchets up. My breaths come faster and faster. Real-life Stonehart is watching me, making sure I keep my attention on the screen.

‘Jeremy?’ My voice shakes a little. ‘May I ask you a question?’

He picks up the wineglass on the table and peers into it. ‘Do you remember our rules?’

‘Yes.’

My palms feel clammy. Sweat is trickling down my back. I feel trapped, with Stonehart’s eyes on me. Cruel eyes. Monstrous eyes.

He knows what he is doing. He knows how hard this is to watch. And he’s reveling in my discomfort.

‘…Tell me what you need.’

‘I need… air!’

I watch as Stonehart loops his arm around television Lilly’s waist and starts to guide her outside. He looks so worried, so very compassionate…

‘…My sweet Lilly, the moment I change the range, you will be the first to know…’

“Please,” I beg. I can’t bear to watch. “Please, Jeremy, turn it off.”

“Off?” he frowns. “But this is my favorite part.”

He increases the volume

I hear myself yelling. I watch as I stalk to the table and throw the wine bottle at his head. I see the flash of anger on his face just before he grabs me.

I can almost feel his hands on me again. I’m trembling. The sounds of the on-screen struggle fill my ears. He’s grabbing my hair. I’m struggling against him.

I can’t believe I’m being forced to live through this again.

I gasp onscreen and in real life as I see Stonehart rip my dress open. I feel light-headed and suddenly dizzy. I can feel Stonehart’s eyes boring into me, watching for my reaction. I can see him on the screen, groping, touching me, dominating me with his powerful masculinity, and…

And it’s too much. I cannot live through the moment again. My breathing is almost as fast as my heartbeat. I’m taking short little gasps. I’m vaguely aware they do not bring enough oxygen to my brain.

My eyes roll to the top of my head, my head lolls to one side, and I pass out.

Chapter Fifteen

I am having the most wonderful dream. I am back at Yale, surrounded by my friends. We’re picnicking out on the grass. The late spring sun warms us.

Fey is sunbathing with her eyes closed. I’m lying on my front, pretending to read a book while sneaking glances at Robin and his friends throwing a Frisbee back and forth.

The gorgeous gothic architecture around me sparkles in the sun. I close my eyes and breathe deep, knowing that nothing can ever harm me here…

Suddenly, I’m falling through the ground. I open my mouth to scream, but the rush of air stifles any noise.

I land in a tight box. I scramble up, but as I do, the lid slams shut. With it, all the warmth of my body seeps away. I feel like I’m trapped in an ice cube.

I can’t see anything. I reach out in front of me only to discover I can’t move my hands. They’re bound to my body by thick, heavy ropes.

It takes me a second to realize that no, I’m not bound by
ropes
. It’s the body of a massive boa constrictor that has me trapped.

A scream forms in my throat. Before it can come, something tightens around my neck. I start to choke. It’s another, smaller snake, coiling around my windpipe. It’s black, almost like an eel, with red, evil eyes… though how I know that in the dark, I cannot say.

It tightens and tightens around my throat. I cannot breathe. I’m suffocating. I’m dying. I’m—

***

I come to with a gasp. My heart is racing and my shirt is drenched. It’s dark.

I look around wildly and find that I’m back in the sunroom, on the unfamiliar bed. The heavy curtain across the glass wall is open, but it’s night outside.

It takes me a second to see that I’m not alone in the room. Sitting in Rose’s armchair, with his eyes on me, is Stonehart.

“So,” he says. “Finally, you’re up. I’ve been waiting to show you something.”

He reaches inside his pocket. Takes out his phone. Swipes one finger across the screen.

Before I can blink, that evil, red ring of light is rushing toward me from the outskirts of the room. I gasp and shy into myself. It stops in a tight circle around my bed. Pulsing. Threatening

“I want you to think, very carefully, Lilly, of how you’ve displeased me.” Stonehart stands. “I wouldn’t move from the bed, if I were you.”

With that, he walks out of the room, shoulders back and head held high.

And I am left forgotten once more.

The End.

Uncovering You #3 comes out May 10
th
, 2014.

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