“It just happened, Marti...I haven’t had time to process it myself.” Lola wandered to her window and stared outside for a few seconds, wondering where Beckett had gone and what he was going to do next. He was dangerous, that much was certain. She had no choice now but to come clean to her parents about what happened. “I wanted to tell you about it immediately, I just needed — “ her words were cut off when something struck the back of her head. She felt a brief stab of pain, and then everything went black.
Chapter Six
A tingling sensation in her fingers roused Lola into consciousness. Still not quite aware, she started to scold Barkey for using her as her pillow once again, but realized she wasn’t lying down, she was sitting upright, bound to an old wooden chair in what appeared to be the forgotten workshop behind her house. Her father had built it years before, a giant concrete building. He was intent on starting a woodworking business, an idea that never once saw the light of day. It became their unspoken storage unit, a place for unwanted goods to collect dust. She hadn’t been back there in months, and at times, forgot it existed.
Glancing around in horror, she found Marti beside her in a similar situation, her head slumped forward on her chest. A few feet away Barkey lay watching her, eyes miserable, a muzzle firmly in place on his snout.
What the fuck?
“Marti, wake up! Marti! Hey! Come on, you gotta wake up!” Lola shifted and wiggled, fighting against her bounds in an attempt to get free.
Marti groaned beside her, beginning to rouse. “Wh-what happened?” Their eyes met and Lola saw her own terror reflected back at her.
“I don’t know. I think...I think something hit me from behind. My head is pounding,” Lola told her, scanning her friend for any apparent injuries.
“I can see blood at the back of your head, Lo. Jesus fucking Christ.” Marti started wiggling in her chair, trying to loosen the ropes.
“Someone will find us. My parents will be back soon from church, and Oliver will surface at some point. Can you get free?”
“No, I don’t think so, can you? God, how did this happen?” Marti nearly tipped her chair over in her efforts, grunting in frustration when it appeared it was no use.
“It’s my fault. This was Beckett; it had to be. He’s not who I thought he was...he’s a menace, Marti. I’m so sorry I got you into this.”
“God, you’re so fucking selfish, Lola. How is it that you can never see what’s right in front of your face? Are you really that self-centered that you can’t pay any attention to the people that matter?” Marti spit out in disgust.
Lola stilled, shocked by her friend’s words. “Marti —” she began, only to be cut off.
“Just fucking save it. For once, just listen instead of making everything about you.” Marti threw her ropes on the ground and gained her feet, spinning to face her in a swirl of fury.
“I don’t understand…” Lola trailed off as Marti fisted her hands in her hair, letting out a shriek.
“Of course you don’t! You know, for someone that’s supposed to be so damn smart, you really don’t have a clue. You have no idea how good you have it, Lo. Beauty, brains, a perfect family complete with two adoring brothers. A bright future...you take it all for granted.” Marti paced in front of her, shooting furious glances in her direction as she raged.
“Marti. What are you talking about? Why are you so angry?” Seeing her friend unleash what was obviously a massive sized amount of issues on her shook Lola to the very roots of her soul. How was it that she truly didn’t know any of the people around her at all?
“Why am I angry? If you had paid attention for longer than three seconds to what actually goes on in my life, you’d know how bad it is for me at home. My father, God. He’s a monster. The things he does to me…” Marti trailed off as a shudder went through her body. “He’s vile; an ingrate. If you knew the unspeakable things he’s done, well let’s just say your innocence would have been lost long before Beckett.”
Lola’s heart broke at Marti’s confession. It was obvious she’d endured terrible trauma, and at the hands of a parent, no less. It was unthinkable. “I had no idea, Marti. None at all.” Her automatic reaction was to embrace her friend; to offer comfort. An impossible task considering she was still restrained. “Let me up, let me help you.”
“Help me? This is all happening because of you! I never would have had to endure life as the daughter of that sicko if it wasn’t for you.” The crazed look in Marti’s eyes only intensified with her words, her fury aimed at Lola.
“Marti. You’re not making any sense. Please, please just let me out of these ropes and we can take Barkey for a walk — “ Barkey’s ears perked up at the sound of his favourite word, his tail wagging enthusiastically — “And sort this out together.”
Marti stalked over to her and slapped her hard across the face, backed by it seemed the strength of ten men. Lola’s head snapped to the side, and her vision blurred. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth as she stared up at Marti in horror.
“Of course you think it’s not your fault. I don’t want to go for a damn walk; I’ve been on a million of them while you cater to that damn dog instead of recognizing your best
