Chapter 17: Chapter 15

Sophia's POV

I woke up feeling very warm and comfortable.

The feeling was completely unknown to me. I always slept on the floor. I was always cold and my body always hurt.

Why was I so comfortable?

Did I die? Was this heaven?

It couldn't be, though. I wouldn't go to heaven after I died. I didn’t deserve it. I let a man use my body in the most horrific ways possible. I would surely go to hell.

But this wasn’t hell. It couldn't have been hell. I felt like I was floating on clouds.

I didn’t want to open my eyes. I wanted to enjoy being comfortable as long as possible. I wanted to enjoy feeling warm. I wanted to enjoy feeling safe.

But I knew it wouldn't last long. I knew that whatever this was, it wouldn't last long. I knew I had to open my eyes.

“Do you think that she will be hungry when she wakes up?” I heard a quiet voice.

I frowned s little. Who was that?

“I don’t know,” a familiar voice said. “But she needs to eat. She is malnourished.”

I opened my eyes slowly. I was met with complete darkness. The only ray of light was coming from the door to my left.

“I will make breakfast,” someone said. “She will probably wake up soon.”

The other man said something, but I ignored him completely. I couldn't focus on what he was saying. My heart was racing a mile a minute and I couldn't breathe.

I was lying in bed.

A real bed.

I even had a blanket.

Why?!

That wasn’t allowed! I was breaking so many rules!

I had to get out!

I threw the blanket off me and sat up. I groaned in pain. My whole body hurt, but I ignored that as well. I already learned how to live with pain. I started moving as fast as I could until I reached the edge. I jumped up and tried to figure out how to make the bed so they wouldn't know I was sleeping in it.

How did I even get in there? I couldn't remember falling asleep.

I started feeling around the bed, trying to pull the covers up, but the door opened a bit more.

“I will let you know when she wakes up,” the familiar voice said.

My heart stopped. I let the blanket go and started backing up slowly until I hit a wall.

“I will need to check her up,” a new voice said coldly.

“I know,” someone said, sighing quietly. “I will let all of you know when she wakes up.”

I slid down the wall and pulled my knees to my chest. I felt like I was about to pass out.

“Why can’t I go in there?” someone asked angrily.

“Because I don’t want to scare her, Damien,” a familiar voice said angrily. “She is comfortable with me and she will need some time to adjust to the rest of you. I want to take it slowly.”

“You are just enjoying this, aren’t you?” someone snickered angrily. “She is my sister too. If you take her from me…”

“Maybe if you aren’t a cold jerk, she would trust you too by now,” someone interrupted the angry man.

“Fuck off, Luke!” the angry man said and another shiver went down my spine.

If he was angry now, how angry would he be once he realized I slept in that bed?

My heart was racing so fast that I could feel it banging against my rib cage. My palms were sweaty and my lungs felt like someone was squeezing the air out of me.

“I am not doing this,” the familiar voice said. “I am going back to her. I will call you when she wakes up.”

Someone was coming in?

My breath got caught in my throat. I was used to not screaming. It was forbidden. I wasn’t allowed to cry or scream or show fear in any other way.

But I wanted to scream now. I wanted to scream until I ran out of breath.

I didn’t want to do this anymore. I didn’t want to be scared anymore. I wanted it all to end. I needed it to end.

Something wet and warm fell on my cheeks as I watched the door open.

What would he do to me?

A tall, muscular man walked inside the room and closed the door behind him. He didn’t turn the light on. He walked to the bed and sat down.

“I missed you, baby,” he said quietly. “Your brothers can be so annoying. It is so nice to have a sister, you know? I can’t wait until you warm up to all of us. I can’t wait to make up for everything we missed.”

I was completely frozen. I couldn't breathe. All I felt was my heart racing like crazy.

Why was he so nice? Was he the same man who held me while I was in the hospital?

He was silent for a few moments before he called my name.

“Sophia?” he called me, his voice laced with panic.

I heard him jump up and a second later a blinding light made me bury my head into my knees.

“Baby!” he exclaimed and rushed toward me.

He picked me up effortlessly and carried me back to the bed.

“What happened?” he asked as he sat down and placed me on his lap. “Why did you leave the bed?”

I dreaded looking up at him. He knew that I was in bed.

Of course he knew. I didn’t have time to fix the sheets.

“Sophia?” he called me worriedly as he placed a finger under my chin and made me look up at him.

His familiar face made my heart slow down a little. It really was the same man from the hospital.

“What happened, baby?” he asked worriedly as he wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Are you in pain? Did you want to go to the bathroom?”

I didn’t know why, but I shook my head. Something about him made me feel like I could answer him without being told to.

“What happened then, Sophia?” he asked as he leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I felt so warm and safe. It was a completely unfamiliar feeling. It was something I had never felt before. I didn’t want to lose that because of the stupid mistake I made.

I didn’t answer him, but I did something I never thought I would.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned my head on his shoulder. I needed his comfort. I needed to feel safe.

“Oh, my baby,” he said softly as he wrapped his arms around me and started rocking me back and forth.

I was going to fall asleep again.

“I love you, Sophia,” he said. “I love you so much. You will always be safe with me. I promise, baby.”

He placed a hand on my head and pressed me closer to him. He rubbed my back gently and I closed my eyes.

“You will always be safe with your brothers,” he continued quietly. “We won’t let anyone hurt you. We are your biggest protectors, Sophia, and we will always be here for you.”

I was falling asleep again.

I wished that were true. I wished that someone did love me. I wished that I was protected as the man said.

But it was too late for me. Nothing and no one could protect me from the pain I felt inside.

“Sleep, my baby,” the man said as he kissed the top of my head. “I will be here when you wake up.”

He leaned his head on mine and sighed.

“I will always be here,” he said quietly just as I drifted off again.