Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 34

From Caiden’s Point of View

I sat in the corner rocking back and forth my whole body shaking. I didn't dare making a sound to afraid that they would find me. I've been here for two years now and knew this was probably a stupid thing to do. But I couldn't think of a better plan since I was only eight. I knew they'd find me, they always do.

Click.

The sound of the basement door unlocking made my head snap up to the part of the stairs I could see.

Creak, creak.

My body only started to shake more as I tried to hold back my sobs.

“Oh Caiden!" She yells in a sickly-sweet voice throughout the basement as she stepped on the cold concrete floor,” I don't appreciate my toys hiding,” she hissed out angrily as she walked slowly around the basement her heels clicking against the floor with each step she took,” sweetie I told you I'd take care of you. When have I ever broken a promise?" Her voice turned from angry to sweet once again and I could only imagine her sickly smile. I almost scoffed out loud as I looked at my bruises and scars on my arms and legs.

“Boo." A whispered said near my ear making me jump up. I ignored the pain it caused me and looked over at the woman," I found you,” she whispered her eyes were as cold as ice as she looked at me.

I sat up gasping for breath as I looked around the empty dorm room. I was glad Jason wasn't here to witness this. I was tangled in my bed sheets and I was sweating and gasping for breath trying to calm myself down.

“It was only a dream,” I muttered to myself before letting out a dark chuckle. Who was I kidding? That was no dream and it definitely wasn't any nightmare. No, it was darker than any nightmare. It was a memory. After untangling myself from my sheets I grabbed the bottle of whiskey from under my bed and took a swig from the bottle. Checking the time I notice it read 2:54.

I didn't even sleep for an hour, I thought wryly. I rubbed the stubble on my chin before sitting against the headboard with the bottle in my hand. I needed to be numb again. I couldn't get lost in my thoughts. My memories seemed to control my thoughts every second of every day. It doesn't matter that it's been seven years. Today was the day when I was taken seventeen years ago. I seem to still relive those ten fucking years of captivity every single night.

***

After the whole scene at breakfast I was now in a situation I never thought I'd be in. Claire's thumb lightly wiped the remaining tears on my face making me making jump. I started at her, my eyebrows furrowed. The gentle touch was foreign. It reminded me when I was younger and my mom would wipe my tears. I was surprised at the good memory that just flashed in my mind. I haven't had one good memory in I don't know how long.

I grabbed Claire's hand placing her whole palm on my cheek. Her eyes widened at the gesture and didn't hesitate to speak on my actions." What are you doing?" She mumbled her voice was so soft I almost didn't hear her.

“Tomorrow I'll go back to hating you but right now I'll enjoy the fucking comfort,” I told her letting myself relax and breathe.

“Why don't we go back and finish eating?" She suggested and I immediately released her hand and tried to stop the urge to glare at her.

“I'd rather go to hell."

I watched carefully never once taking my eyes off of her petite body. She picked a flower that was next to the bench and I watched as she flashed a beaming smile.

“Whenever I see a daisy I always think about my childhood,” she said aloud twirling the flower with her fingertips.

"Why?" I mumbled. I decided to not let her know how much I hate my childhood.

“A daisy represents innocence, purity and your childhood. I remember when I was fourteen and had what I thought was my first love. I found a meadow not too far from here and all there was were daisies. Everywhere you turned you would see white and yellow. I would go there after school and just pick the petals. “A small chuckle escaped my lips. I rubbed my chin as I pictured a small girl on a meadow picking flowers and taking off the petals.

“So you were one of those little school girls, “I said smirking before mocking her, "He loves me, he loves me not,” I watched as her jaw dropped and held back another chuckle when she smacked my chest.

“I was not! I just liked picking the petals."

“Yea and I like going dress shopping,” I said sarcastically before rolling my eyes.

“Whatever,” she says playfully glaring at me.

“You know, Martez I never thought you could be so deep,” her last name was foreign on my lips.

“Well Anderson, it's not like you've actually taken the time to get to know me."

“Hmm what's there to know?"

“Not much," She agreed." Only the little things."

“Okay, baby doll. What's your favorite color?" She raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but seemed to side against commenting on it.

“Red. Yours?"

“Black."

“I don't even know why I asked. I could have easily guessed that,” she shook her head while grinning,” siblings?"

“None. You?"

“One younger brother,” she replied scrunching up my nose. I couldn't help but notice that she looked cute while doing that.

“Do you have a thing going on with that friend of yours?" The question came out of my lips without much of s thought about it. Great now the slut is going to think I like her.

“Nathan?" I responded by nodding my head.

“No? We've been friends for years. We're just really close."

“Do you even get tired of going through girls like candy?"

“Never,” I responded without hesitation. She narrowed her eyes but my answer still didn't change. Woman will forever and always be nothing in my mind.

“Why?"

“Woman are about as innocent and evil as any male," I said before asking another question so she wouldn't question me about my answer

“Why do you like Halloween so much?"

“I never told you I liked it,” she said, raising her eyebrow.

“Even a blind man could tell you like it."

“In general, I just like the season,” she replied, not looking at me. “The plants may start to die, but as sickening as it is to think this it's beautiful. The death of plants oddly have its beauty,” Looking at the small flower in her hand she continued," It seems as though only the strongest survive though."

But do they really? I thought bitterly. I survived ten years of torture yet look at me. I'm almost like the walking dead.

“Why do you hate Halloween?" My eyes darkened as I let out a bitter laugh, “It's such a long story that may even just turn your heart into stone just by hearing it."

“How so?"

“Baby doll my life story isn't roses and daisies. It dark, haunting, callous,” my dark smirk returned," Did I mention merciless?" She bit her lip removing her eyes from my face and instead focused them up on the sky.

"I don't know if I want to know,” she said. Yet her eyes still sparkled with a bit of curiosity. “I may be curious but I don't know if I'm exactly ready to hear about it yet."

"Curiosity killed the cat but this time there isn't anything satisfactory to bring it back,” I said as my wall came up just like that. I need to feel numb again. Too many thoughts and feelings were filling in my head again,” I have to go,” I said as I stood up,” she seemed to notice my sudden change in emotion and nodded also standing up.

“It was nice seeing a side others don't see,” she said giving me a soft smile. “Don’t be mad at Nick for being happy. Believe me you will find someone out there that will make you happy too,” she said before heading back to the way we came. The thing was she didn't even know how wrong she was.

“See you around, baby doll,” I yelled out before she disappeared and she turned around saluting me. "You know it asshole,” she winked with a smirk placed on her face before quickly crossing the road. I smiled wryly when I once again embraced the feeling of being alone again. I made my way down the sidewalk a few minutes later and took the two-mile walk. When I arrived, I didn't hesitate to pay for a whole bottle of whiskey before leaving. I was irritated that I had to pay a little extra but in the end, I let it slide.