Chapter 2

As I rushed out of the house, the sunlight outside was so blinding that I couldn't even open my eyes all the way.

Squinting through my barely opened eyes, I caught sight of my dad not too far off. He was busy shaking hands and raising a toast with the scam employees.

I yelled with all my might, "Dad! Save me!"

But in the very next instant, a hand suddenly covered my mouth, cutting off my cries.

From behind, Jason hauled himself up off the ground, grabbed me, and dragged me straight back into that pitch-black, windowless room.

"Still trying to mess with me?" Jason snarled. "Guess I should've hit you harder."

My hands were out of control, but I kicked backward with all the strength I had, catching Jason right in the nose. Blood immediately started pouring down his face.

"Dad!" I shouted again, my voice raw and desperate. I saw him start to turn, like he'd finally heard me.

But before I could do anything else, something heavy crashed down on the back of my head, and I blacked out instantly.

When I finally woke up, it felt like there wasn't a single inch of me that wasn't screaming in pain.

Sticky, warm blood was smeared all over me.

I'd been tossed back into this hellhole again. No sign of Jason or Mike at the door. They had to be outside to meet my dad.

"Dad, help me. I'm Stella," I screamed.

Crying and wincing with every move, I forced myself up with my elbows and dragged my battered body across the dirty floor and slammed it with my feet.

My hands were completely useless, nothing left in them but dead weight.

Kicking made an even louder noise. I had to make sure Dad would hear me, no matter what.

The next second, I heard my dad's voice, five years since I last heard it, coming from outside the door.

"What's happening there? Who's screaming for her dad?" he demanded.

Jason replied, "Mr. Morris, it's just a newbie. The newbies always go hysterical, bawling for their parents.

"But this one is trouble. She broke my nose and messed up your rule about no bloodshed over the Chriatmas.

"You may go check on the others first. I'll head in and shut her up."

Suddenly, the door was shoved open from the outside with brutal force, smashing right into me and sending me sprawling onto the floor.

Jason snarled, "Shut your filthy mouth, you damn brat!"

He yanked me up by the hair and dragged me to the table. Mike forced my mouth open wide and jammed my teeth down on the edge of the table.

Then, with his thick, meaty hands, the brute started pounding the back of my head, again and again.

Blood gushed into my mouth, but the table edge stopped me from spitting it out. I could feel teeth coming loose, a few even snapping off and sliding down my throat as I choked them down.

I couldn't make a sound anymore. My tongue felt like it had been crushed and mangled against the sharp edge of the table.

Jason spat hard in my face. "Quiet at last," he sneered.

With blood filling my mouth, I collapsed on the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. I could only let out a weak, broken moan from my throat. I couldn't even cry out for Dad anymore.

"Tie her up and throw a black cloth over her head. I don't want to even look at that face. It's getting on my nerves," Jason snapped.

Just as they finished binding my hands and feet and pulled a black cloth over my head, I heard my dad's voice booming from the doorway.

He demanded, "Didn't I say no blood on Chriatmas's Day? What the hell is this mess?

"Why is there blood all over the place? What are you even doing here?"

'Dad! It's me, Stella,' I screamed in my mind, but not a single sound came out. My mouth was overflowing with blood, leaking out through the black cloth tied over my head.

I writhed on the filthy floor like a helpless worm, straining with every muscle to inch closer.

Just a little more! If I could crawl a few inches further, I'd see my dad, the one I'd been aching to see for five whole years.

"I don't want any bloodshed on Chriatmas Day. You two had better watch yourselves. If I catch you screwing up again, you'll pay for it," Dad snapped.

"Yes, Mr. Morris," they replied.

Just like that, my dad left again. Once more, we passed right by each other.

Despair crashed over me. I thought I was going to die here.

"Didn't I tell you two to knock it off? What the hell are you doing now?" that familiar voice echoed through the room.

Jason growled and kicked me hard in the stomach. I curled up in the corner, gasping and whimpering, too broken even to cry.

Jason spat, "This chick is nuts.

"She keeps yelling that Mr. Morris is her dad and won't shut up about it.

"I've been around here for years. Mr. Morris doesn't even have a woman, so where did some grown daughter come from?

"She's just looking for a way to escape."

The man's voice suddenly went frantic. "Hurry up and take that damn hood off her," he shouted.

Jason shrank back, nervous as hell, and fumbled to yank the black cloth off my head.

"Are you fucking brain-dead?" the man snarled, barely holding back his rage.

He slammed his foot right into Jason's gut. Jason dropped like a sack. He curled up on the ground and couldn't even get up.

"She's really Mr. Morris's daughter, Stella Morris!" the man shouted.