Ugly(69)

Standing, the fear of going into that kitchen has hit my knees and they’re almost buckling as I slowly start moving. Terri’s sitting beside Trent and Mr. Hackly, and other than looking me up and down when I walked in, she hasn’t even acknowledged me. But now, she’s got a smug look plastered on her face. It’s as if she knows I’m about to be mauled by a ravenous lion who’s been starved and prodded with nails on a stick, just before being let loose to chase down its prey.

With my stomach in complete knots, I walk into the kitchen, where John is leaning against the counter with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “You need help?” I weakly ask. I’m terrified of this entire situation. Everyone is less than a few feet away and I know he’s going to try something, I can feel the cold snap of the stale air as I still when I reach the door way.

“The turkey needs basting.” He eyes the oven and then looks back to me. He’s standing directly in front of the oven, which means when I bend to get it out, he’s going to be looking at my bottom.

“Perhaps I can chop some vegetables while you do that,” I offer, hoping he’ll accept my alternative. But I know why he’s summoned me here, and it’s not to help him in the kitchen.

“Get the turkey, Lily.” He uncrosses his arms, and leans them against the counter.

I look around the kitchen for towels or gloves to slide the hot tray out of the oven. He starts chuckling, but the sound is forced and pretentious. I look over to him, and he has two tea-towels, one in each hand.

“May I have them, please?”

He lifts an eyebrow and smirks at me. “Sure, come and get them,” he says in a suggestive, yet disgusting manner. I slowly walk over, and when I get close to him, I hold my hand out to him. “Closer,” his voice has turned husky as his leer has become more revolting. I take another step, and he quickly darts an arm out around my waist and smashes me to his body.

“Please, don’t,” I beg as panic has now overtaken all my senses.

“I love it when sluts like you beg for me.” He licks the side of my face. I whimper and try to break free of his hold, but he’s stronger than me, and is keeping me firmly pinned against his body and his despicable erection. “I can’t wait until I get to taste that sweet spot of yours. I’m going to make you hurt, then I’m going to make you bleed.”

Bile rises to my mouth, and his words scare the life out of me. I’m hit with ‘fight or flight’ and I automatically scream and bring my knee up to connect with his groin. He lets me go as he doubles over in pain, but just as quickly as he buckles, he straightens and lunges toward me.

Grabbing me by the throat, he rears his arm above his opposite shoulder and back-hands me. I scream in pain as his strong hand makes contact with the side of my face, and he strikes again on the opposite side. “Bitch,” he screams at me.

In this one moment, all the air in my lungs painfully expels. My chest is heaving fire, and I can’t drag any oxygen into my lungs.

“What the hell is going on here?” I hear Trent yell.

John lets go of me, and I scuttle over behind Trent. He puts a protective arm out, a barrier between John and me. “He…he…” I desperately try to gasp for air. I bend at the waist and grab onto my knees, attempting to steady myself so I don’t lose consciousness and faint.

“Little bitch attacked me,” John says calmly as he grasps his groin. “She kneed me in the cock for no reason.”

“That’s not true,” I yell. “He grabbed me and told me he was going to make me hurt and bleed.” Wheezing, I’m still trying to calm my frightened body down. “He grabbed me.” I try to stay hidden from the beast.

“Lying, bitch. I invite you into my home, and this is how you repay me?”

“You’re sadistic and cruel. I didn’t touch you until you grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go.”

“Why are you lying, Lily? Why? You’ve been flirting with me from the day you met me.”

“You do flirt with him,” Trent says as he turns to look at me.

“No I don’t. I don’t even like him. He disgusts me,” I scream.

“You’ll be respectful to John, Lily. You’re in his house, and you’re a damn guest. Do not embarrass me,” Trent warns.

I can’t believe this, now I’m expected to thank him for almost assaulting me. “No.” I stand tall. “I will not respect him. Nor will I let this go. He grabbed me!”

It’s then Trent does what he always does. He hits me, reigniting the pain from where John slapped me. “You ungrateful, bitch.” Trent wraps his hand around my upper arm and starts dragging me out to the entertainment area, where everyone is standing, gawking at us.