Breaking Point

Prologue

The bag was ripped off of Vera's head roughly, causing her brown hair to fall in front of her face and obscure her vision all over again. She jerked in response, her arms and legs pulling at the ropes that bound her to her chair. A low sob made its way out of her throat and she heard her captor laugh at the sound.

The memories of her kidnapping rushed back to her: her dark bedroom, flopping down on her bed to sleep, being suddenly awoken with a wet rag against her mouth, and then nothing. She had no idea what time it was, what day it was, where she was. A tightening feeling began in her chest at the thought. She hated not knowing things, and this was the biggest unknown of her life.

The man brushed her hair out of her face, and Vera looked up to see her sister's controlling ex-boyfriend, Charlie. He smiled cruelly at her. "Hello, Vera."

Her heart stopped. She had always hated Charlie, from the moment Grace brought him home for dinner one night. He'd nitpicked at the food that Grace ate and had given Vera creepy glances throughout the entire meal. When they'd finished eating, the family had gone into the living room to visit, Vera's mother and father on the couch, Vera and her little sister, Olivia, in a chair, and Grace and Charlie in the other. Vera had watched as Charlie's grip on Grace's leg grew tighter and tighter, to the point that Grace was wincing. It had taken her four months to break up with Charlie, and Vera had never been more relieved.

Now, Charlie was staring down at her, something possessive in his gaze.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" Vera asked.

He laughed and took a few steps away from the chair she was tied to. His footsteps echoed, and Vera looked around to find that she was in a massive, empty building. There was a flight of stairs leading up to a loft area, but other than that, there was nothing. No furniture, no windows. No people. Her breathing sped up as the tight feeling in her chest intensified.

"Charlie?"

"Oh, Vera, Vera, Vera," he cooed. "I didn't want to do this. I truly didn't, but it was either you or Olivia. I'm sure you'll appreciate that I chose you."

She did. No twelve-year old girl should go through what she knew was in store for her. Charlie was unhinged, abusive, terrifying. Vera wasn't sure that she would live through this.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked. She could hear the fear in her voice and cursed herself for it. Fear only fed people like him. He laughed again, the sound magnified, and turned around to look at her. His smile chilled her to her bones.

"Nothing," he said simply. He put his hands in his pockets and strolled to a set of double-doors on the other side of the building. He said nothing else, the squeaks of his rubber soles driving her crazy as he crossed the room. Finally, he reached the door, pushed it open, and said, "Yet."