Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

I wake up to more pain.

It's sharp and bruising

a heavy throb that pulses from behind my eyes, spreading like wildfire throughout my head.

My whole body feels numb and sore, like I've been through something terribly violent...

For a long moment, I can't even remember where I am. The darkness presses in around me, wrapping itself around my chest and squeezing the breath from my lungs.

I blink back slowly, trying to push myself up, but... something's wrong. My wrists.

They're tied.

Wait... I've been here before...

I'm tied up, again.

I freeze.

A sickening weight settling in my stomach, heavy with the realisation of where I still was.

I struggle, my heart starting to hammer in my chest as I yank at the restraints, but the plastic digs deeper into my skin, and the pain only intensifies.

I gasp loudly, panic rising up fast, the world tilting around me as I thrash against the bed and start to scream hysterically.

I can't breathe. I can't think. My body trembles uncontrollably as the overwhelming feeling of being trapped presses down on me.

Everything was blurry after... after Ashton. Passing out. The car. The conversation. The slap...

I shudder, remembering the coldness in his eyes.... his face coming in to my mind like a crazed stalker.

I blink again, slowly this time in an attempt to calm my breathing, forcing myself to take in the room around me properly.

It's small. Barren. White walls that feel sterile and unwelcoming. A door that's slightly ajar, the faintest sliver of light spilling in from the hallway, but nothing else. No windows, no sounds from outside. Just suffocating silence. This is a nightmare.

I must be dreaming?

But no... the pain in my wrists, the overwhelming sense of being completely, utterly powerless... it's all too real.

I can't stay here, I'll have to convince him to let me go, but how will I do that if he isn't sane?!

I tug at the restraints again, harder this time, desperation making my hands shake. It's useless. There's no escaping these stupid little plastic ties.

I turn my head, looking around for anything

And then I hear it.

anything at all that could help me break free.

A door closing and locking somewhere in the distance before - footsteps.

My heart stutters in my chest, and I freeze, straining my ears. It's him. Ashton. He's coming back...

I don't know what to say. What could I say to make him see reason?

My breath catches in my throat as the footsteps come closer, nearer, until they stop.

The door creaks open slowly.

Before there he is....

My pulse quickens. I want to scream, to yell at him, cuss him out, but I can't get the words out. Not yet. My voice is thick, suffocating with growing fear. "Ashton," I whisper, my voice shaking. But it feels hollow, like I'm barely here at all, barely breathing.

He steps into the room, his figure looming in the doorway.

"Good, you've woke up... again!" He starts, as I pull my knees up to my chest, shrinking back from him.

His lips curve up into something resembling a smile, but it's twisted. Disturbing. And I don't know why, but it sends a shiver crawling down my spine.

"Look, Sofia," he says, his voice soft, almost too soft, like he's speaking to a child. "You need to calm down now, I don't want to hurt you again."

I blink, confused for a split second.

Calm down?!

"B-But you just slapped me!" I state, the words falling out in short pants, coming to terms with the reason for my thumping headache and for my passing out the second time around - it was all him!

I was most definitely concussed, as I felt the nausea sitting in the pit of my stomach, a reminder of all the stress and fear I had faced.

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"I just need you to listen to me! Stop freaking out! If you calm down, then I'll untie you, how about that?" Ashton tests, dangling the carrot of my freedom in front of me, as I instantly nod at the proposal.

If he cuts me loose then I'll at least be free to find an escape... but I have to play my cards right here.

Ashton had proven already that he was prepared to be violent and I couldn't risk hitting my head for a third time tonight...

Was it even still night time outside? It could have been days by now for all I knew, especially with the lack of windows in the room to help me tell how long it had been...

How long had I been passed out for in total I wonder? Between the first time and the second? It all made me feel growingly worse...

Were people aware that I was gone by now? Were people out looking for me?

Or did they just assume that I had left town?! Surely not when Emma knew I was supposed to stay with her... she will know somethings wrong, won't she?

"I want you to learn to trust me. We will work on it. The first step is untying you, ok?" He seems to reach his hand in to his back pocket, before retrieving a pair of scissors as my eyes immediately light up with hope. This is seeming to go a little better than the first time around... at least he's going to cut me out now...

"But first I want you to promise me that you won't try to run or scream anymore... deal? Just let me show you around for a minute?" Ashton continues on, taking his time to round the side of the bed in which I was currently tied to. I only nod again, already knowing that it was in my best interest to stay calm right now since I didn't want to aggravate him any further.

He outweighed me in both height and muscle, I would have no chance out running or even fighting him back... I had to be smart.

"Say it!" He demands through his teeth, leaning down to face me at eye level next as I swallow the lump in my throat.

"I p-promise..." I recite, and with that, he smiles slowly - reaching a hand up to stroke my cheek gently.

Using the same hand that he had just slapped me with earlier...

I could practically feel myself tremble beneath his touch as I allowed for him to bask in the silent moment for a few minutes longer - just hoping that each second would add to his trust towards me...

Eventually, he breaks eye contact and moves to examine my torn up wrists, wedging the scissors between the ties before a quick snip is heard and I manage to wiggle free - immediately clutching my wounded flesh in to my chest. I felt relieved to be free but the sudden rush of fresh air to the tender skin made me suck in through my teeth sharply.

It burns...

"Good girl, now follow me." Ashton chimes, seeming to dance between an array of personalities - each contradicting the last with the change of his tone and his actions.

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I swing my legs over the opposite side of the bed to where he stands, as he watches me carefully.

At first, I struggle to find my balance, worried at first incase I collapse once again but thankfully I don't.

I steady myself after a moment, sighing slightly as I move towards the door - my actions slow and careful.

Ashton moves by me, out in to the corridor (if you could even call it that) as I step out behind him and squint at the surrounding space.

There was one other door facing the room I was in currently and the rest of the large concrete area seemed like some type of warehouse building or a basement, I wasn't sure which?

"The bathroom." He points to the other door as I nod and allow him to give me whatever horrifying 'tour' he had seemingly prepared for me.

"Now, it's not the greatest in terms of furniture and decoration, I know that, but it's the best I could do in only a day..." Ashton steps aside, opening out his arms as I take in the set up.

A single red sofa in the centre of the room placed on top of a musty green rug, with a small television facing it.

To the left was a makeshift kitchen area - a couple of countertops, a sink and a fridge.

What the hell is this?!

"Do you like it?" He tests, seeming almost pleased with himself as I lick my drying lips - unsure of what to make of the whole situation as of just yet. "W-What is this for?!" I ask him, as he gives me a look as though I was being stupid for asking.

Was it supposed to be obvious?

"It's for you? It's somewhere for you to live until we fix this relationship between us." He states 'matter-of-factly' as my jaw loosens at his words.

My mouth falls open, my eyes growing wide, as I take a second to glance around at the dark, dull space - a single bare bulb hanging above us.

"B-But can't we just work to fix it like a normal couple? I told my friend I would stay at her place tonight Ashton... I could meet you to talk about everything at a cafe or something?!" I begin to ramble, my voice growing in pitch with the more scared that I become.

"With your track record of running off and skipping town?! I don't think you understand what I'm saying here Sofia. You WILL remain here until I feel we've properly fixed things... until I trust you fully, you can't get out." He deadpans. As my heart stills for a second.

He's holding me captive down here for as long as it takes, that's what he's saying. He's set this room up for me to live in... Somebody has to help me!