“Go to hell!” she yelled after hearing the venom in his words. There was no way anyone would talk to her that way, no one. He merely smiled, a low chuckle elicited his lips. Getting closer to her, like a predator surrounding his prey. Marlena got off the bed, quickly. This room was already causing her nightmares, and now she was here, all over again, but this time it was him. Same house, a different devil. “Do you want to try this again, baby?” he spoke firmly, inches away from her heated body. She took a deep breath “Kit...try to be reasonable for a second here..” she took on a slightly different approach, maybe he would calm down, perhaps he would listen to the voice of reason, just this once.

“Oh?”

“Yes. You see, I’m too weak...I’m wounded...I won't be any good in this state” she flinched when she could feel his breath on her face, he was close. Too close

Kit raised his hand as if to hit her, and she threw her arms up to protect her face. His hand slammed against the wall. While she cringed, the bastard laughed. Slowly, she moved to bring her arms down and cover her breasts. Kit grabbed both her wrists in his left hand and pressed them to the wall over her head. Pinned between him and the wall, Marlena reacted like a frightened deer. She froze as if her stillness would discourage his predatory nature. Like a snake that only eats live mice.  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

She heard the question, but the words had no meaning. Her brain ceased to function as it should. The only thing her mind could focus on was his closeness. The intense warmth of his firm fingers pressed into her wrists. The clean, wet smell of his skin in the air around her. The invisible pressure of his gaze upon her.  When she failed to respond, the fingers of his right hand trailed across the underside of her right breast, the fabric of her nightgown made his fingers balmy satin against her flesh. Their past encountered forced its way into her consciousness. “Go fuck yourself.”

“…I’d much rather fuck you.” her knees slightly buckled and her nipples hardened. She took a sharp breath and leaned away from Kit's touch, forcing her tightly shut eyes into the skin of her upraised arm.  His lips caressed the shell of her ear, “Are you going to answer? Or must I force you again?”

Food? Her stomach suddenly twisted sharply. A primal pain. Yes, there was her hunger, when he reminded her of it. Marlena was absolutely starving. She mustered up her courage by taking a deep breath.

“Yes.”  she felt his smile against her ear, and then his fingers held her chin. In her peripheral vision, she watched him lean into her. His breath was cool against her heated flesh.

 “Yes,” he repeated her response, “you’re hungry? Yes, you’re going to answer? Or yes, I have to force you again?”  her heart raced. Marlena felt his breath on her cheek. There was suddenly not enough air, as if his closeness sucked it out of her lungs.

“Or is it just yes?” her lips parted, and her lungs pulled in deep, bringing in as much air as they could. It didn’t seem like much. She forced herself to answer through her panic. “Yes,” she stammered, “I’m hungry.” she knew Kit smiled, though she couldn’t see it.

A shiver, so strong her body nearly jerked toward his, ran down her spine.  He kissed her softly on the cheek. She thought she whimpered. Then he walked out of the room, leaving her paralyzed even after she heard the door shut.

Kit returned shortly with a wheeled cart laden with food. Her stomach gnawed as she smelled the meat and bread. It was difficult to control the urge to run toward the food.

 

The door shut and fear and hunger tore at her insides. He came closer, and she flinched, releasing her ankle from its cuff. He walked away from her and sat on the velvet chair by the table  “Come here,” he said. His voice startled her, but she moved to walk toward him. “Stop. I want you to crawl over here.”

Her legs shook. Crawl? Are you kidding me? Just run Marlena. Run right now. He stood, looking straight at her. Run where? Remember how quickly he slammed you to the door?

Pure hatred in her eyes, her knees hit the floor. What choice did she have? Marlena put her head down, but she could still feel his eyes on her like a weight that promised his hand.

Her knees and her palms moved across the ground until she reached the tops of his shoes.  She was trapped. She was nearly naked, wearing only her black nightgown. Weak. Scared. She was in his mercy. He bent and gathered her hair in both his hands. Slowly, he lifted her head until their eyes met. He looked at her intently; his brows were knit together, his mouth set in a hard line. “I wish I hadn’t done this to you,” he said while looking at her injured hip. “You really are a beautiful creature; it’s a shame.” Her heart twisted. A memory, the memory ripped through her defenses and surfaced at the forefront of her mind.

 

Instinctively, Marlena’s hands grabbed his wrists in an effort to guide his hands from her hair, but he held her firmly. Not roughly, just firmly. Without words, he made himself clear; he wasn’t done looking at her yet. Incapable of holding his gaze, she averted her eyes to some point just beyond him.  The very air around her seemed to shift to accommodate him.

His breath skated across her cheek. Marlena shut her eyes and took a deep breath in the hopes of calming down. The smell of him mingled with the food and rushed into her lungs. The combination did strange primal things to her. She suddenly felt carnivorous. Unable to help herself, she whispered, “It’s your fault. You did it. All of this is your fault. You’re a murderer.” she felt good to say the words.

She felt she should have said them sooner, but never got the chance.

 

A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her neck, its slow crawl over her collarbone, across her chest, and into the well of her breasts served to remind her of her body. Her soft, breakable body. Kit sighed deeply and let out a slow breath. She shivered, unable to discern whether the sigh meant he had calmed or he was about to slap her senseless. His voice, thinly coated with civility, filled her head, “I’d watch what you say to me, Kitten. There is a world of difference between a murderer and me. One that I think you’ll learn to appreciate, despite yourself. But make no mistake; I am still capable of things you can’t imagine. Provoke me again, and I’ll prove it.” Kit let her go. She sank without thinking, back down to all fours, once again staring at his shoes. She was sure she’d completely break down if she tried to imagine all the things she wasn’t capable of imagining because she could imagine some pretty horrible things. In fact, she imagined some of those horrible things when his voice interrupted her thoughts. “You’re entire life is going to change. You should try to accept that because there’s no possible way to avoid it. Like it or not, fight it or don’t, your old life is over. It was over long before you woke up here.”  There were no words; this was a crazy man. Her mind drifted to John again. He was perfect, and he loved her more than she loved anyone. He was telling her she’d never see him again, that she’d never see anyone she loved again. She should have expected those types of words. Every villain had a similar speech, “Don’t try to get away, it’s impossible,” but until then, she hadn’t realized how truly terrifying those words were. And he stood above her as if he were a god who had torn the sun away, not caring for her devastation. “Address me as Sir. Every time you forget, I will be forced to remind you. So you can choose to obey or choose punishment. It’s entirely up to you.” Her head snapped up and her shocked, horrified, pissed off eyes met his. She wasn’t going to call him Sir. No. Fucking. Way. She was sure he could see the determination in her eyes. The unspoken challenge behind them that screamed, Just try and make me, asshole. Just try. He lifted a brow, and his eyes responded, With pleasure, Kitten. Just give me a reason. Rather than risk a fight she couldn’t possibly win, Marlena returned her eyes to the ground. She was going to get out of there. She just had to be smart. “Do you understand?” he said smugly. Yes, Sir. The words remained unspoken, their absence duly noted. “Do. You,” he leaned forward, “Under. Stand?” He drew out each word as if speaking to a child or someone who doesn’t understand English.  Her tongue pushed against her teeth. Marlena stared at his legs, unable to answer him, unable to fight him. A lump began to form in her throat, tears gathered at the corners of her hazel eyes, and she swallowed hard to keep it down, but the tears eventually poured down. These were not the tears of pain or fear but of frustration. “Very well then, I guess you’re not hungry. But I am.” At the mention of food, her mouth surged again with saliva. The smell of the food twisted her stomach into tight knots. While he tore off pieces of bread, her nails dug into the thin carpet where her tears now dripped onto the floor. What did he want from her that he couldn’t just take? Marlena sniffled, trying not to sob. He touched her again, stroking the back of her head. “Look at me.” she wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and looked up at him. He sat back in his chair; head cocked to one side. He appeared to be considering something. She hoped whatever it wouldn’t cause her more humiliation, but she doubted it.

He picked up a piece of cut meat from his plate and slowly stuck it in his mouth, all the while looking at her face. Every tear that sprang from her eye she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. Next, he picked up a piece of cubed beef. She swallowed hard. He leaned forward and held the delicious smelling cube to her lips, she threw her hands up around his hand and wrapped her mouth around his fingers to get the food away from him. Oh my god, she was so hungry, she wasn't even thinking.

His fingers were thick and salty against her tongue, but she managed to wrest the meat from between them. He moved quickly; his hands found control along the sides of her head as he tilted it up toward his. “I’ve been entirely too kind, and you’re going to learn just how civil I’ve been. You’ve been very proud, too proud, and I’m going to teach you a lesson.”  Then he stood up with enough force to push her backward onto the floor. He walked out of the room and shut the door. Marlena heard the lock.

Behind her, the food beckoned.

 

Marlena didn’t even register what she shoved in her mouth. It was food to fill the emptiness in her belly, and she ate until she couldn’t. Her hunger was no longer gripping her; she finally saw the metal knife amidst the table.  Frantically she clutched at it and ran to the boarded up window, stabbing uselessly at the boards. As her meal continued to make its way to her stomach, the metal knife bent under her hands as she pried at the window. Breathing quickly and shallowly, Marlena finally threw the bent silverware across the room towards the closed door. Tears once again blurred her vision as an overwhelming tide of fear and sadness dragged her under.

“If won’t find a way to get out of here, you’re fucked. He’s going to come back, and he’s going to do something awful. Really, really, fucking bad and there’s nothing you can do to stop him. Please, please, please God, please get me out of this. Please let John find me, somehow…

She rushed toward the darkly lit bathroom, lifted the toilet lid and vomited everything she’d eaten. Marlena screamed,  her voice echoed against the porcelain, a strangled gurgling sound that finally gave way too weepy moans and heavy breathing. She actually felt a little better after that. Hungry again, but calmer. Marlena looked away, focusing instead on washing her face and rinsing her mouth in the porcelain sink.. Above the sink, there was a circular mirror. She saw her face for the first time since she’d ran away. The skin around her eye had taken on a light purplish-green color; it felt puffy to the touch. Marlena touched the bite marks on her throat with her fingers, surprised it hurt less than it did before.

She didn’t know what was happening to her, but Kit was at the center of it. He was the source of all this pain and confusion. Whatever had befallen her or would befall her, it would be on account of his distorted and perverted appetite. Defeated, she turned around and began walking out.  The bedroom door swung open, making her jump. Frantically, she searched the bathroom for a way to escape or somewhere to hide. It was irrational, as she’d already established there was no escape. Nevertheless, instinct was instinct. Marlena’s instincts said to hide, even for the few seconds it would take for him to find her.  

 

Kit walked directly to the bathroom, humming. As he reached the doorway, she stood in front of him, head held high, in plain sight. He approached her calmly, without the wickedness he exhibited before and called for her in a calm voice. “I want you to come closer.”  He stretched out his hand toward her. Weary, she stared at it for what seemed a long time, thinking of the damage waiting to be done by that hand. His calm and my fear hung between us in a thick and heavy coil. He was going to hurt her, something in her knew it. That certainty nearly numbed her. Searching to work her way into his good graces, Marlena reached out tentatively, waiting for the snake to strike. She touched his out-stretched hand, wanting to recoil and shrink back. But she didn’t. He smiled. It was a smile that struck her instantly as both friendly and evil. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, and from his touch, electrical energy trickled into her. She was utterly petrified. He pulled her towards him slowly, and soon she stood staring at him with wide eyes and anxious breath.

“Kit...” she began, “I want some answers” she was stalling, and she hoped he’ll play along, “Ah-ah” he nodded his head, “try this again.” He looked at her, seeing the realization in her eyes as she understood what he wanted to hear her say. To get him off of her, she would say just about anything. Taking a deep breath of air “Sir.”

 

Kit smiled, “now, was that so hard?” his fingers closed around her arms, he smiled, but then it faded “what do you want to know, Kitten?”

“Why am I here? How do you know of what….what happened here?...” although she was trying to buy herself some time, this was something she was dying to know. Was he working with Stefano? No. Stefano is a twisted man, but he would never let anyone else treats her in this manner. Let alone shoot her. “So many questions, baby...well” his fingers dug deep into her flesh, “I was watching a very interesting tape the other day, I wasn't sure what I’d find on it when I snatched it, but believe me, it was highly rewarding…” he licked his lower lip and it made her shiver. What tape? What was he talking about? Her mind filled with questions, images, memories. She was missing something. “What tape? What are you talking about?” she jerked her arms to get herself free from his stronghold, but to no avail.

“Oh, come on Marlena, I know you’re smarter than that! Think Kitten, think” her mind was cloudy and hunger stroke her again, but then it hit her, like million sharp pieces. The rape tape that Stefano sent to Roman, it went missing.

Her eyes grew to the realization that he was at her house, that he watched that horrible insult on her body and soul. He smiled, watching her eyes as they roamed frantically around the room, “yes baby, yes. There you go, I knew you’d figure this out.” he chippered, and it made her wanna vomit again, except she didn't. “From the very first time that I’ve watched that tape, I was intrigued, I was fascinated by you, by your cry, your moans, your hot body. I dreamt about this footage for months, about this bed” he looked to his side, seeing the king sized bed at his peripheral vision. She was shocked; her body trembled on the notion of how twisted this man really was, he planned this, all of this, up until the very last detail.

“You sick bastard!” she yelled, not being able to fake it any longer. Quickly his hand reached the back of her head as he yanked on her soft hair, pulling her closer to him, lifting her head up, “tisk-tisk, you watch that pretty little mouth of yours...before I fuck it. Are we clear?” he spoke through his teeth, she sobbed and twitched with pain, nodding her head, “No, I want to hear you say it, Marlena” his lips were close to hers. She closed her eyes; tears found their way back into her eyes as she said quietly “Yes, Sir.” She didn't want to aggravate him any more than he already was, he was insane, and she knew how to deal with those. You must play along and beat them at their own territory.

“Next time, don't make me repeat myself, Kitten” releasing her hair, she almost fell, holding the sink behind her for support.

“Any more questions?”

“Where’s Stefano?” her reply was quick

“I guess that he is in Salem, where he has been for months.” his eyes roamed her body, he wasn’t really into making conversation, and he was getting impatient.

She noticed how his pupils dilated when his eyes locked on her breasts and it made her sick to her stomach. “H-how did you get this place if you didn’t get it from Stefano?”

“Well my dear, when Stefano went chasing after you back to Salem, he had his staff close this place up and move to Salem with him, which was perfect and exactly what I needed.”

She could feel his big hands on her forearms again, moving up and down, he couldn’t take that feeling of her skin under his fingertips out of his head, she was so soft and so delicate, but her spirit was made out of fire and flame. She saw the twinkle in his eyes again, and it scared her.

He held the palm of her hand up to his face so she could feel his skin. The intimacy of this single act forced her eyes to the floor, and she abruptly feared his kindness more than his cruelty.  He ran her fingers across his face, holding her hand firmly when she tried to shrink away.

He wasn’t shaved. His touch was simple, but specific, meant to show me he could be like a lover, gentle, intimate, but also he was a man unaccustomed to hearing the word no. He raised his right hand, pushing her golden hair off her shoulder, and then caressed the back of her bare arm. A violent shiver ran down her spine, causing her to move back. The cold porcelain of the sink grazed her skin. As if it were a dance, he stepped forward. His fingers speared into her hair, possessive, cradling Marlena’s head as she continued to stare at the floor. He kissed her fingers, nibbling at them with his teeth.

 

“Why did you bring me back here?” her voice was low as it was carried by a cold breeze, her eyes locked on a spot on the wall tiles behind him, “Well, ‘Doc’-”

“Don’t you dare call me that” she spat quickly.

His fingers dug deep into her skin now, she could feel his nails marking her, she whimpered with pain, Marlena forgot just how strong he was “You need some discipline” his piercing eyes wouldn't leave hers, “but I want to show you something. I’m sure the shrink in you would love it...I’m about to show you how a real good mind fuck looks like. Come on” he released her arms, motioning her towards the entrance.

 

She stormed out of the bathroom, covering her face with her hands as she told herself repeatedly, You are not here. This is a dream, a horrible dream. Any moment now, You’re going to wake up. She leaned her palm against the nearest wall. The mantra just made it seem more real.  She didn’t cry when he placed his hands on her forearms and turned her. She didn’t know what was coming. Marlena felt hollow as if her body was merely a shell holding her broken soul inside it. He led her toward the bed, standing her in front of it. Slowly, her eyes lost focus, as if her brain had begun shut down procedures.

“Look at the screen,” he said, holding her forearms from the back, his demand was not to be crossed, although, all she ever wanted to do, was to turn around and kick his groin. Pressing the remote, the tape started playing, the screen was pitch black, a familiar melody caught her ear. Yes. She has heard it before. Where?

The screen faded into her worst nightmare.

You evil son of a bitch.

She saw herself, right in the very same room she was standing right now, but it was dimly lit. Stefano held her pressed to the wall, she sobbed.

Marlena quickly took her eyes away from the screen, shutting them off with immense pain, she shook her head. Small but steady shakes. Her heartbeat pulsated in her ears; her breathing became labored with pain. Anxiety coursed through her body only to settle in her stomach, making her feel nauseous.  Was this really happening? Was this her own whimpering she was listening too? Her instincts didn’t say run, or hide; they said, stay still. They said… Please make it stop.

He released her arms. She quickly put her arms around herself. She felt as though these images were burning a hole through her. What was he doing to her mind? Her eyes opened up but looked at the floor. She had nightmares about this man on the screen, nightmares about him raping her.

 

This was real. Real touching, real intimidation, real man, real fear. He caressed the nape of her neck from behind, running his fingers over her earlobe, down the side of her throat, the back of his fingers brushing across her collarbone. Marlena’s breathing became broken, heavy. This was wrong. Her fear sat heavily and low in her belly, she made a sound of protest, begging him in her wordless way to stop. He paused long enough to breathe her in before he continued. She shook her head slowly, trying to pull back but he held her head firmly in his other hand. “Look at the screen,” he said, his voice controlled, but wavering. Marlena shut her eyes tight, slowly shaking her head again. He sighed. “I want you to look at the screen. Don’t you just love how history repeats itself, Princess?”  she didn’t obey, frozen with dread. This couldn't be happening. Not to her. Not again. But it was happening, and she was unable to stop it. Marlena whined, pulling her head back against his hand. He grew further agitated when she drew her hands up, touching his wrists.

 

“No-o-o,” he said softly as if reproving a child. Her hands shook badly, and her knees felt as though they might buckle. He tightened his grip in her hair, forcing her head up to the screen. She closed her eyes even tighter as soft, tearless sobs broke past her lips. She was treading the thin line of his patience. He leaned in, kissed the connection between her neck and her shoulder, then the nape of her neck. She sighed fretfully, pulled away, but she wasn’t getting anywhere. He touched her plumped lips with his thumb, trying to hush her sobs and whimpers.  “Where is all your bravery now, Kitten? No talking back, no hissing? Where’s my tough Kitten?” her heart sank into her stomach. She had no idea where her bravery had gone. Had she ever really been brave?... Her voice was gone, strangled by the magnitude of the moment. She was in the grips of a panic attack when he let her go.

 

Marlena simply stood, waiting. The tape play at the background still, the soft cries echoing from the tape mixed with Marlena's current sobs. Kit swept her hair over her left shoulder, standing close behind her. She could feel his cock against her, hard, foreboding. He kissed her neck again. “No,” she pleaded, voice cracking, she heard herself simultaneously. So this was what she sounded like, completely terrified. “Please…no.”  His soft laugh fluttered against her neck. “That’s the first polite thing you’ve said.”

 

He wrapped his arms around her as he spoke in her ear, “It’s only a pity you haven’t learned to speak properly. Feel free to try again. This time say, ‘Please no, Sir.’ Can you do that?”  she wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, she wanted to do anything but what he asked. She stayed silent. “Or maybe,” he licked her ear, “you need a push.” He stepped away from her abruptly, leaving her back open to the chilled air. She sunk to the floor, balling the comforter into knots as she pressed her forehead against it. He crouched behind her, rubbing her back. The will to fight him swelled inside her and, although she knew what she was getting into, she couldn’t stop herself. Marlena threw her elbow back, hitting him in the chest. Pain shot through her elbow, and she couldn’t move for a few seconds. Chest of steel.

“There’s my tough princess,” he said coldly. Grabbing a handful of her hair, pushed her to the bed. She screamed wildly, digging her nails into his hand trying to get loose, but all her struggling were for naught. It was over before it began as he rolled her over onto her face and dug his palm between her shoulder blades. She was pinned. Defeated.  “I hate you!” she roared. “I hate you, you fucking son of a bitch!”