summary: You’re a captive, locked in the basement of America’s top actor, Devon Darling. But what happens when you step out of line… or try to escape?
characters: Devon Darling
warning: kidnapping, neglect, general violence, implied forced medical procedures
As a light in the corner buzzed with a continuous wave of sound within the darkness, you lifted yourself up on your elbows, your body sinking slightly into the dirty, grim mattress below you. The same mattress that had seen many people just like you.
As your eyes opened and vision focused on the dim room surrounded by concrete walls and grimy floors, a pain shot throughout your legs. It was a sharp reminder of the pain that was forced upon you by your captor, your ankles pulsing in mind-fogging pain. However, the pain didn’t take away your ability to be alert completely. As you shifted your body weight to the side and against the caged wall, you heard footsteps coming down the stone steps that always felt so far from your reach. You used to tense and shiver at the mere echoes of the expensive clacking boots of your captor, but now it was simply routine. A month of isolation with one person would do that to you…
The idea of escaping felt far, and even further with your injuries. It’s been two weeks since the man had broken your ankles, and yet there were no signs of you getting better. Though, you weren’t surprised. You’ve been forced to stand, to walk, and sometimes move your food in less than comfortable movements to properly heal.
You wondered how a man like Devon Darling—America’s darling, idol, sweetheart—could be so evil. So sadistic.
He’d try to help you walk, to help you move—but the way he grinned at you with smug satisfaction told you all you needed to know. He didn’t want you to get better; he simply enjoyed the sliver of torture he was able to pull from your weakened state. You stayed awake at nights believing it somehow fueled some sick, power-hungry part of him—or maybe it was deeper.
As the footsteps closed in, a shadowy figure loomed over your disabled state. Then finally, a click. There was that same charming face, and usually you were met with a state of distance or disgust—but instead you were flashed a warm and sympathetic smile.
“Hi there, cherry… holding up okay?” He tilted his head as his eyebrows raised and twisted together in false concern. Humming at your silence, he knelt down and held his hand on the exterior of the cold, soulless cage between you both. “Are you… behaving?”
His tone teased at you, a pout in his voice. He knew you had no other choice than to behave in a state like this. And still, too irritated, too pained, too exhausted—you stayed silent. He wasn’t angry, though, just content.
Devon stood up and walked toward a locked crate. “You know, you silly little thing, you aren’t speaking much.” He continued, retrieving a set of keys, “if you hadn’t pulled that awfully stupid — idiotic — stunt a few weeks ago, you’d still have two perfectly working ankles.”
You remembered two weeks ago. You had thought you had an opening—so desperate to leave. You don’t know what you were thinking. You’d snapped. Thrown a plate of untouched food at him. A pathetic attempt to buy yourself seconds. A distraction. But within minutes, you were on the floor, screaming, your ankles torn open by the barbed metal crown of a baseball bat.
He was right. You would have still had two well-working ankles, and yet here you were. He used to visit you every other day. Since then, it had been less. Less attention. Less food. Less pretending.
But now, here he was again. And smiling.
“That’s okay,” he cooed. “Today’s a special day. An occasion, if you will.”
He chuckled. “Wow. That got your attention, hm?”
With surprising ease, he unlocked your cage and lifted you into his arms. Your weight didn’t seem to bother him. He carried you like a doll to the medical table near the far side of the room — the one beside the tripod. The one with the blinking red light.
“I’ve got something that’ll help with your little ankle problem,” he whispered, setting you down like he cared. “I’m awfully sorry about leaving for so… long.”
He brushed a strand of hair from your face. His touch was soft. Reverent.
“You must be hungry, hm?” he said, voice hushed and affectionate. “Don’t worry. We’ll eat… after we’re done.”
His fingers curled under your chin.
And then he smiled again.
Turning away from your face, he focused his attention back on a metal cabinet bolted into the wall. He hummed softly to himself as he shifted through the supplies — some medical, others… not. You couldn’t see all of it from your angle, but the distinct sound of glass clinking and something metallic scraping together sent a fresh wave of unease through your chest.
None of it was standard. None of it was safe. And yet here he was, pulling them out like toys and party favors. You figured someone like him didn’t suffer from a lack of access to anything. Celebrity. Money. Status. Charm.
How deeply unfortunate for you.
Then came the soft hiss of a cap being pulled, the rubbery squeak of a syringe being primed. Devon turned, holding up a vial filled with a cloudy anesthetic fluid and a long syringe in one hand, followed by something heavier in the other. Your eyes barely had time to process the strange smile on his face before you saw it — the bone saw.
He waved both in your direction like he was some game show host. “Surprise~” he sang, the smile widening just enough to make your stomach twist.
Your breath stopped. No grin should look that proud with tools like those in hand. He stepped closer, the dim lights glinting off the metal of the bone saw.
“And before you ask,” he added with a laugh , tapping the syringe lightly against his palm, “Of course I’ll numb you first. I’m not a complete monster, cherry.”
Though he spoke quickly under his breath, “Most times anyways.”
He tilted his head and pouted, mock-offended by your trembling state and silence. Then he laughed—quietly, warmly before setting his things down and buckling you to the table. You struggled of course, scared, terrified of what was to come. You screamed at the idea, the possibilities all leading to one thing.
Note: I’ll probably fix formatting later, for now i’ll just concentrate on posting my short stories. <3