Chapter 5 The pain continues...

Warning: This chapter contains cursing and mature themes such as violence and abuse(physical and domestic) of a minor, which might be triggering. Reader discretion is advised.

The following days, the abuse continued and increased as well. Triston's freedom of will was completely taken away. Malcolm instructed Triston to get his permission for whatever he did. Even for small things like having lunch and dinner, he couldn't do it on his own. He was not allowed any food apart from breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

One time, when Malcolm was idling off in the living room having his evening tea, Triston tried to sneak into the kitchen to have some snack. Unfortunately, Malcolm saw him and poured the scalding hot tea onto Triston's arm in anger. Triston screamed in pain, but none of the members, including the family and staff, came to his aid. To his dismay, he didn't even have any medicine to apply to his burn, so he just tried to soothe the pain by keeping his arm under the cool tap water.

Triston was regularly punished for even a tiny mistake. It seemed like Malcolm looked for reasons to punish him. Punishments were mainly in the form of beatings, skipped meals, locking in the room, etc.

At one such incident, when Triston heard Malcolm bad-mouthing his Dad in front of Nancy, he could not stop himself and said, " You are staying in his house and talking wrong about him behind his back."

Malcolm was furious at getting the reminder that the Cliff Mansion did not originally belong to him. Without thinking, he took out his belt and started beating Triston black and blue. Triston was in so much pain and even bleeding in a few places. He was lying on the floor for a few minutes, unmoving. Afterward, with great difficulty, he managed to get up and tiptoe to his room.

Triston was forced to stay in his room for the most part as he was not allowed to move freely around the house. He was wholly denied access to the Games and entertainment rooms, which made his cousins too happy. Seeing their parents abusing Triston, the twins felt they could do it too. The little devils seemed to go a step further. They didn't leave any opportunity to humiliate and beat Triston. Even Nancy supported her kids and sometimes joined them in abusing Triston verbally.

Initially, Triston felt his school was an escape from the abuse he faced at home, but that did not last long as Fred and Jeff joined the elite school Triston was going to.

Fred and Jeff were rich now, so they would show off their wealth in front of the other students. Soon they had many friends who joined them in bullying Triston.

The abuse at home and the bullying at school were too much for a six-year-old who had always received only love and care from his parents. He couldn't bear to stay with Malcolm and his family anymore, and the first thought what came to his mind was to run away from them as far as possible. The good memories he had shared with his parents in this Mansion had now turned into terrible nightmares.

Triston begged an old servant that he wanted to talk to Reese once. The servant felt pity for the little boy and secretly called Reese.

Triston cried his heart out in front of Reese and asked him to take him away from here. Reese was not the official guardian of Triston, but he couldn't allow Triston to get abused, so he asked him to secretly come to the back gate within an hour.

Triston just wanted to leave this hell anyhow, and luckily Malcolm and Nancy were not at home that day. The twins were busy playing in the Games room while the guards were also loafing around in their boss's absence. After an hour, Triston had his chance, and he managed to go to the back gate without getting noticed. The gate was closed, but Triston managed to climb the compound by climbing on a tree.

Reese was already waiting for him, and as soon as Triston saw Reese, he jumped into his arms. Triston was crying badly, and even Reese couldn't stop his tears. Before someone could catch them, Reese drove off in his car with Triston.

While in the car, Triston explained to Reese in detail everything that happened with him for the past few months. Reese clenched his fist in anger and assured Triston they would go to the Police the following day and lodge a complaint against Malcolm.

Reese stayed at the Cliff Mansion for so many years and did not have any other home, so he was now staying at the house he received from Mr. Trent in his Will. Triston was sad to leave his main family home, but coming to another place his father used to own brought a sense of satisfaction within him. That night, after a long time, Triston slept peacefully with Reese by his side.

The staff at the Cliff Mansion had no clue that Triston was not at home. They thought he must be in his room as usual. At the time of dinner, nobody bothered to give Triston any food as they had not received any instructions exclusively from Malcolm.

Malcolm and Nancy came home late that night. They were in an excellent mood. Malcolm had seized his control over the staff at home, but he wanted to take complete control over Cliff group of Hotels as well. So he had arranged a press conference wherein he announced himself as being Triston's guardian.

Malcolm had delivered an Oscar-worthy performance in front of the media and the staff of Cliff group by saying his late brother had entrusted him with great responsibility. He had to take care of his son and his company until Triston was an adult. He even shed crocodile tears, gave tribute to Triston's parents, and asked the staff members to support him in managing the hotels. Everybody seemed impressed and thought Malcolm was a great man who was doing Triston a huge favor.

The following day, when Malcolm woke up, he was still cheerful, so he asked the staff to give breakfast to Triston.

After few minutes, the servant came back running, scared out of his wits.

" S-Sir, the y-young Master is not in his room," he stuttered.

" Fool, who the hell are you calling, young Master?" snapped Malcolm.

The servant was shivering like a leaf when Malcolm spoke again. " What were you saying now?"

" T-The b-boy is not in his room, Sir,"

Malcolm was shocked. He had tamed the boy for so many months and made sure he wouldn't do anything without his permission, but still, he dared to leave the room. " Search the entire mansion and find him now," he yelled.

The entire staff got active and started searching for Triston, but they couldn't find him anywhere. Everyone was nervous as they knew they would have to face Malcolm's wrath.

The servant who had given his phone to Triston to talk to Reese was particularly tensed. He was sure Reese had something to do with Triston's disappearance, but he was scared to confess to Malcolm.

As expected, Malcolm was furious. He glowered at the bodyguards and screamed, " What were you all doing yesterday? You couldn't even keep an eye on a kid. What the heck am I paying you for?"

The bodyguards didn't say anything and just bowed their heads in shame.

Malcolm was thinking how a six-year-old scared boy could run away on his own? Obviously, he had help. He looked suspiciously at the servants quivering before him and roared, " I am sure one of you helped the boy escape. If you don't want to get arrested, then tell me right now."

The servants seemed even more nervous at the mention of the Police, especially the guy who helped Triston. He looked like he would faint in fear.

Malcolm, keenly observing everyone, soon noticed the servant who was sweating profusely and approached him. " It was you, right?"

The servant confessed everything in his nervousness. " I-I d-didn't do anything S-Sir. I just gave him my phone to talk to Reese."

As soon as Malcolm heard Reese's name, he was sure Triston was with him. He asked one of his guards to check the CCTV footage of the Mansion. In the footage, they could see Triston leaving with Reese through the back gate.

Malcolm had the proof now, so he immediately called the Police and accused Reese of kidnapping Triston. So the Police reached Reese's home and arrested him. Triston was screaming and begging in front of the Police, but nobody believed him.

Even Reese tried to complain to the Police about Malcolm's abuse, but Malcolm had already bribed a senior officer who blatantly ignored Reese's words and threw him in the cell.

Triston was back at the Cliff Mansion, and he had to face Malcolm's wrath. The moment they entered inside, Triston was backhanded so badly that his lips were bleeding. Malcolm didn't stop. He beat him again and again until he was tired. Then he dragged the crying and bleeding boy towards the basement, threw him into the darkroom forcefully, and locked the room.

Triston was locked in the basement for a week. For those seven days, he was given food only once daily with a glass of water. Those were the worst days of his life. He had started to get scared of the darkness, and even the slightest sound caused him a panic attack. By the third day, he was ready to do anything to just get out of the darkroom. He pleaded and screamed until he felt like he had lost his voice, but no one came to his aid.

Malcolm met Triston in the basement on the eighth day and saw him lying half-dead on the floor.

Malcolm showed him a video of Reese being tortured by the Police. He was satisfied seeing the look of complete horror on Triston's face. He worsened the situation by adding, " I will make sure Reese remains in jail his entire life."

Triston felt he couldn't be frightened anymore than he already was, but he was wrong. He had already lost his parents, and he couldn't lose Reese now. He cried profusely and begged, " P-Please, please get him out of jail. I-I will do as you say. I-I will never try to run away again. Please, I beg you."

Malcolm smirked at himself. Finally, he heard the words he always wanted to hear. He then made a straight face and tried to manipulate the little boy even more. " No. What if you run away again? What if you try to tell others about all this? I can't risk it. So the best option for me is you staying here locked up in the basement and Reese staying locked up in jail."

The thought of spending even a minute more in this dreadful basement and Reese getting tortured in jail brought a sense of chill down his spine. "No, no, I promise I won't run away. I will never tell anyone anything," whispered Triston in tears.

" Fine. Remember what you said, boy, and if you try to go against me again, I will make sure Reese is dead."

Triston was terrified at the mention of death and cried louder. " I-I will do whatever you say."

Malcolm seemed satisfied and allowed Triston to leave the basement and go to his room.

As soon as Triston entered his room, he locked the door, sat on the floor, and cried out his heart. The little bit of rebellion he had in his heart died out at the mention of Reese's death. Malcolm had successfully managed to break him physically, mentally, and emotionally.