Daydreaming Nightmares

He walked into the room and froze. Something wasn't right. He glared at the dirty figure on the bed, the only odd one out in the room.

He raised his cane which he was never without and brought it down on her small head. She flew off the bed and ran to kneel in front of him with her head bowed to the ground. There was dirt under her nails and mud on her feet and she'd climbed into the bed like that.

"Do you realise how dirty you are?! Staining your pristine sheets?"

She said nothing. He wasn't looking for an answer anyway.

"Get into the shower now"

"Yes father" she somehow bowed lower and got up to her feet, eyes fixed on the floor as she ran past him towards the bathroom.

He rang for the cleaners and in less than five minutes, her bed was made. All the sheets changed.

He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her. While he did, he took in her room. This was the smallest room in his mansion and the highest point of the mansion, a tower he built specifically for her.

She had a habit of jumping out the window trying to run away. Like she could ever escape from him.

The room was pink and sparkling, everything in it screamed girl. Pink sheets, pink comforters, pink rug, everything!

He'd chosen them himself

She walked out the bathroom smelling of shampoo and lemon scented bath soap. He'd chosen them too. She wore a short silk nightdress, pink also. His choice as well.

"You look stunning dear" he beamed stretching out his hand "Come. Sit" she hesitated but did. Sitting on his thigh

"The guards tell me you ventured further into the woods again. Why?"

He asked and she stiffened

"I followed a butterfly"She muttered playing with her fingers. He nodded and plucked a strand of her hair and sniffed it. It was still damp

"You could catch a cold" he mutters, matching her tone. He caresses her neck gently then grabs her neck tight and squeezed

"Next time you venture further than I designed for you, you'll end up staring at the mirror for an hour. Understand?"

He snarled

"Yes father!" She cries apologetically, falling off his lap and bowing her head

"Do you see what you make me do?!!!" he raises his cane and brought it down on her back repeated. She tried to raise her head but he stepped on it, pushing her face first into rugged floor.

"Never look at me! Don't you ever look at me with those cursed eyes"

"Yes sir " her words were muffled but she tried. He stepped off her head and huffed. Arranging his suit and walking out, locking the door behind him. They'd stay locked for at least a week.

She remained on the floor until no more sounds could be heard from outside the door before raising her head.

Her brown eyes stared blankly at the door. No thoughts, no emotions, nothing. Not even the tears her voice her heavily implied earlier.

She rose from the floor wiping blood from her nose then flops on the bed.

Tomorrow she'd make it to the end.

She stared out the floor to ceiling window overlooking the forest. It gave an illusion of freedom yet shackled her. Like a caged bird outside. You could see the sky, feel the wind but never free.

Tomorrow that'd change. She'd make sure of it.

* * *

Two weeks later

She'd done it. She'd gone further than she ever did in her entire life exploring this forest.

When she'd found she'd be locked in for a while, she'd taken the time to build her stamina. Evading the guards was a minor thing. They'd never chase her far anyway, why bother if there really was nothing out here.

All her life she'd been told what to do, when to do it, how to do it. Never a single decision had she made herself aside this one. After her mother abandoned her with her abusive and controlling father, her life had been his to control. Her body his to touch. But today it was all over.

There was something out here. She'd heard it and now she could smell it. Something other than wet forest. Something new and unfamiliar...

The trees thinned out and she could see light, more light than these shade tress allowed. She burst through a small opening and ran straight into something.

She gasped as she felt her feet leave the ground and her body fall forward. She closed her eyes and braced for the fall but felt something soft instead. A soft groan emitted from whatever she fell on and she immediately backed away.

"Oh I think I broke something" He groans sitting up while grabbing his rib. He coughed then looked up to see what had hit him.

He gasped in pleasant surprise when he came face to face with a girl.

She's beautiful! he thought to himself. Their faces Inches from each other.

Heart shaped face with closed eyes revealing beautiful long eyelashes, a small pointed nose and heart shaped lips. The upper lip naturally dark while the bottom lip was pink. A natural lip combo as his niece would say. He reached out to touch her but a hand grabbed him and flung him away. His body soared in the air until he found himself descending. He saw an opening and realised in panic that he was falling into the hole they were digging for his father's new project and they'd just reached rocks.

"No!!!" The mystery girl screams rushing to the opening just as he hit the rocks. Pain shot through him like he imagined a million bullets would but it wasn't for long. He was already losing consciousness.

Brown. Her eyes are brown

But why did it feel like they switched position though....

He passed out.

"Hahh!"

She wakes up panting, gasping for air. She clutched her blanket close to her heart, sweat causing her hair to stick to her skin.

She turned to reach for her husband but found empty space. Of course.

Away on another business trip. He was never around anymore. Not that it made a difference when he was around.

She sighs and falls back onto the bed. Her eyes wander to the digital alarm clock on the bedside table.

It clearly said 3:06 am in neon red.

Same time every day since she'd run away from home. It was over twelve years now and she could still remember that day like it was yesterday. She could still see that boy bleeding on the rocks. She'd never cried so hard before.

Seeing how they'd hurt him she knew her father would do worse to her so she fought back. For once her powers didn't make her afraid. She lashed out with all the anger and hatred in her heart. Attacking them with visions of their worst nightmare. For a few minutes she embraced the monster that she was, tormenting them until one went mad and the other shot himself in the head and then she ran.

She didn't dare look at the boy again, didn't stop to think about her father or where she could possibly go in a world she knew nothing about. A world she didn't know existed until now.

She ran for hours until she collapsed on a road. A kind old man helped her and took her in, later making her marry his grandson so she could get a share of his will and solve his grandson's womanising habits before he died.

She was ashamed to say it did nothing. She was only his wife when his family was around. He only touched her when he'd run out of women and hit her constantly. Nothing like father did, so she was happy.

He was a better man than her father was, nothing like the late grandpa was, but he was better than father.

If she chose to be delusional, she'd go as far as saying the him he was with her around his family was the real him. She just hasn't unlocked him yet. After all, they'd only been married for three years.

Knowing she wouldn't be falling back asleep anytime soon, she decided to prepare what she'd wear to the gala that evening.

Every year for the past three years she'd attended this pretentious party for even more pretentious people and she hated it.

Every year she had to pretend she understood what was going on whilst pretending to be blind. It was a night that always left her emotionally drained and physically exhausted. Her husband was no help either. Abandoning her to mingle while she tried not to look awkward standing next to the buffet table.

The only good thing about the night was the strawberries. After papa, as she referred to the man who saved her, had taken her in. He did his best to fatten her up because she was looking starved. And she was. Her father detested a full figure, model thin or nothing.

One of the ways he achieved this was incorporating strawberries in almost everything she ate. After she confessed her love for strawberries, he made sure to stuff her with it until she literally had to beg him to stop.

She wished she hadn't.

After getting married she could no longer have strawberries because her husband was allergic. So only tonight while standing close to the buffet table, she could eat as many strawberries as she pleased. And since he wouldn't be back for another week, she might bring some home.

Happy with the thought, she set about her day.

* * *

An orchestra played popular songs on stage while people chatted up old friends, business associates and possible partners. That was after all what the party was all about.

Every designer who was anyone was being worn tonight. Men in pristine suits that screamed money and power, women in gowns that screamed royalty. Everyone outdoing themselves from last year's gala. Or was it a ball?

She could hardly tell the difference.

She popped a strawberry in her mouth and sighed as the sweet juice exploded in her mouth. Now this was wonderful, better than the bland foods they'd been served for dinner.

Something she noticed though was that the strawberries just like last year increased in amount. Coincidence or not, she couldn't tell. But she was grateful. Now she could pig out without worrying that others would be left without strawberries.

"Enjoying the strawberries?" A deep male voice rumbled and her spine snapped straight. She looked above his head, though she could see through the satin blindfolds she had on to go with her dress instead of sunglasses.

He's beautiful!!!!

And in a wheelchair.

"I'm sorry" she apologized and gave a sheepish smile as she passed the platter containing the strawberries. Pretending to fumble.

"Did you want some? I did not mean to hug them"

"No. It's perfectly fine" He pushed it back and relaxed into a nonchalant slouch in his chair

"Not every day you see someone give a damn about the fruits display "

"Oh!" She blushed" I love strawberries is all" she confesses

"I know "he says simply and she raises a brow

"You do?" she asks suspiciously

"Yeah" he nods then taps the platter with his index finger so she knows what he's gesturing to"pretty obvious the way you were wolfing them down. One would think that was the only reason you came"

"Oh!" her blush deepened" well..."

"Mr O'Riley!"

Someone calls and she gasps, immediately rushing to her feet. Nearly knocking over the platter of strawberries as she did.

She'd been talking with Austin O'Riley. The heir to the O'Riley chain of companies. The most sought after investor and partner in the business field and the host of tonight's gala. Or ball.

"My apologies sir, I didn't realise..." She began but he cuts her off smoothly

"Don't worry about it" She could see the annoyance in his eyes but not a trace of it in his voice.

Was he masking it from her?!

"It was nice to be treated like a normal person for once in a long time" he says then wheels away in his high-tech wheelchair that was pretty much a car at this point.

She stayed glued to the table for a while. She'd spoken casually with The Austin O'Riley.

Her husband would kill her.

He flung the door to his bedroom open and threw his bag on the made bed. His trip was a disaster.

Why would she go on a trip with him knowing she would be on her period. Then there was that blasted storm!

Fuck!

Spent all that money and time for nothing. She was in too much of a bad mood to even give him a blowjob. Now he was all horny.

Battling with his tie, he stumbled into the bathroom and threw himself in the tub, clothes and all. Letting the water run with him in it. He sighed as the warm water crept up his jet lagged body.

He reached for his belt then lowered his hand to the bulge in his pants.

Where the fuck was Ava!

Like he'd cast a spell, he heard the front door open and sat up. He quickly took off his wet clothes and waited for her to reach the bedroom. Soon he heard her footsteps and the bedroom door open then a pause.

"Flynn?" her voice called out for him

"Here" he grunted and she headed into the bathroom where she found him naked in the bathtub with his clothes dripping all over the floor.

"I thought you wouldn't be back until Tuesday next week" she said cautiously, staying just inside the door.

"Plans changed" he huffs "The fuck are you still doing at the door?! come here"

"Umm... I just got back I should change" She tries to excuse herself but he lets out a sharp hiss

"You spent my money on that ugly dress?" he eyes her from head to toe.

Truth be told she looked gorgeous in that lovely sequin red dress that hugged her figure nicely. She wore black Sandles as she'd have no guide besides her cane to perfectly accomplish the blind look.

Normally he'd be going crazy over her. But he knew her from when she was nothing but a dirty wet rat his grandpa brought home. A freak who knew nothing about the world. A freak who could make you see things just by looking in your eyes. That is why her eyes must be covered at all times.

She was a monster.

One he had to contend with.

"I'm sorry" She apologized

"Take it off" he hissed

Trembling slightly, her hands reached for the zipper but it was stuck. She fumbled with it for quite a while, all the while Flynn kept losing more and more of his patience.

Unable to wait any longer, he got out of the tub and stormed towards her while she backed away. He grabbed a fist full of the material and yanked her forward into his hot wet body.

"Flynn wait I..."

His mouth cut off her words as it descended on hers roughly. His tongue immediately slipping into her mouth and licking the insides of her cheek. He could taste the sweetness in her mouth.

She struggled against him, pushing and beating against his shoulder. Fighting to break free.

He groaned in annoyance and bit her bottom lip hard. She pushed harder and managed to get some air.

He coughed, feeling his throat get dry. He coughed again and let her go roughly. Stumbling a bit.

"Strawberries" she manages to say while gasping for air " I had strawberries"

His face comtorts into an ugly form of pure rage and loathing as he glared at her through his watering eyes.

She dashing into the bedroom and returned shortly with an EpiPen. He grabbed it and stabbed it into his thigh then slid down the wall to sit on the floor.

After a while, his throat loosened and he could breathe normally again. He may have to go to the hospital.

After a few silent minutes, he was recovered enough to speak again.

"You tried to kill me" he accused, his eyes fervet as a flame.

"After everything I've done for you, you bitch!" he pins her down with a look while slowly rising to his feet. His movements slow

Unlike with father, Flynn evoked no feeling of fear in her. Despite how intimidating he tried to look, it merely looked like a cat trying to be a lion.

But she stepped back to feed into his ego, pretending to be afraid of him.

Pretend

That's something she'd come to be quite good at. Something she'd perfected. Just like how she could fake a smile through all that boring galas. She had no idea he'd be home so soon, so she'd gone crazy with the strawberries. Even ate some on the ride home. She'd tried to warn him after all.

"Flynn"... she called his name on a whisper

"Is your plan to kill me and take it all?" he grabbed her and she flinched

"Answer me!!!"

"No!" she cries tearfully "I didn't..."

"You bitch!" his hand descends on her face and she falls to the ground. He kicks her repeatedly in the stomach.

"Try this again and you'll be meeting grandpa on the other side" he spits on her before stepping over her to get dressed.

"Have lunch ready by the time I get back" he orders then pauses while putting on his jacket

"On second thought, forget about it"

And he slams the door

She lay there till she felt willing to exist again. She turned to lay on her back and stared at the bathroom ceiling.

Flynn was not as bad as father. His hits were weak compared to father's and he had no imagination. All he did were child's play

A deep male rumble floated through her mind and her heart fluttered a bit.

Austin O'Riley

How very unusual