Chapter 18: Frickity Frack

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She screams, but nobody can hear.

Arya's POV:

I blinked slowly, looking from Cheekbones's outstretched hand to his dark eyes repeatedly. My brain short-circuited for a minute, before it finally computed his words. I shook his hand firmly.

"Arya." I said, "Nice to meet you, Cheekbones."

"Actually, it's Lucas." He smiled slightly.

I shrugged. "Eh, I don't quite care." I winced and slapped my hand over my mouth. "Sorry, I have a very loose tongue."

To my surprise, he laughed. "Don't worry about it, I have too, Greenie."

I raised an eyebrow. "Where'd that come from?"

"Your eyes are green." He frowned. "Holy guacamole your face is pretty busted."

I snorted. "You really know how to make a girl feel special."

Cheekbones paused. "You seem nice, Greenie, not gonna lie, but I can't marry you. It's not you-"

"Save it, Cheekbones." I rolled my eyes and held up a hand. "I don't want to marry you, too. I'm aromantic asexual."

His eyes widened. "Really? Me too!"

I gasped. "Once we get out of here, I think we're gonna be great friends."

He hummed in agreement, staring at the walls as if they were a complex maths problem he struggled to solve.

"What if we tunnel our way out?" Lucas suggested.

I snorted. "With what? Our bare hands?" I bit the inside of my cheek and then sighed, shaking my head.

If only I hadn't been stupid enough to trust the boys- maybe then I would have had a proper plan.

Tears brimmed in my eyes and I flinched slightly from the oily anger that burned inside me. I was sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

"Hey." Lucas gently touched my arm, worry swimming in his eyes. "You okay?"

"No." I answered truthfully, brushing a lock of hair from my eyes. "But let's get on with it." I titled my head and thought for a minute. "Okay... I might have a plan. But it's kinda stupid and we could end up in a worse situation than the one we are already in."

"Anything beats getting married. Let's do it."

X

A short while later, someone came to drop off the food. That was when we put our plan into motion.

I groaned loudly in fake pain, clutching my stomach with tears streaming down my face.

"Help her!" Lucas shouted, holding me. "She's in pain!"

The person who brought the food barely gave me half a glance. "Just walk it off- you'll be fine."

"It really hurts!" I protested, sniffing a little.

"And I doubt my father would be too pleased if his future daughter-in-law dies before the wedding!" Lucas added.

Food Dude rolled his eyes. "Oh for heaven's sake, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's not dying- it's nothing."

"What's going on here?" A figure stepped into the room; heels clicking against the floor. It took all of my willpower to not lunge at her and continue acting.

"N-nothing, uh, M-Miss Marigold." Food Dude stammered, going bright red. I mentally rolled my eyes.

Marigold smiled, a dazzling gesture that showed her white teeth. Food Dude looked like he was about to go into some form of cardiac arrest.

"But it looks like my sister is in pain." Her eyebrows furrowed. "Can you take her to the best guest bedroom, Jerry?"

"Actually, it's Jeremey."

"Close enough. So, will you?" Marigold flicked her silky brown hair over her shoulders.

"Y-yes." Food Dude grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and tried to usher me out. I gasped and stumbled.

"Gently, Jeremey." Marigold's voice had a hard edge to it and Food Dude immediately softened his grip with a mumbled apology.

"Wait!" I cried. "Can Lucas come too?"

Marigold frowned and tilted her head slightly. "Why?"

"Because we're in love." Lucas lied dramatically with a subtle eye roll."Isn't that right, darling?"I nodded and bit back a laugh.

Marigold's eyebrows shot up. "Damn... I didn't think- never mind. Lucas, come with me- you can stay in the guest room next door to Arya's."

I mentally cheered as the two of us were led out of the basement and up the stairs. I shivered slightly, remembering the horrifying memories that'd occurred here.

Marigold pushed me into one of the many rooms of the house. It had patterned blue walls and a bed in the centre. An empty picture frame hung on the right wall. I spotted a little wardrobe in the left corner, next to an antique desk. My nose crinkled at the antiseptic scent- something that reminded me a little too much of a hospital for my liking.

I suddenly remembered that I had to act like I was in pain. "Oh no! It really, really hur-"

"Drop the act, Arya." Marigold rolled her eyes with a small smile. "I know you're faking- I've come to help you."

My jaw dropped and my eyebrows were en route to my hairline. "Who in the frickity frack are you and what have you done to my sister?"

Marigold shook her head slightly and checked the hallways outside the room. "Look, I don't have much time to explain-"

"Better make it quick, then."

She sighed. "Still the same old stubborn girl, aren't you? But fine. Sit down and I'll try to explain as much as possible."

I obliged, sitting on the bed. Marigold sat next to me a moment later, fiddling with her fingers. She opened her mouth, then closed it, struggling to find the right words.

"Why do you hate me so much?" I asked quietly.

Her eyes snapped to mine- a carbon copy of my own- in surprise. "Hate you? Where in the name of pink unicorns did you get that idea?"

I snorted. "Let's see, after Dad died, you and mother dearest would treat me like a bloody object. I still remember how suffocating it was- still is, actually."

"Okay, I can see why you think I hate you." Marigold admitted. "But I don't! I promise." She took a deep breath. "Do you remember the day Dad went missing?"

I blinked in surprise. Well that escalated quickly. "Yeah... he and Celia had an argument and Dad stormed out of the house. But... what does that have to do with anything?"

"A few hours after he left, he called me." Marigold choked out, tears brimming in her eyes. "H-he said that he loved the three of us very much, a-and that I should take care of you all." She swallowed harshly. "They were my last words to him and I swore to keep my promise of protecting you and Jacob.

A couple weeks after that, Celia started pressuring me to do things that I didn't want to do. She forced me to go into the fashion industry- even though I wanted to be a doctor. She made me involved in illegal businesses and almost sold me off. When I tried to refuse, she threatened to use you and Jacob instead. I couldn't let that happen so I did whatever she told me to do." Her eyes darkened. "But then, I found out that she was going to marry you off. Even though I'd given her everything, she still wanted more. I can't let that happen to you."

Gently, Marigold cupped my left cheek and stroked my cheekbone with the pad of her thumb. A fierce determination burned in her eyes. "In the second drawer of the desk, there is a Bobby pin. Use that to pick the lock on the window-"

"Why can't I pick the lock on the door?"

"Because there are a lot of guards stationed here and you'll get caught. Now would you let me finish- stop pulling at the thread of your shirt, you'll ruin it. Once you've opened the window, tie together a bunch of sheets and climb down. Run to the edge of the property and don't look back. Me and Jacob will be there and the three of us will go." She dropped her hand.

"Go where? And what about Lucas?" I asked.

"We'll go somewhere where Celia can't find us. As for Lucas... he'll be fine- his father will be a little angry, but it won't be too much trouble. Celia's the one we have to watch out for." Marigold muttered thoughtfully. She abruptly stood up. "Do it tonight. For now, get some rest- I'll try and sneak some food up later."

"Thanks Goldie." The nickname slipped out- an old habit. But it was worth it when my sister's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Anytime Arie." She answered, exiting the room. "Anytime."

End of chapter 18.

I hope you guys liked it!

Qotc:

1. Think Marigold is telling the truth?

2. Thoughts on Lucas?

3. What do you think is gonna happen next?

Stay safe and thanks for reading :)

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