Redeeming Logan

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Taliah

L ogan burst through the door to his room with a smile on his face and a pep in his step. His actions make me curious as to what has him in such a good mood. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him act this way before in the few months I’ve been here. He makes a beeline to me at my spot on the window seat, and kneels next to me on the carpet. Grasping the book in my hands he gently sets it aside before taking my hands between his own. I can almost feel his excitement emanating through him, his eyes shining with glee, and the little wrinkles in his eyes scrunch together as he gives me a megawatt smile.

“Taliah, I have the best surprise for you.” He exclaims, gripping my hands tight, but then his expression shifts to something uncertain. “I had a gift, or two, brought here for you. They are waiting for you in my workshop. Can you please keep an open mind?” His soft voice pleads with me, making my heart clench .

“I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is, but yes I suppose I can keep an open mind.” He pecks my lips with a quick kiss before getting to his feet, and tugging me along with him.

“I sure fucking hope so.” He mumbles under his breath so low I almost miss it. Those words have my stomach twisting in knots, unsure what could possibly be waiting for me in his workshop. Logan is not a man who brings his girls flowers and chocolates which peaks my curiosity more.

Logan drags me out of the room, clad in only a mauve t-shirt dress, my bare feet slapping against the concrete hallway floor as we go. He stops outside of the workshop door, giving me a look over, waiting for me to run back to the room I assume. Giving him a reassuring smile and nod, he proceeds to swipe his keycard against the pad on the door. The steel door popping open with a soft click. An odd foreboding feeling awaits on the other side of the room. The room is dark except for the large medical lights in the center of the room illuminating the metal exam tables.

“Remember, keep an open mind, please.” Logan softly begs as he pulls me closer to the center of the room. His dress shoes clack against the flooring. Once he stops a few feet from the tables I maneuver around him so I can see what surprises await me.

All of the air whooses from my lungs when I see what lies on the cold steel tables in front of me. My skin going cold, goosebumps erupting along my arms and legs. Muscles going stiff like they’re in rigor mortis. I stand there in uncomfortable silence soaking up the image before me. My parents naked in all their disgusting glory strapped to each one of the tables. Their eyes swinging around the room wildly, breathing erratic, and all hell breaks loose when my father’s eyes finally find my own. His pleading for mercy as my mother tries with all of her might to fight her way out of the restraints.

Logan grips me by the shoulders, leaning down to my ear whispering in that deep voice I’ve grown to relish. “Little Monster, I thought that we could have a playdate together. Your darkness and my own, thriving in the same room together. Would you enjoy that?” His lips ghost over my neck making a shiver race up my spine. “I think it’s about time that you show your parents who you really are, don’t you think? Show them exactly who’s been hiding behind that pretty facade you put up.” Logan kisses my neck with tenderness and shoves me gently towards the tray sitting next to my father.

The tray houses more torture instruments then I’ve seen before. Gliding my fingers across the various metal objects, Logan slides up to me, telling me what is what as my fingers drift over them. The first thing he identifies is a new filet knife, perfect for skinning. Next is an odd pear shaped instrument that I’ve never seen before. Picking it up I hold it closer to my face, fiddling with the little metal knob on the top, watching as it springs open. The metal sides of it look similar to a cheese grater, making me quirk a brow in confusion.

“That is called a pear of anguish. I modified it for my own needs. When it’s closed you place it in an open orifice. Then you twist the knob on top making the leaves separate which automatically causes pain, but the star of the show is the grater effect that I added myself. As you pull it out of the person it grates their skin along with it. Rather marvelous if you ask me.” He smirks at me as my imagination whirls with the possibilities of this tool. The rest of the tray holds various types of knives, needles, pliers, rubber mallet, and a small nail gun. As Logan tells me about the devices my parents incessantly blubbering grates on my nerves.

“Hello daddy.” I whisper to my father which cuts off his begging long enough for me to continue. “Long time no see. You didn’t think you’d ever see me again, did you? Handing me off to Mr. Adams like I was some prized pig that you can just sell on a whim.” The anger in my voice is evident with every word spewing from my lips.

“B-b-baby girl, I’m so sorry. I was scared. Your mother and I were just trying to do what was best for you! We had no idea what Mr. Adams had in store for you.” My father’s words tumble from his mouth as his tears roll down his cheeks.

“And what exactly did you think Mr. Adams was going to do with me? Did you think he was just going to take me and drop me off in the middle of nowhere a few states over?” The absurdity of that thought has my eyes rolling. “Like come on, you can’t seriously be that fucking stupid.”

“Taliah, baby please. We love you! Just let us go, nothing good is going to come from this.”

“You love me? ” I feign a gasp, slapping my hand over my chest in mock surprise.

“Eugene, shut the fuck up! Don’t placate her like that.” My mother finally speaks up amidst the chaos, her squeaky voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard. “Taliah, sweetie, you need to let us go okay? Grab that knife and start cutting these restraints for us.” The smile on her face is as fake as their love for me.

“Sure mommy, I would love to.” Reaching over, I grab the serrated knife from the tray and start to walk towards my mother. Logan grasps my other arm, hauling me against his chest, his eyebrows hitting his hairline. “Don’t worry, just trust me.” I whisper low enough for him to hear. Walking towards my mother, her smile still plastered onto her face. Grabbing her hand in my own, its cold and greasy, making me fight down a dry heave. “Mommy, do you love me?” I whisper, pleading her with my eyes.

“Of course I love you honey! Now cut these restraints, now!” Her voice is hard and full of fake niceties.

“Do you pinky promise?”

“What?” My mother screeches, causing me to wince.

“Do you pinky promise that you love me, mommy?” I whisper down at her, giving her my best puppy dog eyes, swiping her hair away from her forehead, and holding my pinky out to her.

“Yes! Oh my god, yes, I pinky promise I love you! Now get me the fuck out of here!” Giving my mother my sweetest smile I twist her pinky around in mine in a tight grip before bringing the knife down through the flesh and bone. Her screams echoing through the room as the coppery scent invades my nostrils. Sawing through the bone until the only thing left in my hand is her severed and bloody finger. Blood spurts from the stump left on her hand as tears rain down from her eyes.

“It’s not very nice to tell lies, mommy.”

“You fucking bitch! We never wanted you! We tried to get rid of you once before, but it failed. You were never supposed to survive that abortion, but that fucking doctor gave me the wrong medication. Tell her Eugene! Tell her how much we tried to kill her when she was in my womb!” Her screams are so loud they pound inside of my head, scrambling my thoughts. The shock at her admission has me staying silent as I listen to what my father has to say, but he’s smart for once and doesn’t say a word. His lips smashed together in a thin line, hiding away his secrets. “You coward! You always liked her more than you liked me you nasty fuck! I should’ve left you years ago.” She takes a deep breath, steading herself before continuing on with her rant. “Okay, Taliah, the fun is over. Let us go right this instant and we won’t press charges.”

I mull her words over in my mind, everyone in the room miraculously silent as I think through everything. Logan hasn’t said a word this entire time, just standing in the shadows, looming over us like an angel of death. My eyes flick to his in the darkness and he gives me a small nod, giving me the courage to continue on. “Sorry Mommy, but what did you used to tell me when I was younger? Bad decisions come with bad consequences? I think that was it.”