Struggle for Liberty, Marline [top young adult novels txt] 📗

to hold back tears, I would not cry, especially not in front of Jason. A moment later, his concern suddenly disappeared and he grabbed my arm. “Come with me to the apartment.” I followed without saying a word. Once in the apartment Jason locked the door and turned around to face me. I walked over to the nearest chair and sat down, sure that my legs would not be able to carry my weight much longer.
“Start making dinner.” Jason ordered. I barely heard what he said, I just stared ahead of me at a certain spot on the table and replayed what Lissa had said over and over in my head.
“Liberty,” Jason said warningly, “Do as you’re told.”
I didn’t respond.
“Liberty, I’m telling you one last time or there will be consequences.” I finally noticed that Jason was saying something to me and looked up at him, slightly bewildered. I didn’t care about any of his consequences at the moment. If he wanted my virginity, he could have it. I didn’t have anything to loose. Besides, if he didn’t take it then my new master would. Jason walked over to me, pulled me up from the chair and put his hands under my shirt. I let him, too tired and upset to fight back. The moment Jason touched my breast and realized that I really wasn’t going to put up a fight, he let go of me.
“Liberty,” He growled, “Put up some resistance. Fight me.” He demanded. I stared at him vacantly. Suddenly, the expression on Jason’s face changed completely. He looked gentle, caring. His eyes softened into a baby blue and the moment I saw that concern in his eyes, my resolve broke. I started crying. Jason immediately wrapped his arms around me and I let him.
“Shhh, it’s going to be ok.” Jason said, comforting me as he combed his fingers through my hair.
The tears were cascading down my cheeks like waterfalls and there was nothing I could do to stop them. I hated that I was showing Jason my weakness but every time I thought of what my little sister had been through and that there was nothing I did to help her, my crying only grew worse. We stood like that for a few minutes before Jason gently led me to the bedroom. He sat me down on the bed and started taking off my shoes. I could not stop sobbing. Jason gently pushed me down on the bed and pulled the covers over me.
“It’s going to be all right.” He whispered over and over again. Then, he leaned forwards and kissed me on my forehead. He softly walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. After what felt like hours of crying, I finally fell into a restless sleep.

I was standing behind a glass wall. Lissa was on the other side and a man walked over to her. He grabbed her by the hair and then started pulling her clothes off. Lissa screamed and kicked and flailed her arms but the man was merciless. I was desperately looking for a door, desperate to get to Lissa before it was too late. When I saw no door anywhere, I started pounding on the glass.
“No!” I screamed. “Don’t touch her!” But the man didn’t seem to hear me, or maybe he did but was just ignoring me. I tried punching the glass, to break it, but all I ended up with was a sore hand. Suddenly Lissa turned around and looked at me. She said something and I could read her lips perfectly.
“You did this to me.”

And then, the familiar dream flooded my mind. The dream I had dreamt hundreds of times before. I woke up screaming.
“Liberty, what’s wrong?” Jason came running into the room. When he saw the state I was in, he instantly walked over to the bed and wrapped his arms around me. My breathing was ragged and the fear, mixed in with my tears, nearly made me choke. I coughed and Jason patted my back.
“Ssshh, it was just a nightmare.” He comforted me as he rocked me back and forth.
“I’m- so- scared.” I said between sobs.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here.” Jason said and he was so gentle that I eventually calmed down. The room was not completely dark yet and I noticed that the sun had just set. Jason tenderly placed my head back on the pillow. He ran his hand over my cheek and then leaned forwards to kiss my forehead. When he pulled away I grabbed his hand.
“Please, don’t leave me.” I begged. Jason simply nodded and wordlessly got into bed beside me. He wrapped his arms around me and I turned around and cried into his chest. Jason rubbed my back and let me cry until I had no tears left. When I quieted down he put one finger under my chin and lifted my face up. Then he gently wiped the tears away with his thumb before leaning down to kiss my eyelids. His kindness almost caused me to start crying all over again but I forced the tears down.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Jason asked softly. I looked up at him and realized that I did indeed want to talk about it. I looked back down and sniffed.
“Lissa was raped.” I whispered, though I was quite sure that Jason already knew this. He got reports of all the girls’ progress every week and I’m sure that one detail about Lissa did not go unnoticed.
“I promised to take care of her.” I said and looked up at Jason while my eyes filled with tears again. “I promised that I’d keep her safe. It’s all my fault, I didn’t keep my promise.” The tears ,which I was trying so hard to keep back slid over their barriers and cascaded down my cheeks.
“It’s not your fault.” Jason soothed me. “If it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine.” He suddenly said and I heard the guilt in his voice. I looked up at him.
“Jason?” I squeaked, and he looked down at me. “Please make sure nothing happens to her. Please keep her safe.” I practically begged him. Jason leaned down and placed a warm kiss on my lips that caused my cheeks to fill with heat.
“I will,” he reassured me, before rolling over and taking his phone off the bedside table. He quickly dialed a number and while he waited for the person to pick up, brushed a strand of hair out of my face and put it behind my ear.
“Hey Steve? Yeah, could you send Lissa over here? Thanks man.” Jason said, before putting the phone back on the bedside table. I stared at him in awe.
“She’s coming here.” Jason smiled at me. I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face.
“Thank you!” I said happily and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you.” My eyes widened and I gasped. Did I really just tell Jason I loved him? Jason laughed softly at my expression and then nuzzled my neck.
“I love you too.” I pulled away from him to look at his face.
“Really?” I asked, shocked.
“Yes really.” He laughed. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, it’s just that,” I stammered, “I thought I was just one of the girls.” Jason chuckled. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, you were not just one of the girls.” He said, as he rubbed his thumb over my cheek. “I tried so hard to treat you the same but just now, when you wouldn’t fight back… I couldn’t. I couldn’t pretend to be mean anymore when all I wanted was to be nice. Knowing you didn’t like me was like torture. Every time I saw the fury in your eyes I wished things were different.”
“But you can make things different.” I said softly. He looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes and I realized that he looked… sad.
“Things will never be different.” He said.
“Yes they will!” I said fiercely. I put my hands on both sides of his face and stared at him sternly. “And don’t you dare say they won’t be.” Then, I leaned forwards and kissed him. He immediately responded to the kiss and then took over. The kiss was warm and passionate and I never wanted it to end. Jason ran his tongue over my bottom lip, asking for entrance which I gladly granted. When our tongues met, I could not suppress the moan that escaped my lips.
“You asked me the first thing I thought when I saw you.” Jason said when he pulled back. I nodded, remembering.
“I thought you were beautiful.” He whispered.

Chapter 8

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Minna who is making me fall in love with my male characters all over again :)


A knock sounded on the door and I immediately jumped out of bed and ran to the front door. Jason grabbed my arm just before I reached it.
“Let me open it. Pretend you know nothing about this, stand in the kitchen and look submissive. Don’t look happy to see Lissa and if Steve stays, do as you’re told.” I nodded and went to the kitchen to make coffee.
“Oh, and Liberty?” Jason said, with his hand on the doorknob.
“Yes?”
“I love you.”

Jason opened the door and there stood Steve, holding Lissa roughly by the arm. I gasped for air as I registered again how bad she looked.
“’Sup man?” Steve asked and grabbed Jason’s hand.
“Just wanted to see how you were doing,” Jason laughed. “And I wanted to prove to you that I can get any girl to do what I want.”
“You can’t be serious.” Steve said, looking over at me. “Her

? She didn’t have a submissive bone in her body! I’d never met anyone more stubborn. “ Jason laughed.
“Well, it’s the truth. She does what she’s told without complaining. How’s yours coming along?”
Steve glanced at Lissa. “Fine.” He said gruffly.
“Lissa, go help Liberty in the kitchen.” Jason demanded and then went to sit in the living room with Steve. Lissa and I didn’t say a word to each other when Lissa dutifully opened a cupboard and took out two coffee cups. After serving coffee and cake to Jason and Steve, who were busily discussing sports and didn’t even look up to acknowledge their thanks, we retreated back to the kitchen. I desperately wanted to go over to Lissa and hug here but I remembered Jason’s words and knew that I couldn’t do anything without him telling me to do it.
Unexpectedly Jason suddenly said: “Liberty, Lissa, go to the bedroom and make yourselves useful. Go clean or something.” He dismissively waved his hand at us. I looked at him for just a second and hoped that he could read my gratefulness. I took Lissa by the hand and pulled her to the bedroom. When the door was safely closed I turned to her and hugged her.
“Lissa, I can’t believe you’re here! Are you ok? Tell me what happened! Don’t worry, Jason will take care of us, he’s actually not as bad as he seems, in fact, he’s quite nice…” I rambled on. Lissa just stared at me blankly. When I finally stopped talking, she burst into tears.
“Oh, Lissa,” I said softly and guided her to the bed. When we were both seated I wrapped my arms around her