Chapter Nine

                Nikki flipped through more channels, Trying to find something to watch, Finally landing on Spongebob and watched it after getting some cereal. She watched two episodes before getting up and washing her bowl and spoon and putting it away.

“Nikki! Get in here!” Bakura cried as Nikki jumped to his orders, Walking into the living room where Bakura was standing with his arms crossed. Nikki looked at his stern face and down to the ground.

“Y-Yes, Bakura?” she stuttered.

“I thought I told you to clean up this mess…”
“I did.”
“No you didn’t. No, Wait. You cleaned up HALF of it.” He said, Looking down at her as the doorbell rang. “Go to your room and lock the door. Don’t come out until it’s finished.”

“Yes master.” She said, Running off to her room and slammed the door shut as Bakura opened the door.

“What?” he asked, Looking down at Joey.

“Is Nikki here?” he asked, Standing straight.

“No. Now go away.” He scolded, Starting to shut the door.

“Then who were you yelling at?” Sakura asked as Nikki watched through the cracked door.

“ Yeah. Who?” Alexis stepped in.

“My girlfriend.” He said, Turning and seeing Nikki as she automatically shut the door.

“What was that?” Joey asked.

“I told you. It was my girlfriend.” He rolled his eyes and turned back to them. “Now go away.”
“I don’t think so.” Alexis said.

“GET OUT!” Bakura screamed, Slamming the door.

 

                He turned and walked to Nikkis door and pounded on it, Trying to open it. Locked.

“Nikki! Let me in!” he screamed. Nikki carefully unlocked it and backed towards her bed. “NIKKI!” he shouted again, Finally getting the door open, Shut it and picked her up by the collar. “You almost gave it away, B***h!” He threw her against the wall and let her slide to the ground.

“Uhhh… I-I’m sorry.”

“Don’t give me that crap! I said go to your room and lock the door and WHAT do you do?”

Nikki tried to stand but fell to the ground again. “I-I’ve gotta go clean something!” she said and completed everything she had already done all over again and then some. She cleaned for over an hour before Bakura got upset and went over to her.

 

                “Stop cleaning! You’re driving me crazy.” He said, Grabbing the duster, Braking it in half.

“No. My baby.” She said, Holding out her hands. He sighed, Grabbed her shirt, Threw her in her room and locked the door. She screamed and pounded on the door. “Let me out!” She finally gave up and sat on the ground and glanced at the window and walked over to it, Climbing out and ran into the woods. “He’ll never find me here!” She kept running and tripped and fell, Scooted over to a tree and fell asleep. A few hours later, She awoke, Finding herself in her room.

 

                “Nice of you to stop by. You wanna try that again?” Bakura asked as she sat up in her bed and shook her head.

“H-How’d you find me?”
“The window was open and then I saw some footsteps going into the woods so I went from there. So… You wanna try that again?”

“Nikki looked at the window and the at Bakuras solemn face. “No. I’m good.”

“Good.” He locked the window. “Now… Go to bed.”
“Whatever.” She mumbled under her breath.

“What?”
“Okay.”
What?!”
“Yes, Bakura.”

“Good.”

 

                He left and Nikki laid down in her bed and looked around. She grabbed her binder, Turned on her stomach and began to write. It finally turned eleven at night and her eyes started to get heavy so she put her binder back on the ground and turned off the light. She undid the covers and snuggled up, Finally falling asleep.

 

It was eight in the morning before she woke up again to Bakura jumping on her. She screamed in fear, Unaware of his stealth.

“Don’t scream, Little Nikki. This will only hurt… For a few weeks!” he laughed as he pulled her covers down and her shirt up, Stabbing her in the stomach.

‘Maybe if I don’t react he’ll leave me alone.’ She thought to herself as he stabbed her again. She made no reaction except a wince on her face. He kept going, Waiting for a reaction, Yet nothing phased her. He raised his knife and finally hit a tender spot that made her scream in agony.

“Ah! We have a soft spot, Do we? Finally!” he smiled, Stabbing her in the same area as she screamed. Tears strolled down her cheeks and dripped onto her pillow as she wriggled to get away. “That’s it. Squirm, Scream! It increase my enjoyment!”

“Ah! Leave me alone! Get off!”

 

                She turned her back as he slit her face, Screaming in pain. She finally brought up enough courage, Kicked him in the face making him fly off and dragged him out of the room. She shut and locked the door quickly and made sure the window was locked as Bakura started pounding on the door, Startling her.

“Nikki! Let me in, Now!” he stopped banging on the door as Nikki walked over and put her ear to it, Trying to listen to where he went. He slammed his fist against the door again, Making her stumble back, Holding her ear.

“I swear, I will break this door down if you don’t let me in!”

 

                Nikki stood up and walked into the bathroom and shut the door, Quietly went to the window, Climbed out and turned right into Bakura, Gasping and jumping back into the house.

“Thought you could get away… Again?” Bakura asked smugly looking down at her.

“Unfortunately no.” she looked at him and thought of a movie and punched him in the stomach, Stomped on his foot, hit him in the face and then kneed him in the nuts, Watching him cripple to the ground. “But now I do.”  She looked up and hopped over him and ran into the forest and climbed in a tree. She caught her breath and looked at the ground, Thanking God that there were no tracks.

 

                “I WILL find you, Nikki! You know I will… I can smell your blood!” Bakura yelled, Running into the forest after her after he had regained composure. She sat as still and quiet as ever and held her breath. But that didn’t help the bird next to her that got scared and flew away. “So that’s where you’re at, Huh?” he asked, Walking over to the tree and looking up. “Hmm… Musta been a squirrel. But she’s close. She’s gotta be around here somewhere. I WILL FIND YOU NIKKI! EVEN IF IT’S THE LAST THING I DO!” he screamed. Hour passed as she watched the sunset in the west and then it turn dark quickly. A thunderstorm was rolling in from the east, And it was coming in fast. She blinked and looked around on the ground for Bakura.

 

                He looked at the sky and growled as a few drops started falling from the dark sky and he walked inside, Looking out the window. “I will find you, Nikki…” He looked out at the black night time sky, Looked at the ten o’ clock clock and then walked into the kitchen. Nikki sat in her clubhouse that her and Ryou had made when they were kids. She looked around and had flashbacks as thunder rolled in, Making her scream. She covered her mouth quickly and looked towards the house.

“That came out of nowhere.” She said to herself and looked around. She could live in the clubhouse for at least two weeks if she ate the food and drank the water sparingly. Bakura has no idea about the mini house in the tree. There were blankets, Pillows, Fans, Food, Heaters, Drinks, Clothes, Everything. “I need to get some clothes tonight. When he’s gone.” She shivered and grabbed her hoodie, Throwing it on. “I wonder how long I can stay here.” She shivered again and took out her cellphone.

 

                “Hello?” a voice asked.

“Hey Nikari. It’s me, Nikki.” Nikki said, Looking out the window.

“Hey. How are you? I haven’t talked to you in ages.”

“Not so good.”
“Why?”
“I want you to come to the tree house we made years ago with Ryou asap. I’ll tell you then.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Okay. And Nikari? Come through the back way. Not through the house.”
Alright. Bye.”
“Bye.” Nikki replied, Setting her phone down on a table. Ten minutes passed before  Nikari got there to find Nikki pacing back and forth.

“Hiya Nikki.” She said, Closing the gate to get into the house.

“Hey.” She said, Walking over. “Sit. Please.” Nikari did as she was told and looked up at her. “Do you remember the guy that watches me?”
“Yeah.” She nodded in reply.

“Yeah. Well… He… He…” she shuddered.

“Yes Nikki?”

“I don’t know how to say it without hurting you…” she said, Staring at the ground.

“It’s okay… You can tell me.” She gulped.

“He… He hurts me…”

“Really?” she asked, Not believing her at first.

 

                Nikki stood up and showed her arms, Legs, Stomach and back.

“You’re not kidding…” Nikari stated, Looking at her.

“No… I’m not, Nikari…”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” she asked hesitantly.

“I’m not supposed to tell you now. But I’ve gotta tell someone. And you’re the only one I can trust. You’re my best friend. Besides for Joey. Bakura still doesn’t know about this place. He knows I’m in the woods and that it. But, He can’t track me down for once even though he can smell my blood.” She took a deep breath to keep from crying. “I can’t escape. He’ll find me sooner or later. And then he’ll beat me even worse.” She sniffles and took in a deep breath. “I should give up and go back now. But I hurt so bad right now. I want these few wounds to go away before I get anymore.” Nikari started crying as Nikki was trying to be strong and held them back as she wiped her eyes.

“Those aren’t a FEW wounds! Those are a bunch of cuts a-and bruises and gashes!”

 

                “Shhh… Not so loud…He might find us.” Nikkis eyes got wide as she cuddled up in her hoodie.

“Sorry. But… How could he do that to you?” Nikari asked.

“With a knife and the power of pain, Torture, Fear, Evil and free will… And bondage. Lots of bondage.” She shuddered.

“I’m staying here with you for the night.” She said, Hugging her close.

“Thanks Nikki said, A tear rolling down her cheek.

“You’re more than welcome.” Nikari replied, Hugging her one more time.