Degrees Of Distortion (Distortion Series Book 1) Read online

  DEGREES OF DISTORTION

  The Distortion Series, Book 1

  By Aimee McNeil

  DEGREES OF DISTORTION

  Copyright © 2016 by Aimee McNeil.

  All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: July 2016

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-731-9

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-731-5

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To my fans,

  This book is for those who love to get lost in a story and enjoy the adventure.

  I wrote this for you.

  And for those who will pick it apart and say nasty things…I know you’re out there.

  This is not for you.

  Table of Contents

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

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  PROLOGUE

  The room was dark, and the air felt as if it had taken shape and slithered over her skin—cold and damp. Her jaw hurt from the constant chattering of her teeth. The dull ache stretched down her throat, making it feel swollen and tight. Her thoughts jumped from one to the next as her mind refused to focus on anything.

  She raised a shaky hand and brushed her hair from her face, noticing her cheeks were damp. She pressed numb fingers to her skin and wiped away tears that were dripping from her chin. She hadn’t even realized she was crying. She licked her dry lips and blinked her eyes. The haunting quiet was enough to make her question what was real.

  A strange numbness engulfed her as she looked through the rough metal bars that caged her in. A lone lightbulb in the far corner of the room flickered occasionally, threatening to leave her in darkness. She had no concept of time due to the solid walls of concrete around her. The only indication of time passing was the constant drip of water she could hear from the leaky faucet across the room.

  The bars that made up the small cell had initially been a source of terror when she had awoken inside them, but now she was grateful for the barrier. They were the only thing that separated her from him.

  The man sat on the other side of the bars with a suit and blood red tie. His chair was so close that his knees were pressed against the bars. He had been sitting impossibly still for so long she was beginning to wonder if she was imagining him.

  When he finally moved, her breath caught in her throat. He loosened his tie and leaned back. The chair groaned loudly in protest, but he remained eerily quiet. He didn’t look like a man that was capable of great evil with his expensive suit and well-manicured appearance, but there was no denying there was something unnatural about him. He watched her silently like a lion toying with its food, waiting to strike.

  She pushed back the lump in the throat and searched for her voice. “Why?” Her lips felt frozen, making it hard to speak.

  He refused to break his silence. He ran his hand down the front of his shirt and began to rub his thighs in long, languid strokes. His gaze never left her, and she cowered away from his frightening presence.

  She sat on the small cot pushed up against the wall. It offered no comfort as the frame dug through the thin mattress. A chill rushed over her skin as she pulled her knees up to her chest.

  “Why…am I…here?” she cried. The rush of emotion was impossible to stop as it began to flow. She gasped for breath between her sobs. Her body shook as she wrapped her arms around her knees and made the best attempt she could to shield herself from his view.

  He leaned forward suddenly in his chair and grabbed hold of the bars. His abrupt movement startled her. She pushed off the bed and stumbled to her feet. She pressed her body against the solid wall of concrete in the back of the cell. Her heart raced so fast she could taste the metallic pulse in her mouth and the deafening rush in her ears.

  “Because you are mine,” he said in a voice that reached across the distance between them and grabbed hold of her.

  She shook her head. “Let me go,” she sobbed. “Please.”

  “Never,” he said as he shoved his chair back. It scraped loudly against the floor. He pulled what sounded like keys from his pocket and walked around the cell. He ran his fingers over every bar until he came to the door. Fear strangled her as the sound of a lock released.

  “I will never let you go,” he said as he pushed the door open.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Come down here now, Lexie! You’re gonna get yourself killed.”

  Lexie looked down at her blue-painted toes. It was her favorite polish. The color had long since chipped away and was in dire need of a new coat. She had used the remainder of the bottle last time she painted them and could not find the shade anywhere. It had to be that specific color. Nothing else would do.

  Lexie was standing upon a rock overlooking a sheer drop. Water sprayed and frothed over the edge, showering into the pool of turbulent water below. Her stomach felt weightless and dense simultaneously as she peered over the edge. Her heart beat madly in her chest as fear stretched its cold, dark fingers around her, holding tight. She reveled in the feeling that penetrated the numb fog that had long since settled over her. The warm did nothing to soothe her as it cast its afternoon light upon her bare skin, clothed as she was only in her blue bikini. It was a staple in her wardrobe since summer had begun.

  Her eyes fell upon her friend below, Stephanie, her arms waving madly. “I know you can hear me, Lexie. Get your cute butt down here. This isn’t funny.”

  Their quiet surroundings were so peaceful in the hidden oasis, untouched by civilization. She had stumbled upon this place a year ago on their first road trip. It had been a much different experience the first time. That was when she still had her heart, her Alex.

  Taking a deep breath, she pushed off the rock. The comfort of the solid surface beneath her feet was replaced with the weightless feeling of falling. Stephanie’s scream rang out around her, swallowing the peaceful calm of the morning. Air rushed past Lexie’s sk
in; the fleeting feeling of freedom was liberating before the cold sting of water slapped harshly against her, swallowing her down into its cold, dark depths where the warm sun could not penetrate.

  Lexie could feel herself sink, pushed and pulled by the current of the restless water. She opened her eyes to dreamlike surroundings, completely immersed in the hazy water.

  “Come on and jump already,” Alex called from below, treading water with perfect poise. Years of swimming had him primed to make swimming look effortless. The contagious smile on his face made Lexie laugh nervously. He always had that effect on her. All he had to do was give her his signature smile and look at her with those hazel eyes and she would fall for his charm every time. She was completely enamoured since the first day she met him.

  “Just give me a second. We’re not all fearless like you. I need to warm myself up to the idea of throwing myself off a cliff,” Lexie complained as she tried to take deep calming breaths. She couldn’t believe he had actually jumped from the top of the waterfall. She looked up at the steep incline and shivered. This was as high as she could manage, and it was still pushing it.

  “It’s less than half the distance I jumped and I made it.”

  “Yeah, but you’re insane and lucky.”

  “It’s safe. I promise.”

  “Fine. You better save me if something bad happens,” Lexie threatened as she readied herself.

  “I’ll always save you.”

  Lexie pushed off the rocks. A panicked scream left her lips as she soared through the air. She dropped into the cold water below, plunging under. Alex was waiting for her; she felt his strong arms wrap around her when she broke through the surface of the water. “I told you it was safe.” He pulled her close.

  Lexie could still remember exactly what he smelled like, still feel his skin against hers as she reveled in the memory. Something moving in the water caught her attention. For a moment, her mind led her to believe it was Alex swimming toward her; for that one blissful moment her heart didn’t feel like an empty hole filled with sorrow until his image faded away and Stephanie’s face came into view. Her momentary escape was gone, and so was Alex.

  Stephanie grabbed hold of Lexie’s arm and pulled her up toward the surface of the water. Lexie could feel the temperature warm dramatically as they neared the top, her lungs suddenly screaming for air as her numbness melted away. Lexie drew in as much breath as she could as they swam to the edge. Her adrenaline high crashed quickly, and she was left feeling drained as she dragged herself out of the water.

  “What the hell, Lexie? You scared the shit out of me…” Stephanie paused for breath. “Don’t take stupid risks like that. You could’ve been seriously hurt.” Stephanie twisted the water from her dark hair before letting her curls spring back to life.

  “I just wanted to feel close to him.” Lexie sighed deeply.

  Stephanie’s scowl fell from her face to be replaced with sympathy. “You don’t have to throw yourself off cliffs and take the same crazy risks he did. Just take in the scenery and remember him.”

  “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough. It’s not till I really push myself that I remember him with perfect clarity. It feels like he’s with me.” Lexie fell back onto her towel, letting the sun warm her chilled skin.

  “He’d want you to be safe, Lexie. You know that more than anyone.” Stephanie sat down beside her, taking Lexie’s hand in hers for a comforting squeeze.

  “I know.” Lexie breathed sadly before closing her eyes.

  ***

  “Maybe Alex didn’t get it on the trip. Maybe he had picked it up before.” Stephanie placed her menu down and looked across the table. Lexie was trying to read the choices, but her mind was too full to comprehend the words in front of her. It might as well have been in a different language.

  “No, he said it was a memento from our trip. He gave it to me on the ride home. I remember thinking how ridiculous it was that he bought me nail polish when I never wore it.” Lexie gave up trying to read the food choices and ran her fingers through her hair. A laugh bubbled up from her chest. “Who would have thought I would be retracing our steps a year later on a mad hunt to find the elusive color?”

  “I think we need a drink.” Stephanie leaned back in her chair and waved to the waiter.

  “Make that drinks.” Lexie sighed. The tavern had an old world feel, with a stage for live performances. The bar was beautifully carved from a richly grained wood, running the entire length of the interior. A small wood floor stood before the stage, worn from years of dancing. A lone woman sat on a stool upon the stage. A spotlight set her sullen features aglow as she sang a sad song. It seemed appropriate for Lexie’s mood as she listened to the words. The woman sang about loss and a harsh world. It was sad how very fitting those words fit with her life.

  Lexie and Stephanie had come to the final stop on their road trip. Tomorrow, Lexie would return to the life waiting for her and the inescapable sadness she bore upon her shoulders. Lexie looked at her best friend sitting across the table, the reason she had come this far. Stephanie had stood by her side since the day her world was torn apart; she was her crutch and the reason she found the strength to get out of bed in the morning.

  “It’s all gone, Stephanie,” Lexie sobbed into the phone. The bottle of nail polish clasped so tightly in her hand her knuckles were white. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. “It’s gone…”

  “What is, Lex? What’s gone?” Stephanie’s concerned words poured through the phone.

  Lexie was tired of being strong. She was tired of trying to convince everyone that she was all right. Tired carrying on with her life like it was natural to move on when her heart was torn from her chest. “The nail polish,” Lexie whispered into the phone, collapsing onto the floor. She could see the broken version of herself in her mirror. Anger flared from deep within her like an angry beast breaking free. She threw the polish at the sad, pathetic girl staring back at her. The mirror shattered to the floor, a perfect representation of what was left of her.

  “Hold on, Lex. I’m just pulling up to your building. I’ll just be a sec.” Stephanie hung up. It was only a matter of seconds before Lexie could hear her approaching, hurried steps. Stephanie had her own key. Lexie was grateful because she couldn’t pull herself off the floor. She could only stare at the bottle of polish that had rolled across the floor and stopped in front of her—mocking her.

  Stephanie’s feet came into view with her favorite sandals that wrapped around her ankles and set off her tanned legs beautifully. “If my feet were the same size, I would definitely steal those shoes,” Lexie said in a numb, distant voice. Stephanie grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up to sit on the bed.

  “You’re scaring me. What happened to your mirror?” Stephanie’s warm chocolate eyes lowered to look into hers. “Lexie?” Her hands felt warm upon Lexie’s chilled cheeks. She was shivering. The cold felt as if it were originating from deep inside her.

  “Why’s it so cold in here?” Lexie mumbled.

  “It’s not. It’s hot as shit.” Stephanie grabbed the blanket off Lexie’s bed and wrapped it around her shoulders when Lexie’s teeth started chattering. “Talk to me.”

  Lexie lifted her hand. The bottle of nail polish lay in her palm.

  “Oh, Lex.” Stephanie took the bottle from her, looking at the trace amount of the deep blue color left inside. The bottle had become one of Lexie’s most treasured belongings.

  “I looked everywhere. No one carries this color.”

  Stephanie wrapped her arm around Lexie’s shoulders and pulled her close. “I can take some time off work. Let’s retrace the steps you and Alex took, track down the nail polish. Give you a chance to get away and remember the better times.”

  “Really?” Lexie perked up.

  “Yeah, I think we both need this.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  This little town of Sugar Hill was her last hope to find what she was looking for; after stopping at every possible location over th
e course of the week she was no closer. The small town was on the perimeter of a much bigger city shining bright in the late night hour. It was like watching a fireworks show when you stood outside. The city of Belhaven was a lively bright world in the center of a cluster of small towns. It sat just out of reach with flashing signs, pulsing with life. As much as it called to Lexie to discover its secrets, she knew Alex always avoided the big cities. He wouldn’t have found the polish there.

  The color, Knockout by Revlon, meant so much more to her than it should, but it was tied to important memories. She was scared they would fade without it, and she needed to see the color on her toes to remember when Alex painted them. She remembered it so clearly; it was the morning before her world fell apart.

  “Wake up, sleepy head,” Alex’s smooth voice brushed against Lexie’s shoulder, sensitizing her skin.

  “No.” Lexie tried to pull the blankets over her head, but Alex refused, slipping his arms around her.

  “Come on. I want to see those pretty blue eyes.” He rained gentle kisses down her arm.

  “My eyes are still asleep. Don’t be mean,” Lexie complained, opening one to see him leaning over her with a mischievous smile.

  “We have places to go and things to see. You need to get your hot butt up and get dressed.” Alex climbed out of bed, dressed in only his boxers. His body was lean and cut beautifully from his dedication to swimming. His blond hair was tousled from sleep, and his smile was brighter than the sun peeking through the windows.

  “Five more minutes.” Lexie yawned, stretching her tired body.

  Alex grabbed the bottle of nail polish off her dresser that hadn’t been touched since she had gotten back from their trip a few weeks before. Alex sat down on the bottom of the bed and unscrewed the cover.