Chapter 26
(17 years old)
3 weeks post Cami
Blinking my heavy eyes open I'm met with a bright light overhead. My head throbs with great pain and my mouth is so dry it sticks like glue when I move my tongue around. Squeezing my lids shut to clear my blurry vision, I try to reach up and do the same with my hands and discover I can't move them.
Panicking, I thrash on the floor in a whole ass straight jacket, only to realize the floor is soft and cushioned.
I stop and take a steadying breath. Opening my eyes once more, I see I'm in a padded room like a psych patient.
The panic increases tremendously. I'm panting now as I try to rack my brain around what happened.
The walls are as white as the straight jacket, the door padded as well with a small hole at the bottom, I assume is for food.
“Hello?!”
Receiving no response, I roll onto my stomach and push myself to my knees. Severe pain shoots through my core and leg making me hiss through my teeth.
Finally climbing to my bare feet, the soft sound of the door opening draws my attention. Marcus comes into view and everything in my body turns to liquid fire. It's suddenly too hot and small in here.
Everything comes crashing back in full force. The vibrations of my collar, my fear when it didn’t shut off. Stepping into that room full of people who watched unmoving as Cami’s light drained from her eyes. My devastation, the flip of my world, the hell that settled into my bones, rendering me immobile. My blind rage, driven by nothing but animal instinct to get to the man who stands mere feet from me now. Soft smile on his face as he regards me with tender love and care in his eyes.
My physical pain-that I now remember is from gunshots-doesn't hold a candle to the emotional damage running ramped through my head.
I stare at Marcus-this monster-mouth parting as a sob shakes me whole. It’s physically taxing to remain standing when all I want to do is fall to the soft floor cushioning my feet and beg the monster who stole everything from me, to take my life too.
He won't.
He’d never.
Oh god, oh god, please...
Another sob racks me and then I'm wailing. It's loud and wet because I'm drooling too, uncaring of everything my mother drilled into me with her fists.
No, no, no, no, no...
“Please!”
I rush him franticly. Begging like the pet, I've accepted I was born to be. “Kill me Marcus, please!”
“No!”
He draws back, horrified, and confused about how I could possibly find the request acceptable. Because HE. IS. FUCKING. CRAZY!
I'm wheezing, unable to draw a full breath. Marcus grasps both of my shaky shoulders gently, rubbing down to my elbows with affection. His touch is crippling. I'd rather shatter my bones between two walls closing in, then feel his disgusting hands or see them ever again.
“My love... I know I took things a bit too far, but-”
BUT?
His words fade along with my vision. The room is black rimmed, growing hazy. My mind is fuzzy, and I try to find something to focus on to reel me back in.
Remembering the way my teeth gnawed through flesh gives me a slight reprieve and the will to live. I may not have access to my hands, but I learned that I harbor a different kind of weapon.
If I'm going out, I'm taking this monstrosity with me.
He’s still attempting to soothe me with hands and kind words meant to heal, when my molars latch on to his wrist. He screams, and my head swings back and forth like a dog. It's fitting I guess.
Die, die, die.
It's a mantra in my head, I can't see or hear anything but it and him.
Fists connect with my already pounding head as he attempts to beat me off of him. Silly man, doesn't he know? His tricks only worked because he had something to hold me back, ensuring I walked the straight and narrow.
Now he has nothing, and I'm unglued from the shackles he placed on me. Unhinged as I'm dragged off of him from behind. “NO! NO!”
Multiple arms restrain me while I thrash in their hold. My eyes haven't left Marcus as he glares at me, clutching his wrist.
“Don't hurt him, he's still healing!”
God, he's demented and delusional. Doesn't even realize that nobody could ever hurt me the way that he has.
“I'll come back tomorrow, and we can try again, love.”
With that, he takes his leave while I continue to go wild inside the limbs trapping me.
When his bitches are sure he's long gone and safe, I'm shoved to the ground, and they bolt for the door like a pack of pussies.