“Get in position,” Travis demanded, his voice echoing in my head. I slowly stood, my legs wobbly as I walked over to the big bed covered in silver sheets. Sheets I had to wash with bleach plenty of times to remove the stench of despair and torture. Kneeling by the end of the bed, I waited for my next order, tears streaming down my face so fast my cheeks were raw.
Travis clutched my hair, pulling back harshly, making me look upward into his menacing blue eyes, blue eyes that had a sick way of penetrating what was left of my psyche. Which wasn’t much. The only thing that was still there was fierce love for my daughter. I had to keep strong for her sake. It was my job to keep her safe and if I broke to the point of no return, she would be left for the wolves.
Many would call me crazy if I told them I loved this man not so long ago, was head over heels with him. We shared what every new couple felt, butterflies when we first met, the nights where we did nothing but lay in bed and talked about mindless crap, the feeding each other bullshit. It was all a fa?ade though, leading to me being collared and slaved at the foot of an abusive husband. Like all crystal-clear skies, eventually a storm rolls through, darkening your perfect view of life. It’s inevitable. With every hit of the whip, every grip to the throat, I wonder where I went wrong, but when the pain resides, and the air fills my lungs, I am reminded of where I messed up: I fell in love with a monster.
Travis leaned in and slid his tongue along my cheek, taking in my sorrow.
“Your sadness lets me know you know you’re aware of your place. You are here to serve me, and deliver whatever I ask of you, my wife.” He seethes the last part, making me clench my eyes shut. I tried to drown his words out, build a barrier.
“Do you understand?” he questioned. I nodded as a whimper spilled from my throat. “Say it,” he gritted out, gripping my chin harshly, his fingers bruising the skin.
“Yes, Master,” I spat, trying to pull from his hold. My tone takes me by surprise. I had no idea what had gotten into me.
“I see someone has attitude tonight. That’s okay. I know just what you need.” He grabbed me by the collar and lifted me, throwing me onto the bed face down. My legs twitched with the urge to run to the other side of the bed, but the collar, snug around my neck, reminded me of the punishment I would face for disobeying.
Straddling my body, slamming my wrists into the hard cuffs, pushing my head into the mattress hard enough to lock my collar into place, I was convinced I would suffocate. That finally the nightmare may truly end.
The bathroom door swings open, breaking my flashback of last night.
“You look like shit. Put some makeup on or something,” Travis insults.
“I don’t have any more makeup. I had to use what was left of it the last time you used me as a punching bag,” I clip, slamming drawers shut. I wince from my outburst, knowing it won’t go overlooked.
“What’d you say to me?” Travis grips my face harshly, making me instantly regret my choice of words. But why refrain from how I really feel about the bastard? Today won’t be any worse than tomorrow; he’ll still treat me like garbage.
“I said I fucking hate you,” I snarl, and spit in his face. Travis closes his eyes as he wipes his face.
“You think you’re something mighty, don’t you?” He rears his hand back and slaps me in the mouth, busting my lip wide open.
I fall against the bathroom counter, my breathing becoming harsh from the amount of pain my body is suffering.
“Jessica, I can tell I have not been very attentive to you in the basement. I have been lacking on your punishment, in return making you suffer, causing you to act out. I will deliver the pain you so desperately crave tonight, and you can count on that, my darling wife,” he grates out, pushing my head into the counter harshly. Tears fill my eyes. I’m exhausted, just plain fucking exhausted of this. I can’t take any more of this shit.
“NO!” Addie yells, running into the bathroom. My heart stammers as I hear Addie, immediately scared for her safety, and terrified of her seeing me like this.
Addie attacks Travis’s leg, yelling at him, scratching at him to let me go. I hear Travis exhale with anger as he pushes her off, making her stumble and fall to the floor.
Addie instantly starts crying.
“I don’t have time for this shit. I have to go to work,” Travis sneers, letting go of me and leaving the bathroom. I quickly fall to the floor and go to Addie, rocking her in my lap. I cup her cheeks and kiss all over her, noticing she landed on her face when she fell.