Star Crossed In Time

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER HAS TRIGGER MATERIAL OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE. YOU CAN SKIP TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IF YOU WANT WITHOUT MISSING ANYTHING IMPORTANT.

Ice cold whiskey pours down my hair in freezing rivers as Eli watches me with cold eyes saying "You seem to have a bit of a temper. This should help you cool down or... do we need to take this to the bedroom?" 

I shudder at his words and lower my head, trying to keep the alcohol out of my eyes as I shake my head no. He reaches out and grabs my chin in a punishing grip as he lifts my head to look at him. His ice-blue eyes watch me with a cruel light as he says "I wouldn't have to do things like this if you were obedient."

My anger spikes as I stare at the man before me. The man I used to love... the one who I thought loved me too but he turned out to be a twisted monster who gets off on power and control. I let my anger get the best of me and slap his hand away, surprising him and myself at the same time.

I try to straighten my spine as I say "I'm... I... that hurt." I say with a trembling voice. I wanted to curse him out and beat him with the whiskey bottle but my fear is preventing me from moving. When I see that familiar anger rising in his eyes, I take off running.   

I run straight to the guest bathroom and slam the door shut before locking it behind me. I shake uncontrollably as my tears run down my face, mixing with the whiskey. He slams his fist on the door, making me jump as he yells "Open the damn door, now!" 

I cry in earnest as I beg for mercy I know I'll never get. "Eli, please! I'm sorry! I won't do it again... please!" I cry with tears blurring my vision. This time he kicks the door and says "Open the door and your punishment won't be as bad but if I have to open it..."

He leaves the threat hanging in the air as my heart threatens to beat out of my ċhėst. He starts counting, only adding to my panic "Ten, nine, eight, seven," He continues to count as I look around the small bathroom in desperation. 

'Someone, please help me... please.' I beg internally as he continues to count but no one comes, no one ever does. "Three, two... one!" Nothing... nothing but silence greets me and it's almost worse than when he's beating on the door.

Suddenly, he hits the door again but this time it's louder and harder. I scream and cower under the porcelain sick as I quickly realize he beating the door down with a metal bat. I wrap my arms around myself and dig my nails into my skin as the door finally gives way in the middle.

He hits it a few more times to clear the hole before sticking his arm in and unlocking the door. This time I just know it's gonna be my last... a part of me is scared to think that I'm gonna die while the other part of me is relieved that I'll no longer have to live in this hell. 

He kicks the broken door open and walks in pissed. I stay cowered in the corner, trying to make myself as small as possible as he slowly walks in as my own worst nightmare. I continue to cry as I beg him to please stop but, my pleas fall on deaf ears. 

He throws the metal bat to the side and starts rolling up his sleeves as he says "You always have to make things worse for yourself. If you'd just listen and behave... it would never come to this. Why do you always make me the bad guy?" 

I try to stop my tears as I say "You're right, I'm sorry. I won't ever do it again, I promise." Eli just shakes his head and says "You know better than that. You have to be taught right in order for you to never do it again." 

I shake my head over and over as I say "Eli... please. I'm begging you." He finishes with his sleeves and starts walking over to me while saying "You have to be punished." He leans down to grab me but I push his hands away and scream in fear. 

He easily overpowers me and backhands me in the mouth, instantly cutting my lip. He grabs a handful of hair and drags me out from under the sink. I reach up, trying to grab his hand but he kicks me in the side before pulling me forward again. 

I can no longer fight against him as I struggle to breathe. I reach up with one hand while holding my side with the other as he starts dragging me along the white marble tile. My sobs are haunting as he drags me through the living room but when I see him heading for our room, I begin screaming in terror.

He pulls me all the way into the master bathroom before roughly pulling me up to my feet. "Let me show you what disobedience gets you." He says pushing me into the large white tub. My knees hit the side before I fall over into the tub, bȧrėly stopping my face from hitting the other side. 

My right wrist makes a sickening 'snap' noise as pain instantly takes my breath away. I cry out in pain and cradle my wrist against my ċhėst as he turns the hot water on. As it fills up halfway, he walks back over and grabs the back of my neck. I want to plead and beg but he just shoves my face into the scolding hot water.

Panic and pain has me thrashing against him, even when I know I shouldn't... I just can't help it. When I think that 'this is it' and 'this is how I'm gonna die' he suddenly pulls me up. I sputter and suck in cold air as the hot water continues to fill the tub, burning my skin in a way that makes me lightheaded. "Step out of this tub and you won't be able to walk for the next two weeks, got it?" 

I sob and nod my head in silence as the large tub continues to fill. The water was already at my waist, stinging and burning the whole way up. The water is scalding hot, making me cry out in pain as I beg him for mercy but he doesn't come back. 

Would he know if I stepped out? Who am I kidding, of course he'd know and it would become so much worse. I just need to hang on... I just need to get through this. I hiss in pain as the tub continues to fill and plead with anyone who'd hear me 'Please make it stop' 

"You can get out when the sun comes back up. Until then, you stay in here without another word. Sit in the middle. If I walk back in here and see you leaning on the side or sleeping, you'll have more consequences." He says taking a sip of his new glass of whiskey on the rocks. A silent tear runs down my red cheek as I nod my head. 

He turns around and walks off, turning the light off and shutting the door behind him. After a while, the water starts to cool off and I no longer feel like I'm gonna have a heatstroke. My stomach remains queazy though as I struggle to hold my wrist still. 

I have no idea how long has passed but the water is now ice cold, causing me to shiver as I silently pray for the sun to rise. I look over to the dark window but I can't tell what time it is. Silent sobs wreck my body as I try to fight against the chill. 

I'll never forget the look of the rising sun or how grateful I was for it. That was the last time I ever went against him openly. I fell sick after that and he "took care" of me the whole time. Talking about how much he loved me and how he wanted me to get better and eventually, I did. I was still beat and abused if I didn't do or say something right or if I dropped something but it was bearable. I continued to 'save up' money by stealing money out of his wallet. Little by little so he wouldn't notice. 

He had taken my cell phone, cut me off from the outside world... there was nothing else I could do but bid my time slowly. When I found my opening, I took it and never looked back. I ran like my life depended on it and in many ways, it did. 

This time would be different though... this time I wouldn't run and hide. This time I'll stand my ground and end him once and for all. The world doesn't need someone like him... or at least that's what I plan on doing...