Broken, not Shattered

Broken

T/W: Assault and Murder

~Tell me exactly what am I supposed to do,

now that I have allowed you to beat me?

Do you think that we could play another game?

Maybe I could win this time?~

~Disturbd~

Sophie was pretty sure she was broken somehow. She should be trying to get away from him, but she'd gotten used to Alex. She could handle his abuse. Besides, if he was busy hurting her, he wasn't out hurting someone else. Maybe it was like her mother had told her, if she didn't want to be disciplined, she shouldn't be bad.

The next day that had changed her life forever started like any other day. Alex had told her to have dinner ready by the time he got home from work. He had kissed her on the cheek and left her there alone in his apartment. She cleaned the apartment and went to the store to get the things she needed for dinner.

He told her he would be home around 4 to eat then had to leave again for a big job. This was good news for her. He wouldn't be there to force himself on her for another round of unsatisfying sex. She was making smothered pork chops with a baked potato and cheesy green beans. She was ready to make him a plate as soon as he got home. Not surprising, he came in just after four. He tossed his coat on the couch and moved into the small kitchen area.

"Smells good. Make me a plate while I wash up?"

She ground her teeth together as she smiled and made his plate. She set the food on the small kitchen table and grabbed him a beer from the fridge. He walked back in and kissed her cheek. She let him, watching him as he set down and started to eat.

He looked up at her. "You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry. I'll eat later."

He frowned, finishing the bite of food in his mouth, "I said sit down and eat."

He had a job, she thought she would be safe enough to avoid a big fight. The bravery was stupid. "I said, I will eat later, I'm not hungry."

He stood, his chair scraping along the floor. He stepped towards her.

"Why do you have to be such bitch?"

His hand grabbed her hair, tugging her head back sharply.

"I want you to eat." his hand grabbed the green beans from his plate, he shoved them into her mouth.

She gasped, they were still hot and some moved into her nose, she gagged. She couldn't breathe, he pulled back on her hair harder. She was leaned back far enough if he let her go she would fall. Her hands flailed around trying to find a grip on anything.

He reached for more, shoving them into her face, they were in her eyes now too. Her face was on fire. She was definitely choking now. There was no way she was going to be murdered with green beans. Her hand made contact with a handle. It was one of her knives. She swung the weapon, unable to see where it was going, but his hands left her.

She fell, the impact of her back hitting the floor helped clear her airway. She could breathe. The rush of air was painful, burning almost as much as the damned green beans. She wiped at her face, trying to see what was happening. Alex was on the floor a few feet away from where they had been, coughing, gurgling as he was holding his neck. She saw the knife between them, she reached for it with shaking hands. She held it in front of her, in case he decided to get up and charge her.