Connected {Saw II}

snaring the trap

Content Warning for Sexual Assault in This Chapter. Brief implication of self-harming.

The bathroom was steamy and Vivian was wet from the shower. Making sure her towel was wrapped securely around her body, she walked over to the mirror. She wiped away some of the condensation off of the mirror.

She couldn't stand seeing Detective Matthews today. She stared at herself, with a pained look in her eyes. The scar on her wrist began to itch. She scratched at it, thinking about the day she had got it.

She had done it as a ritual in front of John.

There was a knock on the door. "Viv? You okay in there?" It was Adam wanting to make sure she was okay. He had been concerned about her since she returned from the police station. "I'm coming in"

The door opened and Adam came into view in the mirror, but Vivian never tore her eyes away from herself. Adam saw her blank expression and immediately grew concerned.

"You okay?" Adam asked once again. He touched her shoulder, and Vivian flinched at his touch. "Woah. I'm sorry"

"It's okay" Her voice was quiet.

"You were cheerful earlier when we were unpacking boxes. But, when you came back from the police station, you've been kind of out of it"

"Oh" Vivian muttered. "Sorry"

"You wanna talk about it?"

Vivian turned her head and smiled at him, though it was kind of forced. "Maybe some other time" She had yet to tell Adam about the false drug charges and Matthews taking advantage of her.

Adam gave her that smile that she loved so much. It already made her feel better. "That's cool. I won't pressure you about it" The two were about to kiss when a knock on the front door interrupted them. "I'll get it. You get dressed"

~

When Adam opened the door, he was expecting it to either be Michelle or Amanda. He wasn't expecting a teenage boy. "Can I help you?" Adam asked. Was the boy okay? He looked as though he had been crying.

"Is Vivian here?" the boy asked. "She said it was okay if I hung out here..."

"Daniel!" Vivian came running, dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants. "Are you okay!? How did you get my address?"

"I got it from Kerry. She promised not to tell my dad I was here. Knew I'd be safe here" Daniel explained. "We got into a huge fight"

"Come in, Daniel" Vivian grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside. "Sit on the couch and I'll get you something to drink. We got juice, soda and water"

"Water is fine" Daniel said. He made himself comfortable on the couch as Vivian went into the kitchen to get some water for the teenage boy. "You must be Adam" Daniel acknowledged him.

"Vivian talks about me?" Adam asked, taking a seat beside him.

"All the time" Daniel said. "Sorry for intruding, I just..."

"No worries" Adam pat Daniel on the shoulder. "It's okay. I understand. Parents can be the worst sometimes"

Daniel scoffed. "You haven't met my dad. He's a real hardass"

"You're telling me" Vivian said when she entered the room. She sat on the other side of Daniel, handing him the water. "I can't stand your father either"

"Really?" Daniel furrowed his brows. "Why?"

Vivian froze. She never wanted Daniel to know about the way his father used her. But, she supposed she could come clean about the false drug charge. "He once arrested me for possession of drugs"