PUPPY

CHAPTER 35

Days passed by. I was still stuck in this house. Neil was always around, keeping an eye on me. I felt like an animal locked in a zoo.

I didn't see or hear Laura after our argument. I wanted to confront Neil about his relationship with her.

No.

I have to keep her safe. I don't know what he'd do if I asked too many questions.

I rolled over to the other side of the couch. It's already midday, and I don't want to move, but I'm bored to death.

Ever since he brought me here, it has been the same. We wake up, eat breakfast and take a short walk. Then he works, and I watch TV. We have lunch, after that, we spend some time together, and then we go to bed.

I don't know how long I can go on like this.

I want to get out of this house. I want to be able to go back to work and go back to my apartment.

But he won't even let me out of the house alone, even though there is a fence surrounding this damn place.

He doesn't want to give me my phone, and I still have to wear this fucking chain.

I didn't try to escape, and I obeyed. Why can't he give me at least a little bit of credit?

And our sex life has been a little dry. He tried, but I refused him. It's not the same. When his hands touch me, it's not the same.

He's not the same.

He's so scared that I'll escape.

I want him to let me go, so that I can go back home.

Thinking about all this gives me a headache. Maybe I could ask Neil if I can take a dip in the pool outside.

I made my way to his studio and knocked on the door. "Can I come in?" I waited for his response.

He doesn't want me to go inside his studio.

The door opened, and his tall frame hovered over me. He was wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans. He looks tired. The dark circles under his eyes get bigger every day.

"What brought you here, Puppy?"

I looked down to avoid his gaze.

"Can I take a dip in the pool?"

"Alone?"

I nodded in approval.

"Then no."

"Can you please come with me? I'm bored. You won't give me my phone. You don't let me use the computer in your studio. And the TV shows suck."

He ruffled my hair and said: " Okay, let's go."

We changed into swimsuits and made our way to the door that led to the pool. He took off the chain. I made my way to the edge of the pool and jumped right in. I swam to the edge of the pool and leaned back on it. I love the way the water flows around me and the feeling of being weightless. It's as if the water is washing all my worries away.

Neil sat on the edge of the pool next to me. I avoided his gaze. He started caressing my wet hair. I slowly pushed myself away and swam to the other side. He joined me in the water and followed me. I, again, started swimming away.

He reached me and gently grabbed my hand. "Where are you running?" he softly asked.

"Please, let me go."

He pulled me toward him and pushed me against the edge.

"Ever since Laura left, you're acting distant."

I kept watching away. "It's nothing. I just want to be left alone"

"Then why can't you look me in the eyes."

I can't take this anymore.

I put my hand on his chest and tried to push him away.

"Please, let's go back home. I don't want to be here," I whispered.

He let out a sigh of annoyance, "Again, with this."

"Please. I want to go back to work!"

He snapped and shouted: "You are not going back!"

I let out a grunt of anger. "Please-"

"NO! You are not going anywhere! You need to stay here. You only need to be happy with me forever. You only need to do that. Is that hard for you to understand?!"

I slapped him across the face.

"I'm not happy! I can't love you when you're like this! You changed-"

He let out a little scoff that stopped me. Then he caressed the cheek that I struck.

"I changed. Listen to yourself. I changed?" He grabbed my face in his hand and squished my cheeks. "I'm the same. You're the one that changed. You don't accept me anymore. Do you not remember what you promised me? For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. You promised me all that on the day you accepted my ring-"

"-Are you serious!? You're gonna' bring in our vows now!? I promised that not knowing you're a fucking MURDERER!!!" I shouted into his face. I went for another slap, but he stopped my hand.

"I gave you time. I gave you space. I even turned a blind eye when you ran away. I tried to be so reasonable with you. But you have to make me the bad guy. Okay."

He grabbed me by the waist and threw me out of the water. He came out and tossed me across his shoulder, and walked inside.

"If you need a bad guy, I'll be that for you."

He was making his way to the bedroom. He threw me on top of the bed and looked at me with a look of disappointment.

He opened the wardrobe and pulled out a thin red rope. I started crawling away.

"Come here," he said before grabbing my ankle and pulling me back. He pushed my head into the mattress and pinned my hands behind my back. I felt the rope burn my skin as he tied my hands with it.

"Don't scream, Puppy, it won't help," he calmly said.

He released me from his tight hold, and I finally caught my breath.

I tried to get free, but I couldn't.

He came from the wardrobe with handcuffs and put them on my ankles.

"Please, stop. I'll be good, Please-"

He pushed a gag shaped like a bone in my mouth.

He looked at me for the last time before leaving the room.

His gaze.

He looked sad and disappointed.

I couldn't stop myself from crying.