The White Fox

13.) Headache After Headache

When I woke up, Westley was asleep in the chair. I looked at the time and saw it was 11:00 in the morning.

Shit.

I rushed to the kitchen but got dizzy halfway there. I dropped to the ground and grabbed my head.

"The fuck is wrong with you? Get up and make my breakfast, bitch. I told you to have it ready by 9:00." Westley got out of the chair and grabbed the back of my shirt, hauling me up. "Get in there and make me eggs."

He threw me in the kitchen and I stumbled and fell again. I hurried to get up before I got another beating and rushed to make breakfast for him and Sheryl.

When I was done I sat on a stool and held my head. It was pounding. I got up and looked in the drawers for some medicine. I know Westley keeps some in here.

"What are you doing?" I jumped at the sudden noise.

"Oh. I'm s-sorry. I was just looking for some medicine. My head is pounding. I-is that ok?" I stumbled over my words. He glared at me.

"Next time," He growled out, "just ask before you go digging."

He opened a drawer all the way on the corner and pulled out a bottle. As he tossed it to me, I missed and it fell on the floor. I picked it up and he scoffed.

"Fucking pathetic." He grabbed his plate and sat down. "Get a grip Nova. You need to stop being so sad."

I took the medicine and put the bottle back. Before I could leave the room, Westley stopped me.

"Don't forget to clean the house. It's a mess." I hummed in acknowledgment and walked out.

I sat on the couch and sighed. Man, how am I going to make it through this? I hope David hurries with his connections.

I began cleaning the house and made it room to room. All throughout the day, I didn't hear from Westley. Not even when I made him lunch.

I sat at the counter in the kitchen and thought about what to make for dinner. I guess tacos would be good it's quick and it means I can lay down faster.

I got the meat out and started pulling out the fillings. Sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes. Hmm. I'll have to do without guacamole. Westley won't be too mad. He hardly notices when I don't put that on it.

As the meat is cooking Sheryl walks in and opens the fridge. "Make sure you don't put tomatoes on mine you dumb bitch."

I blew a breath out of my nose quietly out of annoyance. She jerked her head towards me.

"Did you just scoff at me?" Her high-pitched voice rang in my ears and I closes my eyes tightly. "Don't you dare act like I'm a nuisance. You little whore!"

Westley heard her yelling and walked in. "What the fuck is going on in here?"

Before I could even look at him Sheryl was yelling again. "She scoffed at me! I can't believe you would act like I'm annoying you when you live here to serve me! This is ridiculous." She kept rambling, but my eyes never left Westley's.

He was staring at me with a murderous look in his eyes. It terrified me.

"Is that so? I guess I'll have to teach you how to act around here again." He got up close to my face. "Get on the ground."

I hesitated. Not even two seconds, and he threw me to the ground. "When I say get on the ground. You get on the ground! Do you understand?" He was seething. I muttered out a "yes," and he kicked me in the diaphragm.

I coughed and tried to catch my breath. He grabbed my hair and pulled me to the living room. "I will fuck you up. Talk back to me and see what happens. That includes Sheryl. Try something like that again, and I'll make sure you don't know left from right."

He kicked me again and walked out. While he was in the other room, he hollered out, "and make sure that food isn't burnt. If it is, that's your ass."

I got up and clutched my stomach. Making my way to the kitchen again, I passed Sheryl. I cast my eyes down and continued to fix the food. After I was done I went to the couch and laid down.

I was woken up by a hand throwing me off the couch.

"Get up. You aren't done yet." Westley sat down and turned on the TV. "Go get two beers. When you come back I want you to sit down."

I did as he said. I went to hand him both, but he only took one. As I was walking away to sit down in the chair, he stopped me. "No. Over here. Next to me. And drink your beer. Don't make me repeat myself like last night."

I sat next to him and opened the beer. He opened his and downed half. I only sipped, but I made sure to sip it fast. He seemed satisfied with it and sat back.

I sat as far from him on the couch as I could without drawing attention to myself. "Come here, Nova. Stop sitting so far from me." He insisted. I scooted closer inch by inch until he stopped rotating his wrist for me to get closer.

I took a few more sips, and he threw his arm over my shoulder. "You need to start listening to me. If not. Things won't be so pretty." I could smell the beer on his breath. He had been drinking all day.

"If you think about running away. I will find you. I will Nova. I have people on my side who can find anyone." His words were getting low. I had to strain to hear him. His head was getting closer to me with each word.

"You need to learn discipline, girl. You need to be put in your place." His head rested on my shoulder.

I was frozen. Every muscle in my body went rigid and tense. His eyes were closed. I waited for minutes. Then an hour. He never moved. He kept his head on my shoulder with his arm around me.

I tried to move away, but he pulled me closer and ended up laying down. His arm around my waist, holding my weight so I didn't fall off the couch. It was around 11. I was beginning to fall asleep. But I couldn't. Not with him next to me.

My head was still pounding, though the medicine did help some. After some time, I heard small snoring. I slowly moved from the couch to the floor and quickly fell asleep. It was past midnight.

It went on like that all week. Cook, clean, drink, occasionally eat here or there. He would always beat me for something. Whether it be for cooking the food too long or walking in the room while him and Sheryl were fighting. It was always something. And it was always my fault.