an Everlasting Pursuit

eight

The water had turned cold before I knew it, and my body was wrinkled and skin strange to the touch. I reached for the plug, pulling it from the drain. Shivering, I contemplated how I was going to get out. The floor was slippery and I could feel the effects of the painkillers wearing off. I wasn't sure how long I was in the bath, having no clock or watch to check, but I knew it had been at least an hour.

Grunting, I heaved myself up using both sides of the tub, only to find a sharp, shooting burning sensation travel from my thigh to my chest. I hissed, sitting myself back down in the tub. Trial one; failed.

Huffing, I clenched my jaw and tried again. Straightening my bad leg out in front of me, I bent my good, pushing up with all my might. I managed halfway before my foot slipped out from under me and I crashed back into the bathtub with a wail.

Smacking the tub in anger, I angrily looked around for anything that could help. I needed to think. I couldn't call for anyone; this place was enormous and I doubt Eve would be back so soon. Plus, it was cold sitting here naked in a tiled room. Not to mention embarrassing.

Eyeing the white bathmat on the floor, I had the sudden bright idea of how to overcome the slippery tub. Grinning, I leaned over the weirdly tall bath side, pulling myself until my fingers grazed the fabric. Holding my breath, I forced myself further down, my ribs screaming in protest until I finally grasped the mat in my fingers. With a cheerful hurrah, I pulled the mat into the bath, wiggling it until it was beneath me.

Taking a deep breath in preparation, I made sure to hold my leg out in front of me. Bracing my core, I bent my good leg underneath me, using the mat as my safety to push myself up. My hands gripped the sides of the bath almost painfully as I pushed myself up. Gritting my teeth, I got to the right height to sit on the edge.

With a loud breath of air, I settled myself on the narrow plastic, smiling in relief.

"Take that, stupid bath." I muttered, out of breath.

Calming my erratic heart, I grinned in triumph. Slowly pulling my legs over the bath, I steadied myself on the wall. Stretching, I groaned as my back popped before wrapping the towel around my torso. I was pretty much dry now anyway, being confined so long in that cold, plastic death trap.

Staggering, I had to use the wall as a guide. Every step sent a jolting pain and burning through my legs and ribs, blood rushing through my ears so loudly. I stopped a few times on my way to my bed, tears burning in my eyes. Once near enough, I practically fell onto it, inhaling the fresh fabric to counteract my tears. I never knew bedding could smell so... pleasant.

I felt exhausted, and weirdly so. I pulled myself further onto the bed, still wrapped in the towel, trying to steady my heart and breath through the burning pain. Over the course of a few minutes, I crawled until my head hit the pillows. My hair was still partially damp, but at least it smelt like the strawberry shampoo I had found in the cupboard. I exhaled shakily; the pain giving me flashbacks of past torture every time I moved.

Darius was good with his hands, even better with his words, but the times those didn't work left scars, especially on the back of my shoulders. I still remember the pain, the ache as I sobbed over the kitchen sink, pulling glass remnants out of my skin. Most of the cuts healed fine, but a few left inch marks between my shoulder blades.

Tears flooded my eyes as I sank into the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. My chest felt heavy, my jaw aching from how hard I was clenching my teeth. Despite him being gone, I found myself trapped in a place that was all too frightening and unusually familiar.

+++

True to her word, Eve came to my door a while later. I softly called her in, still laying on the bed in my towel. The sound of metal clinking and wheels squeaking met my ears as she pulled a food cart into my room.