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.
YOU ARE READING
an Everlasting Pursuit
WerewolfOver one hundred years ago, the supernatural came out of hiding. A Great War ensued, causing the human race to fall to the bottom of the food chain and werewolves to come out on top. They hunted humankind for fun, their savage beasts creating fear a...