i hate that i love you ~klaroline fanfic~

chapter 14 'the family secret'

Caroline's pov

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. Hating the bruise on my eye. Hating the broken look in my eye. Hating everything I see; everything I have become. This is not the girl I wanted to be. This is a scared little girl that can't protect herself from danger. that runs the other way from it.

This is not the girl I wanted to be.

images of Tyler repeatedly hurting me, emotionally and physically flash in my mind. the anger builds up inside of me. why could I not protect myself? why couldn't I bring myself to fight back.

My anger explodes, it becomes to much for me to handle. I push everything off of my desk, making things smash into little pieces. I punch my mirror which sends a soaring pain through my hand and arm. I grab my chair and throw it across the room, making one of the wooden legs break. I run over to my closet and pull the doors open. I grab all of the bright clothing, the flowery dresses; everything. and throw it to the ground. why am I so fucking weak?! I walk to the middle of my room and scream at nothing, while I stare at my cracked reflection in my broken mirror.

I suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around me from behind. I immediately flinch and flash backs begin to appear of Tyler beating me again. I immediately break into heart wrenching sobs. By body goes limp and my sobs are loud, the tears fall from my eyes rapidly, stinging my cheeks.

"shh, shh Caroline. calm down. it's me" I hear the familiar voice of Ben. I turn around and throw my arms around him, his hands grip my waist and he pulls me close. I sob into his chest, letting all of the pain of the past few days out.

"I'm so sorry Ben. I should have listened to you" I cry into him. I feel his hand rub my back soothingly.

"Yes you should have. but I understand why you didn't. I'm just happy you're safe and home now." He whispers into my ear.

"I felt so weak Ben, I hate feeling like that." I whisper, my tears slowly coming to a stop. Ben pulls away from me but keeps his grip on my arms, holding me at arms length, looking me in the eye, but I can't bring myself to look him in the eye so I look down.

"What do YOU want Caroline?" Ben asks me sternly. I hesitate for a second; But I slowly wipe my eyes and look up at him, my eyes now cold and my face set like stone.

"I want to be able to protect myself. I want to feel strong. I want to feel safe." I tell him sternly. He looks at me for a second before nodding and releasing his grip on me. He takes my hand and without another word walks out of the room, dragging me with him. I want to ask where he's taking me but I decide not to. my eyebrows furrow in confusion when he takes me outside to his car. he opens the passenger door for me, I climb in with little hesitation. he climbs into the drivers side and immediately starts the car; pulling out of the drive way and speeding down the streets.

my curiosity gets the best of me when he pulls into the woods. "Ben, why are we here?" I ask curiously. he doesn't answer, but instead he climbs out of the car and without a word starts walking deeper into the forest. I stare at his back and quickly get out of the car, running after him until I'm caught up.

we eventually come to a stop. without a word Ben steps forwards and grabs a little steel ring and pulls it up, making a patch of grass lift up, revealing a stair case downwards. He looks back at me and motions for me to go down. I hesitate for a second but step forwards and start walking down the stairs. Its dark for most of it but as I reach the bottom of the stairs I see a long corridor made up of brick and a few lights against the wall lighting it up. I hear Ben close the hatchet thing after him and walk down the stairs. He walks in front of me and I follow him until we reach a door at the end of the corridor. Ben turns to me, his hand on the handle.

"be prepared Caroline. what you are about to see will change your life forever. once we pass this door there is no going back to your old life." Ben says coldly. I nod in response. not really thinking much of it. what's the worst it could be?

Ben sighs then pulls the door back. we walk into a dark room and Ben closes the door behind us. I hear him walking around for a second before the lights come on. I look in front of me and my eyes immediately widden. I let out a blood curdling scream at the sight in front of me.