Only Love Can Hurt Like This
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[the rest of the story will now be in Eddie's POV]
i look up at a blurry ceiling.
the air smells dusty and the hum of something near by overrides the ringing in my ears. i reach up and touch my head to feel a bandage wrapped around it. everything is fuzzy, i can't complete a single thought. i sit up, but when i try to move my leg a chain rattles and keeps me from going anywhere. the cuff scrapes against my bloodied ankle and i scream in pain.
the pain reminds me of what happened. he hurt me. he really did. i start to cry as i realize Jane and Bill were right. but why am i not dead yet? i look around and i think i'm in a basement, a set of stairs lead up in the corner and there's a work bench with tools against one of the walls. a glass of water sits by the mattress on the floor that i sit on.
suddenly i hear footsteps coming down the stairs.
"oh, you're awake." Richie walks over with a coffee in hand, "here, i got you this from the cafe, and a muffin."
he puts the cup and paper bag down next to me as he kneels by me. i stare in shock as he seems to think this is normal.
"Richie.."
"Eds."
"you hurt me."
"i didn't have a choice, you were going to leave me."
"leave you?!" i sob as i hold my throbbing head, "you killed my friends!"
"i can explain—"
"i don't want you to explain you psycho!" i start to breath heavily as i panic, "help!! somebody help!" i scream, praying anybody can hear me.
"nobody is gonna hear you, we're in my parents basement and their on some beach in Florida."
i sob into my hands as i start to come to terms with what's happening. i'm going to die.
"hey," he rubs my back softly and i flinch away from his touch and peek at him through my fingers, "this is all going to make sense, i'm not going to kill you. just let me explain."
he hands me the cup of water, "drink this, calm down babe."
i shakily take the cup and take a few sips as he sits back against the wall.
" you might not remember because you were drunk, but that party we went to when i first moved here, that guy was grabbing at you and making sick comments. that's where the skull ring came from, he deserved it for trying to take advantage of you when you were drunk." he looks at me with pleading eyes hoping i understand, "would you want someone like that roaming around? a sicko that hits on inebriated people?"
i shake my head no.
"and Henry, i don't even think i have to explain. he was evil, to you and all of your friends. i saw what he did to Ben. and if anything, it was self defense. after i left the school he attacked me, i just won."
"you lied to me about being mugged..?"
he sighs, "i hoped you'd never find out. i didn't want you to know this side of me."
"but if you would of just called the police you probably would've been fine if it was self defense?"
"i couldn't take any chances of being ripped away from you." he explains
"his teeth.. his fingernails... people were saying that the palms of his hands were missing.."
Richie nods
