(The New) Power of the 8 Elements: Part Two

Chapter Three: Toxic Love

*TRIGGER WARNING*
CONTAINS DEPICTIONS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

"One's dignity may be assaulted and vandalized, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered." - UNKNOWN
PRESENT DAY
THRAX

I sigh as I reach the doorknob of Proteus' mansion. It isn't like I'm any safer here than outside, but I have a little more protection. Even if it means that I lose everything here. I enter the house. The foyer is empty, but I can hear the rest of my housemates talking in the dining room. I also smell Chick-Fil-A. Despite not having eaten much all day, I chose not to indulge in their family dinner and head upstairs.

I sit in the chair in front of my dresser. The makeup I wear does a good job at hiding how tired I feel secretly. I pull out one of the dressers and set the curling iron on the table. After clicking it on, I begin to pull out my hair rollers. I think back to when I had shorter, purple hair. I guess it fit me a little more than the mahogany and black style did, but this is my natural hair style (or at least close to the way it used to be) and I'm trying to embrace it—I'm failing though. Makes me reminisce when I look at myself in the mirror, and I hate reminiscing can I think about...him.

I clench my head into a fist and forces the bad and the good memories down my throat and back into the pits of neglect where they belong.

In the background, a low and sadistic laugh starts. It sounds gravely, but I've heard it all too well. I feel warm hands wrap around the side of my head and one around my neck. The laughing gets louder in my head, but when I snap back into reality, I find it's normal.

"Oh...Thrax-y," Lawrence says. "How I've missed you...I haven't seen you all day."

"N-neither have I."

"Oh, pumpkin, you worried me. I thought they had caught you."

"I'm sorry if I scared you. I...I was thinking about you, too."

"Really?" He kisses me on the cheek. The kiss lasts a long time, and I can feel him begin to lick the side of my face. "Well, in that case...WHAT THE H*LL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?!" He throws me off the chair, knocking me to the ground. The curling iron falls to the floor and breaks.

"Lawrence, I-" I start to say.

"Let me finish! I protect you, I care for you, I'm honest with you, and I get nothing in return! I've been calling and texting you all d*mn day, and yet...you don't even answer the bloody phone!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It'll never happen again!"

"You said the last time and the time before! Is it too much to ask?! You know what?" He jumped on top of me and began punching me in the face pounding against my body relentlessly.

"Lawrence, stop!" I shriek.

"Unforgiving, smart*ss, stupid, b*tch!"

I kick him away, and he falls backwards, crashing into the chair and causing it to melt from his corrosive touch.

"Ugh, d*mn it!"

I crawl away and climb onto the bed, keeping my feet off the edge. Lawrence stands up and dusts himself off. He scoffs and storms away, slamming the door shut behind him. I feel something cold sliding down my face, and when I bring my hand to my eyes, I realize that it's tears.

I sob as I pull the covers over my head. I know that Lawrence is something I'll never be able to forget, and something I'll never be able to shake off.

I wake up to hear the sound of plates and silverware clattering along with loud talking. The sun is shining through the bedsheets. I feel Pepper's wet, rough tongue licking at my face.