The spark // Art Donaldson

007. Bruises

TW: Abuse

Cadell, 2019

Cadell woke up early to cover the bruises that littered her neck like accessories. 

She used every possible combination of concealer and foundation and powder. But she could still see the little bit of purple peeking through the cakey mess.

"You brought a man in my room while I was gone?"

She could still feel the pressure on her neck, the dizziness an the feeling of thinking you were going to die.

"Please," she gasped, "please– I can't..."

A hand ghosted up to where the mark still was, buried under coats and coats of concealer.

She took in a deep breath, trying to erase the redness near her eyes. She had taken four pills this morning. Four pills that still couldn't make her feel better.

She smoothed down her buttoned up shirt, trying to look presentable and happy, trying to conceal the horrors under the mask as she would have to sit next to the man who made those scars.

The elevator dinged open, and she stepped out with a shaky breath. The aroma of food and chattering made her feel sick.

But who cares, right? She reached Alex's table, giving the people sitting there a polite smile. The action felt more wrong than it ever had.

"Alex," she acknowledged, pulling out a seat next to him.

"Alex...please. Al-"

He smiled, wrapping an arm around her to pull her closer. His friends were gathered around the table, staring at her like hawks staring at their prey. She felt uncomfortable under their scrutiny, felt small and so destructible.

"I'm going to go get some breakfast," she declared, standing up. Alex nodded, giving her a warning look before going back to chatting with his friends.

She was on a tight leash.

She walked towards the buffet, her hands shaking as they held her plate, trying to take deep breaths and calm the swimming in her vision. It didn't help the tears threatening to burst, didn't help the stinging in her eyes.

She deserved it. She deserved it for bringing Patrick in the night before. She deserved it.

I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it. I deserve it.

Repeating didn't make her feel better like it usually did.

Her head was spinning, and she was terrified. Alex had nearly killed her last night. He had never, never gone that far.

"Cadell?"

She screamed as she jumped, dropping her plate and shattering it on the floor. All the eyes in the room zeroed in on her. Slowly she looked around to see who the voice belonged to. It couldn't be who she thought it was...

"Art?"

He looked at her worriedly, and then looked down at the broken pieces of ceramic that were surrounding her feet.

"Are you okay?" He asked carefully. She nodded quickly, bending down and picking up the pieces with her bare hands.

"Be careful, I can do it for you." He kneeled beside her. Their fingers brushed against each other as they reached for the broken pieces, sending an electric jolt coursing through Cadell's veins.

It was a fleeting touch, but it made her feel something strange. Something familiar, pulled from her past.

"Stay out of the way, I'll do it," the voice of the hotel staff snapped Cadell out of her reverie. With a shaky breath, she tore her gaze away from Art, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand.