𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭| 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+

Chapter 51 | Like a loaded gun to my head

A terrible, flaming pain jolts me awake. Struggling I try to open my eyes, each movement hurting my throbbing body.

Where am I? What happened?

The room swirls into focus, waves of dizziness reducing. I'm in my own room. A dull ache throbs in my temples as I try to sit up, making me groan. My wrist screams in protest, a fiery pain that shots up my arm. I glance down, and there it is: swollen, bruised, and at an odd angle.

It is clear that my wrist bears the aftermath of violence and pain. My skin is mottled with bruises that shift from angry crimson to sickly blue. Swelling distort the contours, making it hard to discern where bone ends and flesh begin. I tremble at the sight, feeling my eyes well up with tears. Reaching to touch the damaged area with my fingertip, but each touch sends shockwaves of agony through my body and I cradle it protectively, letting out a sob.

The memories flood back-the basement, the torture, the betrayal. My fault. The last thing I remember were his cold green eyes above. And then, darkness. I passed out, collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.

I try to gather myself, but the moment I close my eyes Steven's tongue-ripped mouth come to vision, his acid fried face and cut up body. A hole between his eyebrows.

My stomach churns, and I quickly clamp a hand over my mouth. The room spins as I stumble toward the bathroom, my head and wrist protesting, but my stomach is more presistent. I barely make it to the toilet before my insides rebell. Vomit splashes into the bowl, acidic and bitter, my tummy hurting, sweat splashing through me.

I throw up a few more times, struggling in pain and sickiness. A few minutes later I feel my stomach calming down and nausea reducing at last. I wipe my mouth with trembling fingers of my healthy hand, feeling weak and disoriented.

I flush the toilet, with trouble standing back on my feet. I walk to the sink with trembling steps, sweeping my eyes over my things to find the toothbrush.

I pick it up, trying to place it in my right hand to see if I can manage, yet the pain shooting up my arm puts my attempt to a stop. But soon I realize that the pain is more than physical - it cuts deeper, a jagged wound of betrayal. I cradle it, tears blurring my vision.

'You're mine now. You're my responsibility and I'll take care of you better than anyone else ever did.'

Does he call this taking care of me?

I always knew that he's a monster, but somehow I still believed that he's not like others who had hurt me before...

Seems like he just proved me wrong. At the end he was the one who hurt me, leaving me aching and vulnerable.

I manage to brush my teeth with my left hand and splash my face with cold water, trying to get rid of the slight burn.

My tired, trembling legs walk me back to my bed and I lay down on it, snuggling myself and Bacci beneath the covers, rolling up into a ball and letting more tears fall from my eyes. My heart weeps at the memories my mind keeps recalling over and over again.

I have barely fallen into light slumber when loud sounds starts blaring through my head. Alarm clock.

I groan, whinning at the sound that means I have to get my ass ready for my shift. I don't ever want to leave this bed. I don't want to see him or anyone else.

But I have to.

Huffing I throw the covers off me and turn off the alarm. I don't know how I'll be able to handle this shift, but it's not like anybody gives a fuck about my condition. I push myself on my feet, the room spinning around me for a few seconds as I walk towards my wardrobe.