BiteBound *completed*

Chapter 42

The emotions were intense when I tried to sleep through the night. I kept reliving the nightmare of the ritual, over and over; rewatching the horrible mistake I made again and again.

I would wake up screaming to the top of my lungs, Arthur jumping out of his desk chair rushing to my aid.

He held me in his cool arms, rocking and cooing me that I was back home. That the dream wasn't real and that he was there. That I was safe.

It was the only time when my repressed emotions would come out in a giant burst. Bawling in giant tears and screaming into his bicep from all the pain that was stored in my chest.

"It's okay My Dear. Shh... Just let it go... I got you."

"I got you. You will not break on me."

"I got you."

"I got you."

Liar.

It wouldn't take long for my screams to simmer down. For the tears to stop and the fear to fade away. Once I was able to come down to my new dulled senses, I would remove his arms away from me.

"Sorry." Was all I would manage to say.

He would try to insist on staying in his arms, but I couldn't. I didn't want to allow myself to be vulnerable anymore; not to him or to anyone ever again.

I would retreat back under the covers, clutching onto the soft pillow to my chest where I felt the most safe.

This horrible sleep pattern started only after I checked out of the hospital.

The Doctor insisted that I needed outpatient treatment due to my attempt; nearly forcing Arthur to sign a contact that he didn't wish to do.

"She's a danger to herself Mr. Whitlock! What if she attempts again?!"

"I will provide her treatment with our private doctor. This will not happen again I assure you—."

"I don't think you understand the risk here. She needs treatment and medication!"

"And I'm not disagreeing with you." Arthur keeps his tone professional. "But it won't be here. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but she needs to go home today. Please discharge her."

"Not until you sign for our outpatient treatment!"

The Doctor was set on keeping me in the hospital against my will. While he pushed and pushed for Arthur's signature, he suddenly stopped asking after Arthur made his own demand while looking into the his eyes.

"You will discharge her, no questions asked. You will change her file from self-infliction to... an accident. She will be seen by our private doctor, period. Do I make myself clear Doctor?"

And with that moment of hypnotism, I was back home stuck to Arthur's bed.

It always felt too heavy to move around even though I felt light and empty. From the cavity where my heart should be to my stomach while hunger didn't exist.

Anne tried to get me to eat with various kinds of meals, from my favorite take-out to the basic instant mashed potatoes. I never really felt hungry, but I hated being force fed when I was caught hiding my food in my napkin. Only a few bites was more that enough to keep me full. Anything past that and I felt sick for the rest of the day.

The scents of my bath changed on my needs. Some days were warm and grounding of apples and cinnamon while others cleared my mind with lavender and rosemary.

I was scrubbed, massaged— waited on hand and foot while Anne tried to talk about anything. While I did appreciate her doing the best she could to keep me pampered, I really wished she would just shut up.