The Neighbor

Chapter 14

Elodie's POV

I wish I could say that what happened that night wasn't bad, but that would be a lie. The following weeks were spent upstairs in the guest room, unable to move, chained to the bed. I wasn't able to sit up, had no clue if Florence was alive, and all signs of hope I had were gone. The curtains were drawn so my sense of time got construed. It felt like an eternity. Arden came in multiple times a day, forcing me to eat and unchaining me to use the bathroom. I didn't feel like a person anymore, just a body. The door opened and I didn't even bother to pick my head up. I just laid there, hearing the crashing of the waves. I wished that I could be outside, run into the ocean and let it take me away. Far away from this place. From Arden and his sick parents. Far, far away. 

"Elodie, I" 

Arden sat on the edge of the bed as I turned my head the other way.

"I don't know what came over me," 

Yes. Yes he did. He knew exactly what he did to me those nights. He knew I was unable to fight. He reached for my hand and I flinched as I blinked through my tears. Any sign of love that I had for him was gone. Gone after what he had done. He was a monster. This whole time I had hope that I could get him to come to his senses. Get him to realize what pain he caused. 

"Hey" 

Arden reached for my face and I moved away from him more. I didn't want his fake ass apology. He sighed as he unchained my feet from the bed and then did my arms. I sat up quickly backing myself against the headboard. 

"Elodie, I want-" 

I shook my head no as I stood up slowly. I looked at the door and then back at Arden. I could try and run, even if I just drove. 

"Don't do that." 

Arden stood up shaking his head walking towards me. 

"STAY AWAY!" 

I threw a pillow at him as I looked around for something sharp. I picked up the lamp on his bed and he put his arms out.

"Elodie, put the lamp down." 

He approached me with his arms up in the air.

"Elodie,"

I didn't even care at this point. Anger was fueling my body as I smacked him with the lamp. It shattered into millions of pieces as I ran out of the room past him. I headed down the stairs as I heard him on my trail. I saw a screen door unlocked as I ran out it. 

"ELODIE DON'T!"

Arden jumped down the remaining steps over the rail as I ran outside. The loud waves of the ocean roared as I took off towards them. My feet felt the sand as I inhaled the fresh air. It was still salty like before. The sand cushioned my feet as I ran to the ocean. Arden screamed my name as I ran into the water, the coldness sending a shiver through my body. I kept running as I went deeper and deeper. The waves crashed into the shore as they roared. I turned back at Arden who stood frozen as I went in deeper and deeper. Death was a form of freedom, and I wanted it. If it meant I'd no longer be near him, I'd take it. 

"ELODIE!" 

I turned back as I saw a giant wave roaring towards me before it knocked me down, fully submerging my body underwater. I swam to the top as I gasped for air. This was the most alive I had ever felt. 

"YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!"

I began treading water as I saw another wave approaching me. This one was stronger than the last. It knocked me underwater again but this time I struggled to make it back to the surface. I began to swim to the top of the water, struggling to breathe.