The Transfer

Chapter 10: Behind Closed Doors

Tw: mention of abuse, sexual assault and self harm.

Lucy's POV:

I woke up to the sound of a knock on my door. Still half-asleep, I glanced at the clock and saw it was early in the morning, well before I needed to get ready for work. Groggily, I got out of bed and shuffled to the door, not bothered to look through the peephole. As I opened it, I was greeted with a sudden, excruciating pain as a punch landed squarely on my face, sending me sprawling to the floor.

Dazed and struggling to focus, I looked up to see Caleb, standing in the doorway. Panic surged through me. The last time he had shown up at my door, he had beaten me badly and warned me that he would return.

"Surprised to see me, Lucy?" Caleb sneered, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. He looked down at me with a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with anger.

I tried to scramble to my feet, but Caleb was faster. He reached for his belt, and my heart sank as I saw the glint of a knife, a very sharp one. My mind raced, trying to figure out a way to escape, but Caleb was already on me, pinning me to the floor.

"Thought you could get rid of me?" He hissed, pressing the blade against my cheek. "You should know better than that."

Caleb's weight bore down on me, making it hard to breathe. He started to kiss me roughly, his hands roaming over my body as I fought against him. Desperation fueled my strength, and I managed to scratch his face, drawing blood. Enraged, Caleb punched me hard, leaving me momentarily stunned.

"You think you can fight me?" He snarled, kicking me in the ribs. The pain was blinding, but I refused to give in. I tried to kick back, but he was too strong, too relentless.

Caleb's knife sliced through my skin, leaving a stinging trail of blood on my arm. I bit back a scream, knowing I couldn't show him any more weakness. He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear.

"From now on, I'm living with you." He said, his voice dripping with menace. "And if you ever tell anyone about this, you'll suffer the consequences."

The beating continued until I was barely conscious, my body a mass of bruises and cuts. Caleb finally stood up, looking down at me with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

"I'm going out to get some beer," he said, wiping the blood from his knife on my shirt. "Don't try anything stupid while I'm gone. Remember what I said."

With that, he walked out, slamming the door behind him. I sat on the floor, gasping for breath and fighting to stay conscious. I knew I had to get help, but the fear of what Caleb might do if he found out grew bigger.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had to get up and ready for work. I looked at the clock and saw that I would never make it in time for roll call, definitely if I have to cover up every wound. Bruises already started to show everywhere on my body, but the one on my face I could barely cover. As I started, I thought of excuses to tell everyone about the bruises.

My hands trembled as I applied makeup, each touch reminding me of Caleb's violence. I stared at my reflection, feeling a wave of despair. The foundation could only do so much, and the swelling around my eye was impossible to hide completely. I considered calling in sick, but the thought of still being in my apartment when Caleb got back scared me. Even if I had called in sick, Tim would be at my door to make sure I was fine and that can't happen. I couldn't let Caleb control my life anymore than he already had.

I pulled my hair down to try to cover some of the bruises on my face, but it did little to mask the damage. I slipped into my clothes, wincing as the rough fabric brushed against the cuts and bruised. Every movement was painful, but I could't afford to miss work.