Tie My Heartstring's ❦

escape

Katie

Hudson and I were rebuilding the trust in our relationship. Or I was doing my best at attempting to pretend to.

I flutter my eyes open and go to get up but I'm unable to move. I look down seeing Hudson's arms wrapped around my waist. I struggle to wiggle from underneath Hudson's strong arms.

As I untangle myself from his grip, I leave the room and hurry in the direction of the bathroom. I hear faint movement from the bedroom indicating he has awoken as well. After finishing up in the bathroom, I head to the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.

I was expecting today to be like any other. The past weeks have been pretty uneventful. We haven't left the cabin. We have a boring routine. It consisted of me succumbing to his every demand, playing the dutiful submissive girlfriend he wanted. Even though I wanted to stab him every time I faked a smile.

I'm wiping down the counters when I realize I'm not a prisoner anymore. He said he would let me go, but I chose to stay. It's been so long that I feel i've earned his trust back. Not fully, but it's progressing for sure. Hudson's footsteps enter the kitchen, interrupting my thoughts. Swinging around, I look at Hudson. "I want to visit Alice today." I announce.

"What?" he mumbles before he lifts his head from where he was reading something on his phone. "Can we leave the cabin today?" I question. His voice came out steady but tinged with an edge of vulnerability. "Yes, we can. I was thinking we should move back to the city anyway."

A thrill ran down my spine. I couldn't believe what he just said. I was more excited, because Alice was the one person who I wanted to see.  Desperately. "Wait what, you mean that? You want us to move back to the city?" I ask in disbelief.

He nods. "Yes, I was thinking it's about time don't you think? I want to be closer to my work, and you can go back to school." Hudson's words held a strange kind of finality. If he was serious, it meant the stakes were about to escalate dramatically. He was the one with something to lose here.

My face lit up. I took a deep breath, I seemed to be holding in for weeks. I laugh shaking my head, reminiscing the entire situation. "What's funny?" He asks. "Nothing," I say, my voice steady but edged with tension. "Just surprised."

Hudson's gaze hardens, a mixture of possessiveness and relief flickering in his eyes. "I couldn't take any chances," he says, his tone dark. "I needed to be sure you were safe and that we could start over—on my terms."

I can't help but shiver at the intensity in his voice. I wasn't being entirely serious with my remark. "I get it. I was just putting that out there. Now that we're at this point, let's not let this new start turn into another prison. We need to make it work, or it'll all fall apart."

Hudson takes a step closer, his expression a complex blend of desire and control. "We're in this together now. And I won't let anything or anyone tear us apart again. Not even you."

His words hang heavy in the air, and I realize that while we may have escaped our past, the dynamics between us might be just as dangerous. I couldn't face my dad yet, after everything. Knowing the truth would soon come out, and not being able to predict how that would go. I was afraid he would hurt Hudson, or Hudson would hurt him. "Can we go to Alice's soon?" I asked.  "Yes, let's go in fifteen."

I get in the car beside Hudson and he doesn't miss the emotional smile wavering around my lips. When Hudson starts the engine, I whisper, "Thank you." Turning my head, I stare at his face. There are still dark circles beneath his eyes. I was getting worried, but he assured me he was doing well and his eyes met mine, and we stared at each other for a moment before I glanced away.