Behind the Badge: Obsession in the Shadows

Sting

Gregory was watching me.

Each time, I forced myself to close my eyes again, though sleep was anything but easy.

Eventually, the exhaustion won out, pulling me under into a deeper sleep.

When I finally woke again, the room was dimly lit, and the first thing I noticed was that I was alone. Gregory was no longer on the couch.

Hope surged through me as I quickly scanned the room, but before I could react, the door creaked open.

Gregory stepped in, carrying a tray with what looked like breakfast. My stomach churned at the sight of him. He sets the tray on the small table beside the bed.

"Morning, Madison," he said, his voice pleasant. "You should eat. You need your strength." I stared at the tray; I didn't trust him. Though I knew refusing wasn't an option.

His tone made it clear. "Thank you," I mumbled, forcing myself to grab the food. My hands trembled slightly as I picked up a piece of toast.

Gregory sat down on the edge of the bed. His eyes never left mine as I chewed slowly. As I ate,

Gregory leaned in closer, whispering, "You'll see, Madison. Things will get easier. The more you listen, the more you'll realize I'm doing this for you."

His words were like a disturbing child's lullaby. I'm assuming he meant to soothe, but the words only served to tighten the noose around my neck. I nodded softly, unable to find my voice.

The toast felt like sawdust in my mouth, but I kept eating to avoid upsetting him. Gregory's hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch tingling in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Good girl," he whispered. "We'll make this work, Madison. You'll see." I swallowed hard, the food sitting heavily in my stomach. Each time I forced myself to eat.

When I finished eating, Gregory stood up, taking the tray with him. I'll be back later," his voice laced with promise. I watched him leave, the door clicking shut behind him, and only then did I allow myself to breathe again.

I lay there, staring blankly at the wall. I knew one thing for certain: I had to survive. I had to find a way out. No matter how long it took, no matter what it cost me.

I lay on the bed, feeling the weight of my fear, when Gregory entered the room. His voice was smooth. "I thought it might do you some good to stretch your legs a bit." He uncuffs my ankle. He helped me up and guided me towards the door. My heart pounded with a mix of hope.

As soon as we were in the living room, a surge of adrenaline overcame me. I bolted, my footsteps echoing loudly as I ran to the front door. But before I could get far, a pair of strong hands grabbed me and pulled me back. Panic surged as I struggled, but the grip was firm.

The door to the basement opened. Back inside, Gregory's eyes were cold with disappointment. "I give you one chance, and you squish it?" He dragged me to the bed as he sat down. He grabbed me and positioned me over his knee.

My heart raced a little as I realized what was about to happen. He unbuckled his leather belt from his jeans; the sound made my stomach drop. Without a word, Gregory folded the belt and held it tightly.

He looked down at me, his eyes angry as he brought the belt down sharply across my bottom. The sting was instant—a sting that made me flinch and gasp. The belt continued to land repeatedly, each stroke burning into my skin.

I thrashed and tried to muffle my cries, but the pain was intense, forcing small whimpers from me. "Do you understand now, Madison?" Gregory's voice was calm but edged with authority.

"You need to follow the rules." I nodded quickly, tears streaming down my face as I struggled to stay silent. Gregory paused occasionally, allowing the sting to settle before delivering another stroke.

Finally, he stopped, setting the belt aside. He helped me off his knee and let me sit on the bed, my body trembling from the punishment. Gregory's gaze remained firm as he looked at me.

"This was necessary," he said softly but firmly. "I hope you've learned your lesson." He grabbed my ankle, roughly cuffing me back.

Began redoing his belt in his jeans. With that, Gregory left the room, closing the door behind him with a final, echoing click. I was left alone, the pain a reminder of my mistake.

I curled up on the bed, trying to comfort myself. A few minutes later, he can be back. Gregory entered the room. He carried a small first aid kit, and his eyes, though stern, had a hint of something softer as he approached me. "I'm here to take care of you," he said, his voice firm.

He softly starts to pull my bottoms down. My body freezes in fear. He began to apply the ointment to my bruised and battered skin bottom with care. I knew better than to fight him.

He was going to do this one way or another. The cool cream against my raw skin provided some relief, though it did little to help with my emotions after what had just happened.

Each stroke of the ointment measured as if he were making sure every part of my pain was attended to. "Look at me," he said firmly, his gaze locking onto mine. "This is what happens when you defy me. You understand that now, don't you?"

I nodded, barely able to meet his eyes as he continued his aid. The tenderness in his touch was very different from the cruelty of his earlier actions, making the situation even more confusing.

"You need to learn to trust me," Gregory said, his tone softening slightly. "What I do, I do for a reason. It's not about hurting you; it's about ensuring you stay in line. I don't want to do this, but you left me no choice." He finished applying the ointment and set the kit aside, his expression switching to stern.

"I'm not your enemy, Madison. I'm the one who will keep you safe and secure. I love you, Madison, and I'll wait until you love me too." He cupped my chin gently but firmly, forcing me to look up at him. "Though just because I love you, you should understand that I'm in control here. This is the way it has to be." The touch of his hand was a strange mix of dominance and care, making my skin crawl even as I felt a strange comfort in the act.

He kept his gaze steady, his voice a low, commanding murmur. "You will learn to accept this. In time, you'll see it as a necessary part of your life here. I will make sure of it."

With that, he stood up and stepped back, giving me space but his presence still loomed over me. "I will leave you alone," As he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him, I was left alone with the sting of the punishment. Despite the pain, a small part of me clung to the hope that there might be a way out.