Unexpected Love

29. Relapsing

The darkness of the night weighed heavily on Lucy's soul as she quietly slipped out of bed, leaving Angela in a peaceful slumber. Her thoughts consumed by Chris's cruel message, she found herself drawn to the bathroom, desperate for some semblance of solace.

Flicking on the light, she sank to the cold tile floor, the brightness illuminating her features and the haunted look in her eyes.

She felt suffocated by the memories and the fear of her past being exposed, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

In the silence, she spotted the razor lying harmlessly on the edge of the bathtub. A sense of familiar numbness washed over her, a morbid comfort from a time she thought she'd escaped.

Gripping it tightly, she took a deep breath, fighting against the urge to let it all go. But the memories and pain won out. With trembling hands, she slid the blade across her wrists and thighs, each cut releasing a wave of relief mixed with self-loathing.

Tears streamed down her face, unchecked, as she continued to hurt herself, seeking solace in the physical pain that temporarily dulled the emotional agony. The world around her spun, and her vision blurred, yet she couldn't stop.

Chris had found a way to reach her even from behind bars, and she felt powerless against the torment he still held over her.

Roused from sleep by an unsettling feeling, Angela sat up in bed, her gaze automatically finding the empty space beside her.

The faint glow from the bathroom caught her eye, the door ajar just enough to allow a sliver of light to seep through. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slipped out of the warmth of their shared bed and padded quietly across the room.

As she approached the bathroom, she noticed the soft whimpers coming from within. "Lucy?" she called out tentatively, pushing the door open. The sight that met her made her blood run cold - Lucy sat curled up on the floor, her face streaked with tears, and blood seeping from fresh cuts marring her otherwise flawless skin.

Angela's heart ached, her stomach twisting in knots as she rushed to her side, fear and concern etched on her face. "What happened baby" she asked, her voice thick with emotion as she reached for the razor that lay discarded beside Lucy.

"Why, Lucy? You were doing so well.. " she whispered, her fingers gingerly tracing the angry red lines. Lucy's eyes met hers, a storm of pain and regret swirling within them.

Angela carefully lifted Lucy into her lap, cradling her tenderly as she gathered the first aid kit from the bathroom cabinet.

Her own anger and fear simmered just beneath the surface, but she forced herself to remain calm, focusing on mending the physical wounds first. As she gently cleaned each cut, Lucy's sobs grew louder, the weight of her confession bearing down on them both.

Through gasps and hiccups, she told Angela about the horrifying gift Chris had left under the tree - the hard drive filled with their intimate moments twisted into weapons of torment. Angela's hands shook with rage as she listened, her mind racing with ways to protect Lucy from this monster. "I'm so sorry, Angela" Lucy whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own tears.

"I don't want to lose you. I don't want him to ruin us." Angela pulled Lucy closer, her resolve hardening. "You won't lose me" she promised fiercely, "And he won't ruin us either. We'll figure this out together."

Her thoughts swirled with fury as she bandaged Lucy's wrists and thighs, her protective instincts screaming for retribution against Chris. But for now, she held Lucy close, letting her tears soak into her shirt as they sat together in the harsh light of the bathroom.

After Lucy had finally fallen into an uneasy sleep in her arms, Angela decided it was time to take action. She carefully extracted herself from their embrace and moved to the living room, her mind still reeling from the revelation.

Grabbing her phone, she dialed Sergeant Grey's number, her fingers trembling with anger. As soon as he answered, she relayed the night's events, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "He's blackmailing her" Angela said, her voice laced with fury and concern.

"Lucy's terrified, and I don't know what to do." Sergeant Grey's initial shock quickly turned to rage. He couldn't believe that Chris would stoop so low, but knowing his history, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

"I'll handle this" he growled, his own protectiveness for Lucy rising to the surface. "That bastard won't get away with this." Angela could hear the determination in his voice and felt a small measure of relief wash over her.

"Thank you" she whispered, "I don't know what to do without you." Grey's tone softened, "Lucy's strong, Angela. But right now, she needs us both. Don't hesitate to call if anything else happens."

Angela nodded, though he couldn't see her, and ended the call. She returned to Lucy's side, her thoughts whirling with possible solutions and consequences. She wouldn't let Chris win. Not now, not ever.

Lucy stirred awake to the soft hum of the house, the sunlight streaming through the curtains announcing the arrival of Boxing Day afternoon. She sat up slowly, wincing as the events of last night came rushing back to her.

Angela had been awake most of the night, caring for her and removing anything sharp from their immediate vicinity. The evidence of her girlfriend's vigilance was scattered throughout the room - scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, all neatly arranged on the dresser.

Guilt washed over her anew as she took in the sight. "Angela" she croaked, her throat dry and raw from crying. Angela appeared in the doorway almost immediately, her eyes red and tired but filled with concern. "Hey" she said softly, walking over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Are you okay?" Lucy shook her head, her lower lip quivering as fresh tears threatened to fall. "No" she admitted, "But I will be." Angela reached out and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We'll get through this together" she promised, "I won't let him hurt you anymore."

Lucy nodded, drawing strength from Angela's words. They sat in silence for a while longer, the weight of their situation heavy between them.

As the day wore on, Lucy found it increasingly difficult to keep the darkness at bay. Everywhere she looked, she saw reminders of Chris's hold on her - the Christmas tree that once symbolized their new beginning now loomed ominously in the corner, the twinkling lights mocking her fragility.

When Angela left to pick up groceries, Lucy's resolve crumbled. With trembling hands, she rummaged through drawers and cupboards, frantically searching for something sharp to alleviate the pain. Just as she was about to give in, Angela burst through the front door, her eyes wide with panic. "Lucy!" she yelled, spotting the desperate search.

In an instant, she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Lucy, pinning her wrists together. "No, baby, no" Angela said, tears welling in her eyes. "We talked about this. You can't hurt yourself, my love." Lucy collapsed against her, sobs wracking her body.

"I can't do this" she wailed, her voice raw and broken. "He won't stop. He's everywhere." Angela held her close, her heart breaking. "I know it hurts, but please believe me when I say that we can beat this" she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We just have to be strong - together."

Lucy nodded, clinging to Angela like a lifeline. They sat on the floor, surrounded by the chaos of their interrupted search, and Angela rocked her gently, whispering words of love and encouragement until Lucy's sobs subsided.

poor lucy :( hope you enjoyed, please vote x

1300 words!