Behind the Badge: Obsession in the Shadows

Confused

The air felt thin so suddenly suffocating even, and my heart began to race in my chest as his words sank in. His grip on my wrist though not painful, sent a ripple of fear through my body instantly. As I look at my photos on the wall how disturbing he truly was. At one point I thought he was handsome and that everything was going well until I made that stupid comment about his handwriting on the grocery list.

Stupid grocery list.

Stupid him! God why me?!

I could see the thin surface of calm that was cracking in his eyes showing me the danger that lurks underneath he was obsessive.

I try and yank my arm from his grip but he doesn't let go, his fingers dig in just enough to remind me of the control he had over me. His strength vs mine. His eyes seem to darken slightly as they show his patience wearing thin. "You'll learn to accept it. It'll be easier that way, baby."

He tries to tell me as if to reassure me as he drags me back to the basement.

I shake my head and I feel tears sting my eyes finally spilling over. "No, Gregory. This isn't love. This isn't care. It's a prison." I say with a trembling voice the words come out in shaky breaths. "You're sick."

I say as my stomach twists and turns from the current situation I am in.

His lips twitch slightly as they form a twisted smile and he tilts his head. "You're confused baby. You've always been confused about what's best for you, all those bad guys you tried to date." He says as he pulls me closer to him so close I'm fact I can feel the heat that radiates off him. "I'll just have to make sure you never get confused again."

I try to pull back out of his hold as he takes me down to the basement pure desperation claws at my insides. "You can't keep me like this," I plead with him the strength in my voice faltering with every passing second. "You can't—"

Once we were downstairs in the basement he stood in front of me
His other hand moves to cup my face and I feel his thumb wipe away a tear tenderly but it feels grotesque. "But I already have, haven't I?"

My stomach twists as I realize the exact truth in his words. He wasn't just talking about physically keeping me here. He had already seemed to have wormed his way into every corner of my mind already making me doubt myself and my strength if I could ever leave.

I couldn't let him win. Not like this. Not by breaking me down piece by piece.

"You'll see soon enough," he continues his voice coming out soft but firm, like he's making a promise. "You'll understand that I'm doing this for us."

I gulp hard as my eyes flick to the door. It's still open, just a few steps away. If I could just—

"Don't even think about it," he murmurs his voice almost chillingly calm as if he were reading my thoughts. "You won't get far. Not now, not ever."

I freeze as my last hope snuffed out in a matter of seconds. His grip loosens ever so slightly on my wrist, just enough for him to guide me backward toward bed pressing me down. I'm shaking I can feel it, my body reacts even when my mind is screaming at me to do something, anything.

Fight him?

No that's foolish he has a gun and a knife I don't want him to hurt me.

He stands over me and I look into his eyes they seem almost gentle again as he watches me tremble. "I know this is hard for you," he says quietly and carefully as though he feels bad about my emotional distress. "But you'll learn baby. You'll see that I'm right."

I bite my lip as I refuse to respond. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing how terrified I am.

I couldn't let him see me weak he didn't deserve it.

The worst part is none of my family would even look for me.

Gregory takes a step back, his eyes lingering for a moment on me one last time before he turns and walks toward the door. "Stay here. I'll be back soon." He pauses at the threshold, his fingers curling around the doorknob. "Don't try anything foolish, baby. I'd hate to have to punish you. Just be good, if you want to watch some TV."

And with that, he closes the door, leaving me alone in the dim basement.

I stare at the door, my breath coming in shallow gasps as the silence wraps around me. My mind goes back to the photographs on the wall each one a reminder of how deep his obsession ran.

I have to get out.

I stand, my legs shaky beneath me as I glance around the room.

No windows. I know he locked the door when he left I heard a lock from the door.

So here I am stuck in a basement with a man I thought was crazy but not obsessive and possessive as this.

It's a world I am in.

My skin still hurts in memory of the knife digging into my skin.

I don't know how long I sat there on the edge of the bed with my tears no longer running. I stare blankly as I think about all that has happened and I feel my resolve wavering slightly.

My emotions running rapidly.

Eventually, the door to the basement opens up.
He looks like he has just worked out in basketball ball shorts and no shirt a towel draped over his shoulder. His sculpted body glistened with water as he stood at the top of the stairs.

He runs his hand through his hair.

He lets out a sigh as though disappointed I didn't watch TV and make myself at home.