I nearly broke down on the spot when I saw her. Grayson shoved me out of the way and tackled Ethan, pinning him to the floor and shouting at him. I ran over to her, and grabbed the key to the handcuffs that were on a table. She was sobbing as I unlocked her handcuffs, I told her that it was alright and that he couldn't hurt her anymore - we both knew that it wasn't true. When all her handcuffs were unlocked, she fell into me and I successfully caught her, steadying her. I looked back at Grayson on top of Ethan as I supported Maddy towards her bedroom. I laid her down in bed before running back to the basement. I grabbed the knife that Ethan had dropped and shoved Grayson off of him, me taking his place. I held the knife against his neck and snarled,
"If you ever, ever! Touch Maddy again then I swear to god I'll kill you!" I scream in his face, tears streaming down my face. His face softens for a second before hardening again. He pushes me off as I hear Grayson yell my name. Ethan takes the knife out of my hand and presses it against my neck.
"Now then bubblegum, didn't your parents ever teach you your manners?" He said, putting a little bit more pressure on my neck. I coughed, and grabbed his wrists.
"They did, but I think I'm missing out on a few lessons. After all, they are dead thanks to you!" I scream in his face. I begin crying hysterically. I feel Ethan stand up and hear the sound of the knife dropping to the floor. I look at him, he had a look of regret on his face. I get up and run to Maddy's room. I pick her up and take her to the bathroom that didn't have a smashed mirror. After cleaning her and bandaging her wounds, I carry her to Grayson, who picks her up and takes her to his room, promising me that she'd be safe. I sit down on the couch, gasping as the cold leather touched my skin. I instantly regretted wearing shorts and a tank top. I turned on the music channel and decided that I'd sleep on the couch; Ethan wouldn't know I was in there. About twenty minutes later I feel the couch dip besides me and a hand tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. I pretend to still be asleep, I knew who it was.
"I'm sorry bubblegum. You deserve the world but I'm messed up in the head. I wish I could have you. I wish I could call you mine. I wish that every time I spoke to you, you smiled that beautiful smile of yours or laughed. I wish that every time I looked into your eyes I didn't see hatred, disgust or fear. I love you, bubblegum. I just wish I wasn't this messed up" when he finished, he turned off the tv and walked off. I laid there for what seemed like hours thinking about what he had said. Could someone like that be capable of love? No, I didn't think so. I finally fell asleep two hours later. I was cold, but I didn't care. I wasn't being tortured and Maddy was safe; it seemed that this was as good as it was going to get.
