All the Things Between Us

Chapter 2

I'm crying and I don't even know why right now. I have an overwhelming sense of grief in the pit of my stomach. It feels like I'm mourning myself. Everything inside me feels like it's breaking down. I know my malnutrition is killing me and at this point, I don't even feel pain anymore.
He keeps begging me to eat. I don't know why he cares. He must hate me and want me to continue to suffer. He locked me in this hell after. He cursed me to live in darkness and filth. I don't want to exist.
The door opens again. I cower away from the light.
"Mate! Hello? Are you okay?", how dare he even ask. I am so far from okay and he must know that.
"Listen I didn't think it would come to this but, I'm letting you out for a bit", he says. Before I can fully register what, he said the door closes. He's letting me out.
Suddenly what I presume to be a mattress and box spring are thrown off me. The light is overwhelming after all the time in darkness. I can't see now but, I hear a gasp. Maybe it's mine or maybe it's his. I can't be sure.
As my eyes finally begin to adjust, I feel myself being lifted away from my mess. I look up into his face. His expression is unreadable. Gone now is his previous hardness. He looks so much younger than I remember.
He carries me to a bathroom and sets me in the tub. He begins to pull at my shirt. I struggle against him, but he is so strong, and I am so weak. When he has stripped me, we both seem to avoid looking at my now feeble disgusting body. I pull my knees into my chest hoping to hide from the world.
He turns on the shower head and I feel the warm water run down my back. I missed this. I feel myself relax a bit despite my better judgment. That's is until I feel his skin against mine.
He rubs soap into the skin of my back. Even though he is only cleaning me I feel much more. Pleasurable tingles dance across my flesh and I hate it. I hate that somehow; I am enjoying his touch. He is nothing but a monster.
No words are exchanged as he cleans the mess from my skin and hair. He reaches over me for a mother bottle and squirts it into his hand. He begins to work it into my hair gently. He has been light and careful with me this whole time but, for a man like him, I feel that gentle is the wrong word. He doesn't deserve such a kind word. Maybe cautious is better suited.
He finger-combs through the many knots in my hair at first before realizing the knots are too much for that. He goes to the vanity to grab a brush.
As he stands, I fully take in his form. If it weren't for the situation, I'd say he's very attractive in the traditional sense. He must be over six feet tall and he is rather muscle. I look away before he can turn and notice my appraisal of him. Considering the frequency of his 'romantic encounters' and his complete disregard for the value of my personhood I'd rather him not get any ideas.
He returns to my side with the brush and begins to work at it. Once he gets all the kinks and conditioner out, he turns off the water. Cold meets me in the absence of the previous warmth. I realize that logically it shouldn't be so bad, but I find myself shivering.
I stand on shaky legs and do my best not to slip. I look down to see I've lost a significant amount of weight. My skin seems tight against my now prominent bones.
I hear an odd sound leave the man before me. It's almost like a growl. It draws my attention and I look to him. It's a peculiar thing considering the prominence of the color I'd thought I had seen in his eyes. I now see only black.
He makes a move towards me and while I try to put more distance between us my back is instantly met with a wall. He steps into the tub with me. His hand comes up making me flinch at the suddenness of his movements. He brushes his finger lightly along my cheek.
Something about the motion demands I meet his gaze. My breath quickens at the site. He wears a mask of lust and want. I feel my heart pound in my chest. He is so much bigger than me and he is holding me captive. I am at his mercy.
He leans down press his lips to the base of my neck. Delightful tingles erupt with his touch. His teeth nibble lightly at my skin. The sound of my own moan snaps me out of my trance. I push him away from me and while I don't create much distance, he at least removes his lips.
The relief is short lived as he pulls me to him and carries to his bed. Fear consumes me. Is he going to put me back?
My struggles against him are futile. However, instead of lifting the bed he throws me onto his mattress and climbs on top of me. He roughly grabs my wrists and pins them above my head. Anything resembling care that he had for me minutes ago is now gone.