The Cost of Freedom Is High

Prince Charming's On His Way

26 Hours Later -

Bella's POV ~

"Shhh, it's okay love. You're done I promise." Ghost whispered softer than ever in my ear.

I stayed in my spot down on my hands and knees attempting to regain control of my breaths and body.

I honestly felt like I was dying, now more than ever before in my life.

I stayed there, covered in marks from the cane, whip, and the multiple other utensils that Ghost had used on me, and I could feel the slow trickle of blood running down my thighs and legs.

"I...It......it hurts." I whimpered.

"I know, but you broke a huge rule my dear. You had to be punished, but now it's over and you're okay." He gently told me.

"Please don't." I snivelled, as Ghost went to reach out and make contact with my body.

"Sweetheart, come on. I'm not going to hurt you anymore." Ghost stated, getting down on the balls of his feet in front of me.

Gingerly tilting my head back with a long and tattooed finger, he raised my head high enough that our eyes connected with one another's.

"Can I please go to someone else's bunk to sleep, sir?" I whispered.

"Everyone's already sleeping Bells, just please come here." He instructed, in an incredibly kind voice.

Realizing that we were both just going around in circles, I gave up and just accepted the fact that I'd have to spend this night with Ghost.

"Okay, but can you please help me?" I asked, my voice completely ghosted.

"Of course." He responded.

Ghost then went ahead and carefully proceeded to wrap his one hand around my waist by reaching across under my stomach, and his other arm went lower, underneath my hips and before I knew it I was up and over Ghost's shoulder.

"Ow." I hissed right as the air hit some of my more split skin.

"I'll set you down when we get up front , and then I'll clean you up." Ghost said.

We both were quiet as the door to the bunk room was opened, and Ghost and I maneuvered our way as quickly and quietly as possible out of there.

Once we were finally back in the front of the bus I was relieved to have Ghost set me down, my butt now sitting on the counter.

"That actually kind of feels nice." I admitted, the cool of the countertop countering the searing burn still apparent in my legs and butt.

"I've got something else that will alleviate the burn." Ghost told me, searching through one of the cabinets above my head.

"Please tell me that won't burn." I pleaded, watching him finally pull down a bottle of what appeared to be aloe.

"I promise it won't." He said.

I ended up laying on the couch with my stomach down on the couch for what seemed to be endless hours as Ghost gently rubbed the aloe mixture into the cuts, and even the sore skin that hadn't been split, at least yet.

"Feeling better?" Ghost whispered in my ear.

"Yeah, the burning stopped.' I softly replied.

"I'm glad to hear that. You'll only feel better going forward."

"Do you want to just sleep here, or go back in the bunks?" Ghost asked.

"Can we please just stay here?" I wondered.

"Of course princess." He replied, grabbing a blanket from over the chair.

He managed to sneak his body under mine and I was placed stomach down on his chest. With the blanket loosely being thrown over the both of us, silence hushed over the bus and all was quiet.

_____________________________________________________________________

A week has passed since the incidence with Ghost.

Life has been passing by, and I honestly can't say much else about it.

The only real thing on my mind was Chance and when he was going to come. If that was even going to happen.

I had to keep my faith though in him, despite the fact that I feel like most of my faith has been dumped in a trash can.

I've just behaved and kept my mouth shut for this week, only getting involved in conversations when I was directly asked.

Right now I was in the back of VE!'s tour bus, as all of the bands were at a barbeque party at the back of the venue, somewhere in the midwest.

Suddenly a knock threw me off guard.

Going up to answer it I was greeted with a paper slip under the door.

It read ~

Wait 1 minute and 30 seconds then open the door and drink what's in the cup. Don't even second guess about it. When done wash and dry the cup then place in the cupboard. Trust me - Chance

Not even thinking I screamed out "I love you!"

I knew he had just been here, and I wanted him to hear it at least before it was too late.

After the 90 seconds were up, I slipped the door open just far enough to grab the red solo cup that was on the top step.

Just as the not instructed I slammed back the clear liquid in the cup, and it burned slightly as it went down my throat.

When I heard voices approaching the bus I moved faster than ever and finished cleaning and putting away the cup.

I had just sat back down on the couch when the door was opened and I was greeted with DJ, Michael, their guitar player Phil, and bassist Aaron Graves.

"Isn't it a little late for you princess?" DJ chuckled, walking past me with a simple pat to the head like I was a fucking dog.

That was something I wouldn't miss.

"Yeah I guess so, whose bunk do you want me to crash in?" I wondered.

"I'll take you." Michael offered.

"Night." I grumbled, walking past him not wanting to show my excitement yet.

However, on the inside I was jumping with joy.

All of the hell and all of the types of pain I've been forced through this last year could all be taken away by one human, that being Chance.

If things didn't go right in whatever attempt we made I knew that I would be in for the WORST time of my life. I know I've thought I felt close to death before, but if things didn't go right this time I honestly believed that I'd be brought to the brink of death over and over again.

But now wasn't the time for the dark negative thoughts before I went to sleep.

It was the time for the happy and joyful thoughts of what my life would be like with Chance when out of this hell.

My Prince Charming was on his way, and that's all I need to fall asleep with sweet dreams floating through my mind.

"I'll see you soon." I whispered to the sky.