The Other Wayland

Heart Breaking Decisions

Elizabeth's POV
I woke up a few hours later having dozed off on Joe's chest. I sat up, rubbed my eyes and look over at him, peacefully sleeping, he seemed at ease, the first time in months I'd seen him like that. I was still in my outfit from before and unsurprisingly looked a mess. My hair so carefully straightened before was now a mess of wild curls. My dress was all crumpled and my mascara had migrated to under my eyes along with most of the glitter eyeshadow which had been forced on me. I sighed, running a hand through the knotted curls and got out of bed to shower.

Standing in the shower with the water running over me I felt restless, almost lost. It was a feeling I often got when something was going to happen. It was almost as if I could sense it but just then I couldn't get a feeling for what it was. I just knew something was about to happen. It made me feel displaced, on edge. I didn't like it. There had been too much upheaval already, I really didn't need any more changes in my life.

Having finished my shower and pulled on a work out t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts, I stood in my room looking at the bed trying to decide whether it was worth trying to sleep some more or if I was too worked up for it to be worth it. I chose the later and silently left the room trying not to disturb the sleeping Joe in my bed. I crept down the stairs and into the kitchen, maybe I was hungry, I hadn't eaten since lunch. I made a grilled cheese and sat on the counter munching at it. As I ate the empty feeling in my stomach grew until I was itching to do something. So I jumped off the counter and started to walk around the institute. I wondered round through all of the corridors.

I spent hours wondering the same corridors but nothing I could do could rid me of the restlessness that I felt. I felt like all the adrenaline in my body was pumping through my veins. I couldn't stand still. I sighed and turned the corner again heading back down the stairs. The institute was deadly quiet and it was as if I was disturbing the very soul of the place by wondering it's hallways  like some sort of restless spirit. I could hear almost every noise in the place, every squeak and creak, and every single one made me jump a little. I was so uncomfortable. I hated being so scared. I tried to reason that I was safe, one of the safest places I could be. If I screamed then everyone would hear and hopefully come running. But maybe they'd be too late. Or wouldn't wake. And it was little seeds of doubt that pushed me back towards my room as for some reason I felt I need to be right there that minute. That something terrible was about to happen if I didn't go now. So I turned on my heel and sprinted back to my room.

I carefully pushed open the door. It was dark in there, darker than I imagined. I crept into the room and dread filled me as my eyes fell on the sight before me. Joe. My incredible, loving, handsome Joe with a knife at his throat, bruised and a little bloody, his beautiful grey eyes darting from me to the man holding the short, sharp danger. It was my father, definitely not dead and looking disgustingly pleased with himself.

"Shut the door Ellie darling." He said grinning maniacally in the dark. I shook my head rapidly.  "Do it or I'll push this knife further into his neck ." He threatened as he push a little harder against Joe's neck turning the skin white. So, fearing for Joe, I kicked the door shut. "There's a good girl. Ah, maybe threatening you is the best way to get you to behave."

"Please don't hurt him. He's all I have." I pleaded but it just seemed to anger my father more. He threw me a disgusted look then smiled again.

"Ah my daughter, how I've been longing to see you in person. To hug my baby girl again. You are a beautiful young woman. You look just like your mother. Let's hope you don't end up like her." He said cruelly. "Now let's switch on the lights so I can look at you properly." He motioned for me to get the lights. So I did, flicking them on, filling the room with a gentle light. It showed how much of a state Joe was in. He was badly beaten and rather worryingly was bleeding from several places. "He'll be fine."  My father retorted seeing my face. "Nothing a good iratze won't fix." He grinned again almost as if he enjoyed the pain he was causing me. "Although he deserved so much more for touching my daughter!" He snarled kicking Joe in the stomach. "I should kill him for even thinking about you like that!" He kicked him again leaving Joe hunched over and coughing.

"Stop!" I screamed. "Please stop hurting him." I couldn't stand to see Joe being treated like that. It was the last thing he deserved.

"The thing is, Darling, I don't want to. It is so... educational, to see you react to him being hurt. I can see your heart breaking every time I hurt him." He revealed before drawing the knife along Joe's throat, a thin line of blood seeping through the cut.He was right, my heart was breaking and I knew I only had one choice. It was one that would break Joe's heart but at least he'd be alive, at least he'd be safe even if I had to give up my freedom.

"What do you want?!" I sobbed.  I was scared and angry and sad all at the same time. So I let my tears flow, hoping, praying, that my father would let Joe go without seriously hurting him.

"I already told you what I want and I know that you've already made up your mind." He tilted his head looking me up and down as if trying to read me like he was so skilled at before.

"I love you." I whispered, Joe's eyes snapped up to meet mine and I know he's heard me but unfortunately I think my father had too since he glared at me.

"What was that Elizabeth?" He questioned.

"I said, I'll come with you." I said bravely, holding my head up high and meeting his eyes for the first time.

"No, Liza. No!" Joe snapped. I shook my head sadly. He pleaded with me with his eyes. "You can't leave! Angel knows that he'll do to you!" Father silenced him with another kick.

"Dad!" I yelled to get his attention. "I will come with you, I won't try to run, I'll do what you want. Just stop hurting him. Let me heal him and I'll go with you, no fuss, no fight. I'll just go." I begged him. Joe was looking paler by the minute and he needed help.

"Fine. Go on, you have five minutes then we're leaving." He threw me a stele and moved away from Joe to stand by the window. I rushed to him and wrapped my arms around him. He fell into me, sagging as if all the air had gone out of him. I held him against me his head resting on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry. I am so sorry, Joe. By the angel, this is all my fault." I murmured to him.

"Liza." He said in pain.

"No, no, no, don't talk. Let me help you." I whispered to him. Gently, I pushed him off my shoulder so he was sitting as best he could and applied as many iratzes as I could. Afterwards I helped him up and on to the bed.
"I love you. I'll be back soon." I whispered quickly unfastening my locket and pressing it into his hand.

"This is taking far too long. Hurry up!" Father demanded.

I turned to glare at him. "By the Angel! Shut up! I'm trying to have a moment here!" I turned back to Joe and kissed his forehead. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me. See you soon Joseph Linscott." I walked away from the bed and towards my father, I could feel Joe's eyes on me but couldn't bare to look back again. Suddenly, my head started spinning, black spots filled my vision and I fell to the floor as my world went black.