FUCKED.

12

After receiving Iris's chilling text, I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. I knew I had to keep moving, not waiting for Travis and Sapphire. Iris's knowledge of my pregnancy and his ability to track me down was terrifying. I was willing to do whatever it took to protect my friends, even if it meant putting my own life at risk. The threat he posed was too great, and I was determined to escape and safeguard those I cared about.

Lost in my thoughts, I wandered through unfamiliar streets until a small girl approached me. Her innocent demeanor was a stark contrast to the perilous situation I was in. She handed me a note and directed me toward a place she called the Mirror House. Her babbling about her mother and her desire for a bear there only added to the surrealness of the situation. Clutching her tightly, I followed her inside.

"Where is your momma?" I asked, trying to make sense of the situation. The little girl simply shook her head and pointed ahead. I turned around, only to be confronted by Iris, whose presence was as terrifying as it was unexpected. My scream of shock echoed through the room.

"Layla, take your stupid bear and run. Don't come back or I'll cut your hair," Iris commanded, his voice cold and harsh. The little girl glanced at me with a mixture of pity and fear before running off. Iris turned his attention back to me, his eyes filled with a dark, unsettling intensity.

"Twenty-one days, babe. Twenty-one," he said, stepping closer and forcing me to retreat. His words were chilling, hinting at a future I dreaded. He reached out and touched my lips, causing my heart to race with fear and anger.

"Why are you doing this, Iris? I'm so tired of your stalking, your abuse, and your attempts to control my life. I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU! IS IT THAT BAD, OR ARE YOU JUST AFRAID OF REJECTION?" My voice trembled with a mix of desperation and defiance. The anger and frustration I felt were overwhelming, and I was done with his manipulations.

"I'M NOT YOUR DEAD WIFE! GET OVER ME, AND STOP RUINING MY LIFE, YOU PSYCHOPATH!" I shouted, my voice breaking with emotion. The tears I had been holding back began to flow uncontrollably. Iris seemed unfazed by my outburst, his cold gaze never wavering.

He seized me and dragged me through a series of dark, winding tunnels. I pleaded and begged, but his silence was deafening. The fear of what lay ahead was paralyzing. After what felt like an eternity, we reached a door. It was an ordinary door, but the dread I felt was anything but ordinary. Iris opened it, and the overwhelming stench that hit me almost made me vomit. He led me through another door, the smell becoming even more unbearable.

"Iris, please, take me back!" I begged, but he showed no signs of listening. My pleas were met with his cold indifference.

"Iris, IRIS, IRIS—" My voice echoed through the room as he shoved me into another space. The foul odor was nauseating, and I had to hold my breath. When I finally looked at him, I saw him eyeing me with a disturbing mixture of lust and satisfaction.

"You're so beautiful, Chloe. Too bad mother nature interrupted my plans," he said, his voice dripping with a sickening blend of admiration and cruelty. His touch was both intimate and violating as he caressed my chin and looked into my eyes.

"Shocked, huh? I can smell you, and oh, it tastes divine," he said, his words making me shudder. I stepped back, but he grabbed my neck and licked inside my nose, his actions as repulsive as they were terrifying.

"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MY WIFE, CHLOE. YOU NATURALLY DIE IN PAIN OR BLEED TO DEATH, BUT I'LL MAKE YOURS SPECIAL, COCO." His words were laced with a disturbing promise of pain. He pushed me against the wall and began to strip me, removing Travis's shirt and the shorts I was wearing.

"Iris, stop this! Please, just stop!" I begged, my voice hoarse and weak. He slapped me with his left hand, making me dizzy. His actions were ruthless and unrelenting, and I felt utterly powerless.

"I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU A NICE LESSON, CHLOE. STAY PUT, AND IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU, DON'T MOVE," he snarled. With that, he threw me onto a dirty mattress and removed my soiled tampon. The pain and humiliation were excruciating.

He began to touch me in ways that were both painful and degrading. His fingers were rough and unfeeling, and the blood from my heavy bleeding only made the experience worse. I pleaded with him, my voice breaking with desperation. "IRIS, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. PLEASE, IRIS—" My cries were met with his continued brutality.

When he forced himself inside me, the pain was unbearable. Each thrust brought a new wave of agony, especially given the blood and the violence. I eventually lost consciousness, overwhelmed by the physical and emotional trauma.

..................................................................................................

I awoke to a dulcet voice singing softly, the contrast to my previous horror almost disorienting. When I opened my eyes, I was met with Iris's bloodshot gaze. I tried to turn away, but the pain between my legs was excruciating, causing me to scream. The bed beneath me was stained with blood, and Iris, though panicked on the inside, tried to maintain a calm facade.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME, CHLOE. I NEED YOU TO BELIEVE ME," he said, his voice filled with a strained sincerity. I couldn't bring myself to respond or react to his touch. I felt tainted and worthless, and his presence was a constant reminder of the nightmare I had endured.

"My coco," he murmured, his lips trailing kisses along my neck, then moving to my earlobes and finally claiming my lips in a forceful kiss. I mustered the last of my strength and pushed him away, slapping him twice on the cheek. His face flushed with anger, and he glared at me with a murderous intensity. His eyes changed color, and if looks could kill, even my ghost would be terrified.

"YOU.FUCKING.DARE.RAISE.YOUR.HAND.ON.ME.CH.LOE?" His voice was a thunderous roar. He pulled me closer, his grip on my legs tight and cruel.

"I'M GOING.TO.FUCK.YOU.AND.YOU.WILL.BEG.FOR.YOUR.MERCY," he continued, his rage palpable. He grabbed my hair and spread my legs wide, his intentions clear. "IRIS, LISTEN, YOU CANNOT—"

"SHHH...IT'S GOING TO HURT," he interrupted, thrusting into me with brutal force. Each movement brought fresh waves of pain, exacerbated by the previous violence. My tears flowed freely as he continued, indifferent to my suffering. The agony of his raw, forceful penetration was overwhelming, especially with the blood and the damage already inflicted.

He continued until he climaxed, finally pulling out and collapsing on top of me. His touch was cold and unfeeling as he caressed my battered body. "Sweet, sweet, darling," he cooed, completely disregarding the blood that was dripping from me.

"I'm going to get you cleaned up, but first—" He lifted me and placed me on the floor, his anger shifting to a new focus. "YOU MADE MY BED BLOODY?" he demanded, his voice rising. When I didn't respond, he slapped me hard, but I remained silent. My exhaustion and pain rendered me defenseless, and I couldn't muster the strength to argue or resist.

"ANSWER MY QUESTION, BITCH!" he yelled. The cruelty of his words was matched only by the brutality of his actions. I felt utterly defeated, my spirit crushed by his relentless abuse. The world around me seemed to collapse into a blur of pain and despair. I was trapped in a hellish existence with no clear way out.

"WHY ARE YOU HURTING ME, IRIS? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?" I cried, my voice breaking as I covered my face. The emotional and physical pain was unbearable. Iris stopped, his anger momentarily giving way to a semblance of remorse. He wrapped his arms around me, his touch now more gentle, but it felt hollow.

"I'm sorry, Coco. I don't know, okay? Please forgive me. I-I-I promise not to hurt you anymore," he pleaded, his voice breaking with a desperate sincerity. He kissed me again, his lips trembling. I could only stare at him, realizing that I was dealing with a man who was both mad and dangerous. The promises and apologies were meaningless in the face of the suffering he had caused.

The nightmare seemed unending, and I was left grappling with the profound sense of helplessness and horror. Iris's twisted love and his cruel treatment had shattered my sense of self, and the future seemed as bleak as the darkened room where I lay. My only hope was to find a way to escape this hell and seek help, but in the depths of my despair, it was hard to see any path forward.