Black Rose

Overwhelming pain.

Trigger warning: this chapter contains damaging language about body image and weight. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or your own body image this chapter may be difficult to read.

Once again, I was left to my own devices, alone for hours on end. I had no way of knowing the time without any windows to see the outside world, so I just passed the hours by sleeping. I managed to pull myself up to go to the bathroom and take a shower at one point, but by the time I made it back to my room, my body was aching, and I passed out on the bed, exhausted. At one point, I contemplated going to watch some TV or something in the main room, but the thought of what happened out there made me feel sick, so I resented to staying put.

It must have been half a day before someone came back down again. The sound of feet padding down the hallway pulled me from my reverie, and I turned, ignoring the spikes of pain to watch the door.

To my surprise, and in part horror, Blake walked through the door, his face impassive. He threw a pile of clothes on the bed and grunted at me.

"Get dressed, my Rose, and meet me in the gym. You have work to do."

With that, he left, and I slowly pulled myself up from the bed, confused. The gym? I could barely move. Surely he wasn't making me work out? I picked up the clothes and took a look at them.

He'd given me a pair of grey athletic tights and a light pink activewear top, further deepening my concern that he was going to make me work out. Pushing aside my worries, I got dressed, putting the clothes over the top of my bandages. Mustering as much strength as I could, I stood up and shuffled out of the room towards the gym further down the corridor.

I reached the narrow gym and let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. It took a lot of effort to move, and I had been so focused on ignoring the pain I hadn't even realised I wasn't breathing.

My kidnapper was standing by the treadmill, leaning against the wall, and raked his eyes over my body when I entered the room. After a moment, he nodded, obviously satisfied with my attire. "Good, they fit. Come over here."

I hesitantly did as told, standing in front of him.

He glanced over my body one more time and pursed his lips. He put a hand on the treadmill and spoke. "Alright, my rose. Run for me."

My heart sank, and I started to shake my head. "I can barely walk." I stuttered.

He smirked. "Well it's a good thing I am not asking you to walk then, isn't it?"

I couldn't help but glare at him. "I'm not running for you."

He suddenly lost the smirk and grabbed at my arm, jerking me closer to him.

"It wasn't optional, my Rose. You need to lose weight. Either you run for me, or I stop feeding you. Your pick."

Confusion flares up on my chest. Just hours ago he had looked down at my body and had told me that it was beautiful.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and stared up at him. He pursed his lips, and let go of my arm. He nodded at the treadmill, and hesitantly, not wanting him to hurt me again, I slowly climbed on.

"Your body is lovely enough, my rose, but it isn't perfect." He said, and the lump rose in my throat. "Think of me as your personal trainer. I am in control of your body and mind. I want you to push through the pain and run."

With that, he pressed a button on the top of the treadmill, and it started moving.

I stumbled and started walking, trying to focus on my breathing. The ache of pain grew in my bones, but I tried to ignore them and keep moving.