Hope

The First Night

{Chapter 4 - The First Night}

"Well, we better start cleaning up," Ella said.

"I'll do it." I jumped up and started to gather the plates. I was about to grab the forks, but Jason beat me to it.

He shook his head. "No, Isabelle, that isn't your job. You go to bed."

"No, sir. I have to clean. It's my job." I took the forks from him. "Please, I have to," I pleaded with him.

He stared at me for a moment, then it looked like he realized what was happening. He sighed. "Okay. Just this one time."

I nodded and looked down. I started cleaning again. I have to get done in thirty minutes, or he is going to hit me.  

I hurried towards the kitchen with the plates and the forks in my hands. I felt my foot get caught on the carpet, and I fell forward. I tried to regain my balance, but I just tripped on my feet. My body skidded towards the kitchen, and I let go of the plates. I heard the glass shatter, and I landed on the tiles. My knee stung from rubbing against the hard floor.

Footsteps rushed towards me. I curled in to a ball, as I expected the yelling and hitting. I waited like that, until I heard Ella say, "Oh my gosh. Isabelle, are you okay?"

Tears welled in my eyes, as I got up slowly. The tears slid down my cheeks, as I panicked. I broke the plates. I'm going to be in trouble. He isn't going to be happy.

 I felt two cold hands on my upper arms to help me up. I stumbled, but the hands steadied me. 

"I'm so sorry. I'll clean it up right away, sir." I got back down on my knees and started to gather the broken glass.

"Baby, it's me."

I sniffled and looked up. It was Ella. "I'm so sorry. Just let me clean it up. He is going to be mad. He will lock me in the room."

"Izzy," she said as she put her hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look at her, "what room?"

"The black room," I replied. I turned to go back to cleaning the mess up. "I have to finish in thirty minutes."

"Baby, you don't have to worry about that."

I shook my head and continued cleaning. I was able to get done right on time, as I put the last washed dish in the strainer. Ella and Jason looked upset, as they sat on the couch. 

I trudged in to the living room and stared at the carpet. I glanced at them for a quick second. "Good night, Jason and Ella."

Ella got up and walked over to me. She embraced me in to a warm hug, and I gladly returned it. "Goodnight, baby," she said, as she kissed my forehead. I smiled. I had never gotten a goodnight kiss. I liked it.

Jason told me goodnight also, and I climbed up the stairs. I walked in to my room and smiled. I flicked the light on and trudged in to the closet. I opened a drawer and grabbed a pair of blue sweatpants that were to long, then I slipped a black t-shirt off of a hanger. "These will do," I said to myself. I closed the curtains, but I left the door open. I slipped off my shirt and looked in the mirror in the closet. My ribs stuck out slightly, but not much that I needed to go to the hospital. There were scars all along my body, and quite a few bruises. The scars were from knife cuts and different things. I turned around and looked at the reflection of my back. There were a bunch of long scars from the whip. I put on my pajama shirt, then I did the same for my pants. On my legs, there were bruises and a few scars but not many.

I turned on the lamp on my nightstand, then I flicked off the ceiling light. It wasn't as bright as the ceiling light, but I was okay with that. I slipped under the covers and cuddled with Pocket. I stared at the ceiling for moment, before I closed them. I finally fell asleep, after a minute passed.

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[A/N: Warning! Abusive content ahead!]

I opened my eyes and looked around. The room was dark, pitch black. The Black Room. I stood up immediately, stumbling slightly. The door creaked open, and a figure stood in the doorway with a whip in his hand. The light flooded some of the room.

"No. No, please no. I didn't do anything, sir." I put my hands in front of me, as I backed up in to the corner. 

"Yes, you have. You shouldn't have run away from me. I will find you. And when I do, you will never ever be found again," he sneered.

He stalked towards me. He grabbed me wrist and pushed me down. He kicked my abdomen over and over. Then, I felt the whip dig in to my back. He brought it down again and again, as I screamed. Five times, each one worse than the last. He grabbed my wrist again and forced me to look at him.

"You are a dumb bitch. You can't hide from me!" he yelled in to my face. "I will find you!"

I sobbed, as he yelled.

I woke up screaming and sat up quickly. Jason rushed in first, followed by Ella. They dashed over to me, and Ella wrapped her arms over me. I sobbed, as she quietly shushed me. "Baby, it's okay. You're safe here."

"No no no," I said quietly. "He's going to come after me. He's going to find me."

"No, he won't. I promise," she said. She ran one of her hands through my hair and rubbed my arm with the other. I slowly calmed down.

"He won't do anything to you. Trust me. I won't let him," Jason comforted me. He sat at the end of the bed and rubbed my leg.

I nodded, as I focused on taking deep breaths. I gradually started calm down. I peeked at the alarm clock beside the lamp. It was two in the morning.

I gazed at Jason. His dark brown hair was a mess, sticking up in all different directions. He was in a pair of steel blue printed lounge pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt.

I turned my attention to Ella. Her light brown hair was also a mess, matted and a rat's nest. She was in a black shirt was a about three sizes too big for her, probably one of Jason's shirts, and a pair of black and white gym shorts.

"I'm sorry for waking you guys up," I whispered.

"It's okay. You don't need to worry about it," Jason assured me. He paused, then he added, "do you want us to sleep in here?"

I nodded. I would feel safer with them around.

"I'll go get some pillows and some blankets," Jason offered. He stood and walked out. He returned a minute later with two blanket and two pillows. He laid them out on the floor next to the bed and formed a makeshift bed.

"Thank you," I told them. "Um... can we keep the lamp on?"

"Of course," Jason nodded.

"Okay, thank you."

"Alright, goodnight, Izzy," they said.

"Goodnight."

I laid back down and got comfortable again. I fell asleep without having a nightmare again.