Phoenix ✔️

Chapter 10: Monster

(3 years later)

"Get up," a harsh voice demands in my ear. Against my eardrums, it's like sandpaper; rough and uncomfortable at this time. I barely stir at the sound of the harsh voice in my ear, and remain limp on the floor. 

I feel a hand holding my shoulder tight enough to cause some pain and discomfort. My heavy eyelids lift up slightly, and I stir a little bit. Pain starts to shoot through me in more than a few places in my body. I moan a little bit, as I move my body slightly. 

"I said get up. Now," the voice barks again. My hand lifts itself and I rub my sleep filled eyes. The cold hardwood against my fairly warm body makes me shiver. I feel someone grab my shirt collar and yank me up. 

My eyes fully open, and I see Colin kneeling there. His eyes show all the fury that I don't want to see. My consciousness comes back to me fully, and I start to shake. What is he going to do to me today? I don't want to have to suffer his wrath again. 

He's already done so much to me. I just can't take it anymore. My body won't be able to take it anymore. I, as a person, can't take it anymore. "Make me breakfast, you little witch. I expect eggs, bacon, and toast in 10 minutes," he says angrily. He lets go of the collar, and he trots into the bathroom to take a shower. I scramble to get myself together and make him breakfast. 

If I don't, there's going to be severe consequences. Ones that I don't want to imagine. I run downstairs, and I grab the needed ingredients to make Colin's desired breakfast. While the eggs are cooking, I quickly discard the shells and I clean up the best that I can possibly manage. As I fry the eggs and bacon, I notice all the reminders of what Colin did to me. 

Patches of blue and purple skin are showing all around my arms, neck, chest, and legs. I gently press a finger to them, and the pain from the slight contact is enough to make me wince. My eyes also take notice of the many scars on my arms and forearms. 

The actions he has done has caused me to become a weak phoenix, and die constantly. I always was reborn, but not without mental, emotional, and physical scars from all that he has done. Those scars are a constant reminder of everything that I had been through throughout these three and a half years.

As soon as I put the food on the plate, I hear Colin come down. The second I hear his footsteps lead into the kitchen, I hand him the plate. My heart is beating out of control, because I don't know how his mood is, and I don't want to provoke him in the morning. 

He takes the plate, without a, "thank you," and he starts to eat the food. I turn off the gas, and I start to wash the dishes in the sink. I try to go as fast as I can in order to avoid his violent tendencies.

In no time, he takes the plate and he puts it in the sink. He then wraps his arms around me and plants kisses on my cheek. "I love you. I know that you love me too. I'd never hurt you," he says, lying straight through his teeth. 

Instead of being flattered by his gestures, I'm repulsed. I actually resist the urge to vomit all over the place. He has the nerve to do that after all that he's done to me. I don't care if he's trying to be nice. He's done so many horrible things to me that it's hard to consider anything he does for me romantic. 

I find it funny that he's lying about hurting me, because he's done the exact opposite throughout all these three years. He's damaged me as a person all around, and I have no sympathy for a monster like him. His grip around me is so hard that my bruises are starting to pain. I continue to wash the dishes and I don't budge. 

I put the last dish in the dishwasher and I walk away. His grip moves to my wrist and he pulls me towards him. I stop in my tracks, and I stay still. He turns me to face him, and the look in his eyes turns from neutral to sinister. "Return my love, witch," he says. Nausea starts to accumulate in the bottom of my stomach. I don't want to do this. I don't want to show him love.