A Week With Him

Chapter 13 - All Hope Gone

Thankfully he didn't tie my hands to the bedpost again, instead he just laid me down and said he'd get me something to eat. I was still completely flushed in the face after what happened, he's seen all of me now. I was also red from feeling foolish, this is the second time Jeff has saved me. He seemed so kind and normal earlier. When Jeff came back he gave me proper breakfast this time. He passed me a tray with a bowl of cereal, an apple, and a tall glass of orange juice. He handed me some painkillers too for my leg, I swallowed them first since it was feeling very tender and sore.

I tried eating in silence while he watched me intently, his eyes following my spoon everytime I scooped up some milk and cheerios then brought it up to my mouth. I chewed self consciously, I was starving earlier but it became hard to swallow from his stares. Jeff was sat in his usual position opposite me, his back hunched forward with his legs crossed and arms folded lazily. I tried sitting upstraight against the pillows, my legs curled to one side and my head bowed as I stared at the bowl. I didn't want to look at him, I felt embarrassed. The silence between us unnerved me but it was also relieving at the same time. I realised after a minute that I wasn't even eating anymore, I just stirred the hoops around in my half full bowl, Jeff realised too. "Eat up, doll,"he said. As soon as I heard the dreaded pet name my thoughts of him being kind and normal right now faded. I felt like I hated him again after being constantly reminded that he tortured me yesterday, the pain in my leg never went away. I frowned but didn't make it obvious I was angry. "I'm not so hungry Jeff,"I said, which was a half-lie. I knew my stomach was wanting food but I couldn't eat. Jeff pointed a slim pale finger to my apple,"Try eating some fruit then, the milk is probably making you feel sick." When he said that I suddenly couldn't look at my cereal anymore, the taste of milk lingered in my mouth and it tasted weird now. I had a shaky sip of my juice before taking a small bite of the apple and setting it back down on the tray, hoping that it was enough and he wouldn't urge me any further.

Jeff stared straight at me making my gaze drop back down to the tray, he looked a little annoyed I barely touched anything. I forced myself to take another bite from the apple, an even smaller one since my throat seemed tight from anxiety. I was afraid he'd hurt me again just from not finishing my food. He sighed when I tried taking a third bite, he knew I was only doing it to please him. "It's okay, if you really can't eat anymore then don't,"Jeff said. I hesitantly put the apple back down, wondering if this was a test, but he gently took the tray away and wandered back downstairs. I fidgeted. I wanted to hop out of bed and search for my phone to call for help, but I didn't know where he hid it and I didn't want to move from my position. I ever so gently rubbed my thigh and clenched my teeth, I had no idea what I'd say without sounding crazy anyway, and even if my parents or the police did come, it would be a death trap for them. There was the home phone downstairs, but I can't walk that far on my own and without Jeff hearing everything, I didn't want to risk anyone else's life so I decided not to anyway. My face crumpled at the realisation that I had no getting out of this, I didn't know what to do.

I bit the inside of my cheeks to stop myself from crying when I heard Jeff's footsteps returning though. When he crawled back on the bed he sat beside me this time and I stayed where I was, I thought I was still tied to the bed for a second. I wanted to shift away from him but reminded myself that he thinks I'm warming up to him, so I remained seated. It was quiet again so I looked down and stared at my wrists where they were a bit red from the rope, Jeff wasn't focused on that. He touched my head instead which made me flinch. "You bumped your head on the bath taps right? Does it hurt?"Jeff asked, pushing my head down to examine it. He smoothed his hand through my hair which has dried now to check for any cuts or bumps on my scalp. I remembered him doing the same thing when I was five, when those girls in my class pushed me over on the concrete. Jeff always seemed concerned for me and helps with my injuries, yet he has no problem inflicting pain upon me.