The Obsession

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

        A dreary, unsettling darkness was closing in. Sharp pain, like needles, was searing through her temples. The throbbing in her head was deafening and her ears were ringing. Madison tried desperately to call out for help but she could not produce anything more than a vague whisper. She struggled frantically for air. She had to breath! Needed to breathe... just one breath!

        His large hands were bound tightly around her tiny throat. He was too strong. So strong that she could not pry his powerful fingers open enough to catch one breath. Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head. The darkness was winning. Madison could faintly see through the fog at his wrathful face. She could tell by the aggressive movement of his lips that he was still screaming at her but she could hear nothing more than the loud ringing that obstructed her hearing. The extreme pain in her head was more than she could bear.

         Finally, she was defeated. Madison drifted away no longer able to fight his massive overpowering strength. The darkness consumed her. He had won... Again.

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        Madison Cole woke to the sun glaring in her eyes. Her whole body ached but the pounding of her head was excruciating. Madison managed to pull herself up off the hard, cold floor from where Joe had left her. She swayed slightly as she struggled to regain her balance. Staggering to the small bathroom, Madison caught a glimpse of Joe passed out on the queen-size bed. He was strangely sprawled across the mattress his feet hanging off the edge. He slept fully dressed, without even removing his heavy work boots, as he often did when he drank heavily. She was relieved to see that he was passed out in what seemed to be a deep slumber. She cautiously closed the bathroom door so she would not wake him.

         Madison gasped as she looked at her seriously beaten, swollen face in the mirror. Her throat was severely bruised and tender. Her lips bloody and swollen. Pulling back her hair revealed her ear, inflamed and discolored, all the way to her temple. Joe had showed her no mercy while pounding her repeatedly on the side of her head. There was a trail of dried blood from her brow to her almond shaped eyes from a small yet deep painful gash on her forehead. The knuckles on her hands were battered and sore. Her knees were scraped and cut.

         Her once lustrous mane of long honey blonde hair was falling to the floor by the handful. Tears streamed down her battered face as she thought of the torturous night before. How he cursed her, forcing her to her feet by her hair then viciously knocking her back down to the ground with his hard clenched fist.

         “Do you like making a fool out of me!” Joe screamed. His sinister dark eyes were blazing with anger.

         “No! I never meant to,” Madison pleaded!

         “Flirting, laughing with Martin right in front of me! Acting like a whore!” Joe spat at her taking another shot of liquor.

        Martin Lancaster was only an acquaintance of Madison's but Joe never cared much for him since high school. He had made a name for himself as a successful lawyer in the city and just happened to make it back into Rising Fawn for the town picnic and to visit his family. There had never been anything romantic between the two of them but Joe didn't care. He was furious!

         “No. I promise I wasn't!” She protested, but Joe was not listening. He was already drunk and more than likely high. Madison knew there was no pleading or reasoning with him when he was inebriated.

         “You're a lying bitch,” he snapped jerking her back up to her feet. Before she could balance herself he punched her forcefully on the side of her head. Madison collapsed on the floor once more shaken and faint. He hit her again and again. Joe repeatedly pounded out his fierce wrath on her small body. “You know how I feel about that lying piece of shit! You know what he did! How dare you!” She had never seen him in such a rage! His black eyes were filled with hate and fury. Desperate to protect herself she threw her arms up in an attempt to block his fists. He knocked her small arms out of the way as if they were nothing. The repeated blows had caused her head to profusely pound. “I hate you!” He bellowed storming off into the kitchen.

         Madison laid helpless and weak on the cold hardwood floor bleeding and wishing for death. There was no one to help her. No one to save her from his detrimental assaults. Her heart breaking once more as the man she had loved all these years turned into this monster she detested. She felt like a part of her died as she looked at the intoxicated stranger in her kitchen.

         Whatever happened to the doting, charming man she had meet and fell madly in love with back in high school? The extraordinary man who had whimsically stolen her heart? Who had blessed her with the precious gift of two children? It was gone. Vanished. Although she cherished each joyous memory, that was all that was left... memories. Her hopes and aspirations soon faded until there were no more dreams left to dream. Joe brutally crushed them with every thrashing blow. Crushing her spirit and her heart until there was nothing left except an empty aching hole in her soul. Carelessly tossing aside all of her love and affection as if they were nothing. Breaking her heart yet again.

         Madison's entire body ached tremendously but she knew that she needed to get up. Needed to flee far from this raging monster. Madison willed herself to get to her feet. She struggled desperately to find balance, her legs weak beneath her. Clutching her head in her hands as the extreme throbbing intensified. Run! Leave! She ordered herself. Escape before he kills you!

         She had to move quickly while Joe was occupied opening a new bottle of vodka. Madison made a run for her keys that laid on the glass end table by the couch. With her car keys in her hand she grabbed the doorknob and started to turn it when she heard a thunderous scream. Determined not to be deterred by his venomous words, she frantically fought the deadbolt, finally prying the door open. Alarmed by an abrupt commotion, Madison fearfully glanced back toward the kitchen. A cold hard object forcefully hit her brow knocking Madison back and forcing her skull to collide into the solid mahogany door. Her weakened abused body fell instantly to the ground. Glass immediately shattered as the empty liquor bottle burst from the impact. She could feel the warmth of the blood oozing down her face and in her eyes. Within seconds he was upon her. His strong hands tightening on her throat.

         “If you even think of leaving I will kill you!” Joe snarled as he squeezed tighter. Grabbing Madison by her hair he drug her petite body back to the living room. Unexpectedly he relinquished his tight grip causing Madison's head to forcefully bounce off the floor. She moaned in anguish, the repeated trauma sending sharp, needle-like pains through her skull. Madison's vision was severely blurred and the harsh ringing in her ears was deafening.

         Joe's large brooding body loomed over her with dominance. His large strong hands returned to her neck constricting tighter than before. Madison urgently struggled against his powerful hands. She fought vigorously hoping to allow some air to enter her deprived lungs. He watched as he cut off her air until she fell into unconsciousness.