Spearmint

3. Julia

May 2018

The next morning she was awake first. He was still asleep with his arm coiled around her waist. If it were a normal relationship Julia would have thought it to be adorable, she probably would have pulled out her phone to take a photo of them to share with her ex-foster family and friends.

She sighed before she pried his muscular tattooed arm from around her waist. She threw the purple blanket off her and scooted down the bed until her legs hung over the bottom. She made sure to move the blanket back to where they were before she made her way to the cellar door. She pushed open the heavy door. She left it open and made her way to the bathroom.

Finally a few minutes of peace and quiet.

Julia did her business before scrubbing her hands clean. She took a glance in the mirror, she looked exhausted and she hadn't even been there for 48 hours. The thought of never escaping plagued her mind which triggered a set of fresh hot tears. Doesn't everyone love a set of fresh hot tears in the morning?

She splashed her face with cold water and made sure the tears had officially stopped before she patted her face dry and swung the door open. There he was with his hair disheveled and eyes wide.

"You weren't there when I woke up," his voice was husky but still sounded dangerous.

She felt sweat start to bead on the palms of her hands. "I'm sorry, I had to go to the bathroom."

"Without my permission?" he stepped towards her.

"I-I'm sorry," she tried to take a step back into the bathroom but Muse grabbed her by her upper-arms.

"I told you," he shook her, "you need my permission, I fucking own you!"

"I said I'm sorry, Muse!" she felt the tears pour down her cheeks. She felt her chest start to tighten and her knees buckled. "Please stop," she cried. He released her shoulders and her knees gave out. She covered her head with her arms and continued to cry. She heard Muse sigh before he stomped away and back into the room. She closed the bathroom door with her foot before curling up in a ball.

She cried for the loss of her freedom and for the fact that she was stuck with a man who had forced her into marriage, assaulted her multiple times, and terrified her.

It took awhile for the tears to stop, she stayed in a ball until sleep took her.

She woke up when the bathroom door opened, it was him again. He was standing in the doorway wearing a warm smile as if he hadn't assaulted her earlier.

He had on a red and black plaid flannel that was buttoned up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His jeans were tight and his boots were black and polished.

"Good morning beautiful," he smiled. Julia sat up, eyes swollen. "I have decided to forgive you," he bent his knees down so they were eye level. "Are you going to be my good girl again?" he hooked his fingers under her chin.

She hesitated. Did she really want to risk making him angry again? No.

With a gentle nod she smiled, it was small but she knew it would be enough to convince him that she would 'be good.'

He smiled back, "good," he removed his hand from her chin. He stood and backed away. She stood on shaky legs and followed him back to the bedroom. She walked to the bed and sat on the edge, she flattened out the wrinkles with her fingertips as Muse walked around the room. "I'm afraid you'll have to skip lunch since you misbehaved earlier but at dinner you can make something big."

"All I have down here is eggs, bacon, bread, and peanut butter," she spoke softly.

"Julia," he warned.