The Broken Road (18+)

Chapter 13

WARNING
Contains mature and potentially triggering content.

My ears rang at the sound of his voice before I had the strength to open my eyes.

'Wake up Jenny,' Troy's voice echoed in my ears. 'How could he do this to you?' I could almost hear tears in his eyes. 'I'm going to get you out of here.'

From the soft surface beneath me, I could tell I was no longer on the cold floor of the hallway. Troy must have moved me. I could feel a cold towel wiping my forehead and some of the other cuts and wounds on my body.

'Jenny!' Troy's concerned voice said as my eyes finally opened. 'Are you okay?'

'I-' I croaked out, holding back a hiss of pain.

'Sorry, stupid question.' Troy shook his head sadly. 'Jenny, I gotta get you out of here.'

'It has to be done right.' I whispered. 'He'll find me. He'll hurt Hannah.'

'What are you talking about?' Troy said, helping me sit up. He had moved me to our bedroom, a first aid kit resting beside me.

'I have a plan.' I winced. 'A stupid one. But I can't think of any other way out. I've tried and failed every other way. I ran and he found me, I went to the police and they believed him over me. There's no other way.'

'Let me help you.' Troy said, without hesitation.

'I can't let you do that.' I said shaking my head. What I had planned was dangerous and could be life changing, not in a good way. 'I need to do this alone.'

'At least let me get you away while you heal.' He said, moving my messy hair from out of my face. 'I can't leave you here with that monster.'

'Jenny!' Ken's voice made the house tremble, I froze as his footsteps thundered up the stairs.

'Hide!' I whisper-shouted to Troy. 'Don't let him find you here!'

'No, I'm not letting him near you.' Troy said, running to my side as I tried to stand.

'It will be worse if he knows you're here!' I pleaded, pushing him down to hide under the bed. 'If he finds you and offers you a deal you HAVE to accept it, okay?'

Troy looked like he was going to reply but I stood up straight waiting for Ken to enter.

'Jenny, you whore, I told you to clean up!' Ken spat, throwing the bedroom door open.

'I... I'm sorry baby. I was in a lot of pain, so I can't to lay down.' I whispered, keeping my distance, trying not to look at Troy who was hidden under the bed.

'Good.' Ken smirked. He beckoned me forwards with a finger and I did as he wanted obediently, walking until I was directly in-front of him. 'Jenny, baby.' He said softly.

'Yes Ken.' I replied. He took his index finger and placed it beneath my chin, lifting my head to look at him.

'You know I love you, right? You and Hannah, mean the world to me. I am nothing without you.' Ken's word shocked me, making me take a step backwards, but his arm wrapped around me to stop me from going far. The contact of his touch against my broken and sore flesh caused me to hiss out in pain. 'Oh, baby, I hate when I have to hurt you.'

'Ken.' I whimpered, as his hands made no attempt to let go of my trembling body. His fingers moved slowly against my back, the action itself gentle but the lashes that littered my back from his whip made my body shake in pain.

'I hate to hurt you baby, but you're so disobedient. You take everything I give you for granted. You took our daughter away from me.'

'She's not your daughter.' I spat. 'I took her away so she would be safe.'