Ruins of Our Love #wattys2015

Chapter 45

"Face the wall and put your hands on the wall, Alexa," Stephan ordered. When I hesitated he barked, "Now, Alexa!"

Gingerly, I did as he says and braced myself for another beating. It has become a regular thing now. Almost every night I would face the wrath of Stephan, his whips on me and his abuse of my body. And every single night, I'd lay awake in bed, hoping for it to end.

As he caned my poor back continuously, tears rolled down my face. I didn't scream or sob like I used to. I refuse to let him see me broken. He will never have me.

"You really are a brainless slut, Alexa. Never learning your lesson!" he canes me again and this time its sound slashes through the air and pierces my skin. I feel something wet running down my back. He drew blood.

"Stop, Stephan! You're drawing blood!" I choke on my tears.

Thankfully he stops. But the night is not over yet..

I jolt awake in bed. My body sweating tremendously. Immediately I got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to shower. I need to rinse off the blood, and all traces of him.

The hot water scorches my skin, relieving my agony. I sink down to my knees and sob my heart out.

"Alexa?" Daniel's voice calls from outside the shower door. "Alexa, I'm coming in," He opens the frosted glass door between the sinks and the shower.

I was gripping myself, still feeling dirty and used. Daniel scooted down towards me and tried to carry me out of the shower but I scurried away from him. "No! I'm still dirty," I yelled frantically.

He sighs sadly and says, "Okay. At least let me hug you, Lexie,"

"You'll get wet," I say.

"You wet your nightshirt anyway," he states. I freeze on the spot, unmoving. Letting the water flow throughout my body.

Both of us are silent, the sounds of water gushing fills the bathroom.

After a while, when he sees that I have stopped sobbing, Daniel speaks up,"Come on, you're clean now,"

He carries me out of the shower and set me on the counter. My mind zoned out, wandering off to nowhere. The sounds of the cane and the feeling of it still in me. Why have you kept quiet all this while, Lexie? My subconscious speaks up.

If someone were to see my current state, they would see my lost look, and how broken I am.

I felt someone carry me again and set me on the edge of the bed. I'm dry again and my wet shirt has been changed with a clean one. I shook my head out of this gloomy state and spoke, "Did you change my attire, Daniel?"

"Yes, I didn't want you to get a cold wearing a wet t-shirt," he says nonchalantly. That means he's seen the marred skin of your body. All caused by Stephan's belts, whips or canes. And Daniel says nothing?

Daniel sits on a chair across me and ran his hands through his hair, clearly showing his troubled state. I stare blankly at him and say nothing.

"I can't keep holding it in, Alexa," he states. "I've seen the marks. Long ago your skin was flawless. Now he marred your precious skin with those lash marks. What did he do to you, my love?" he kneels in front of me, holding my face in his hands. Our foreheads touch while he murmurs, "I'm sorry," continuously.

Silent tears stream down my face hearing him torturing himself over something he had no control over. "It's not your fault, Daniel. You know this happens once in a while. You've helped me these past few months,"