Bloody Rose

Accepting my fate

Rose's POV

You know that all-so-familiar feeling when it feels like you are drowning but you are also dying of thirst. The emotions take over you with so much intensity, not giving you space to breathe, making you feel everything all at once, and some other times you feel nothing at all because you have slowly become numb to the pain and agony.

And that makes me wonder what is worse. Is it drowning or dying from thirst?

Because after yesterday, my bed and the darkness were all I knew, as they gave me the peace I so craved in my troubled times.

I pleaded with the darkness to hold me much longer in its arms, as I didn't want to encounter the demon that lurks in the light. But luck was not on my side because the darkness gave me freely to the light.

I opened my eyes slowly, welcoming the cursed light, and in an instant an unwanted pain shot through my spine, making me remember what the demon did to me again.

I slowly stood up and walked over to the mirror, looking back at my reflection, I couldn't recognize the person staring back at me.

''This isn't me, this isn't Rose," I said to myself as I tried to treat and conceal the bruises on my face and arms as much as possible, flinching at every touch my hand made on my skin.

Seeing the fresh bruises on my skin, it felt like my skin was slowly becoming the devil's canvas, marking and painting it so effortlessly as he pleased.

The soreness of my skin and the misery in my thoughts brought tears to my eyes.

'I couldn't continue like this, I couldn't continue masking and concealing my pain, I needed to find a way out," I said to myself as I picked up my phone to call Zena.

But as I was about to dial her number, the door all of a sudden burst open with Keith rushing in.

I was so scared out of my mind by the sight of him that my phone dropped from my hand as I looked up at him in fear.

"What... Why do you look as if you have just seen a ghost," Keith asked with a smirk on his face, as his eyes were also mocking me from where he stood.

'I... I wasn't expecting you to be back so early," I stuttered in fright as I struggled to keep my composure.

"Well dear wife, I am back now, as you can see, so go and make yourself useful, go and prepare something for me to eat for lunch," he said, walking past me and into the closet.

"Lunch...." I turned confused and surprised, wondering why he would ask me to do that.

"But we have people for that. Why don't I tell one of the chefs to prepare you a meal," I said as I hurriedly started walking towards the door.

“Stop !" He screamed as the tension in the air heightened immediately, which made me stop in my track.

"Were you deaf or are you just trying to make me angry today," he said as I heard his footsteps walking up towards me.

My back was still turned against him, as I was too afraid to even look at him right then.

"Damn you, woman .... You f*****g look at me when I'm talking to you," he yelled as he swung me around forcefully, making me look at him.

''I asked you to make me something and not the chef," he said with anger evident in his eyes.

“But....." I tried to protest, but my words were caught in my mouth when he hit me hard, sending me straight to the floor in an instant.

"Shut the hell up woman. When I tell you to do something, you do it immediately. Don't forget your place," he shouted to my shaky form on the ground.

"You are just useless, you can't do anything right, not even give me an heir. I'm sure you are just waking up from sleep by this time, and giving me your husband something to eat is a problem for you?" he yelled, giving me more kicks where I was.

After lots of yelling and kicking from him, he left angrily, slamming the door hard behind him.

I lay there shaking, as tears from my eyes flowed freely for what felt like an eternity. It felt like my body knew no other way to feel than this, so I still closed my eyes as I allowed the darkness, which was the only comfort I knew, to take me.

I was oblivious to everything and everyone, I didn't know what to do or how to feel anymore, it was like the universe had subjected me to a life of misery and pain, leaving me with only one option.

Then to accept my fate or die trying to get out of it.

(*)

After the ordeal with Keith, he didn't come home for 3 days straight and those were the most peaceful 3 days of my life.

I could finally sleep with the little peace I could find, and my bruises were slowly healing.

But soon, I heard a knock at my room door and I froze, asking myself if the devil was back.

''But you know he would never knock," my subconscious yelled at me.

" Who is it," I asked with a shaky voice.

“Rose, it's me, Zena," I heard Zena say from the other end of the door.

Quickly, I rushed to the door, opening it as I drew my sister closer to me, hugging her tightly.

” I'm so happy to see you," I said as my voice was muffled by her hair.

“Rose, how are you," Zena asked with concern in her eyes.

“I am better than yesterday," I said, ushering her to the bed.

''He hasn't been home for 3 days, and it has been peaceful," I said, swallowing a huge lump in my throat.

Zena didn't say a word, but her looks spoke louder than her words.

I knew she still blamed herself for my dilemma.

''Z... it's not your fault, no one would have known it would all turn out this way. Remember Keith wasn't always like this," I said, trying to believe every word.

But I should have done something. I should have protected you better, it is my duty as your elder sister to do so," she whispered, and I could see the tears rolling down her eyes.

But you are doing just that right now, helping me escape, and I would be forever grateful," I said, pulling her into a hug.

''Yes Rose, how about the plan to go to the beach house? Remember it is your only way of escape," she said.

But as I was about to respond, the door flung open and Keith walked in.

I froze in an instant, hoping he hadn't heard any of our plans...