Shattered

Chapter 55 (part 2)

This day had been nothing but tears and anger.

I wasn't okay with that, but I also couldn't help it.

There was an unshakable feeling that left me so unsettled. I wanted to shut my eyes and see nothing but darkness, yet all I could see was the shadowed face of Chandler as he said such repulsive words to me.

My family?

That was low for Chandler, and he knew that.

Threatening to rape me was low and he knew that.

But that didn't stop him from saying it.

He has taken all I can give, and there is only so much left within me. What he asks of me is too much; he knows that, yet still demands more.

It would never be fair. Even he said that.

He wasn't sorry.

Give it a day or two and he would do it again.

With every minute that passed by, I felt like I was getting closer to my imminent doom. I was doing something bad. Something I knew I shouldn't be doing. But when it came to my freedom, too far was never too far. One way or another, I would take my life back from the treacherous clutch of Chandler. Even if that meant treating him exactly as he had treated me.

I tightened my grasp on the cold metal, unbelievably grateful for the rare moment where Chandler had been forgetful, and then slid it away from me, tucking it into the small crevice between the footboard and the mattress. This time, I would not fail.

Leaving me alone to simmer in my anger all day was a mistake, especially after the many repulsive words he spoke to me this morning. I let my emotions manifest into a weapon that would make him regret keeping me like a pet.

Aside from the upper hand Chandler's negligence had given me, I also had a gift from Stella, one I never thought she would give me considering her emotional tie to Chandler. However, it seemed that over these months, she became increasingly more aware of how fucked up this all was and finally took my side; the side which meant all means necessary. She did have one request though. One I was hesitant to uphold, considering I believed it would come back full circle for all of us who had worked against Chandler, especially Stella.

There was great risk in my newfound plan. It greatly strayed from what I had previously thought out alongside Nyx and Stella, however, it seemed more feasible than the ideal situation we wanted to create. I was willing to take this risk, even if it meant there was no coming back from failure. Chandler wouldn't kill me, that was a given­—although I think I would prefer it—but he would make my life worse than I could possibly imagine.

While Stella had done something tremendous for me today, she also had to do what Chandler told her to when she came to the apartment anyway. This included her telling me Chandler was still holding strong on his "you're not wearing anything more than my shirt" bullshit. I was given temporary access to the bathroom to shower in the evening, but as soon as Stella had to go, everything was locked once again.

Chandler came to the apartment during lunch to bring me food, but I didn't speak to him. He seemed to be understanding of this and didn't push me for a reaction, which I was grateful for to an extent. Dinner was left to me, but I had no desire to cook, especially when I lacked the use of a knife, so I snacked on a few things and begrudgingly went to the bedroom.

That was where I lay, letting my thoughts swim for hours. Conspiring with myself on how I would make my escape. Tonight.

It would be tonight.

Between the bedframe and behind my nightstand I hid the crucial elements of this plan. Praying with all I had that Chandler would not be overly observant. That work had tired him past the point of acute alertness. He would come home, not bother me, and go to sleep. After, I could do what I had to.