Black Rose

Docile flower.

Trigger warning: chapter contains suggestive content. It also contains damaging language about body image and weight. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or your own body image this chapter may be difficult to read.

In my dreams, I was grotesque. 

I was staring into a mirror, and my body was morphed and disfigured, draped in layers upon layers of skin.

Skin and fat.

I felt ashamed of myself. How could I have let myself get so ugly?

I heard an evil chuckle, and Blake materialised behind me, a smirk playing across his lips.

"I can make you beautiful."

A gnawing sensation rooted itself in my stomach. I felt the clinging feeling of hunger embed itself in me. My body started aching. I looked away for a moment, and when I looked back at the mirror, I was changing. My body was shrinking, returning to its normal state. Then shrinking further, until my skin was smooth and clear, my figure the shape of a model.

But the gnawing was still there. The pain was still there. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't get rid of it.

I felt a hand on my hip, and I started crying because I suddenly couldn't move.

Blake laughed at me, cackling.

"I can make the pain go away. You can be beautiful."

Claws raked over my body and I cried.

"My rose..."

My eyes snapped open, and I gasped in shallow breaths. I found that I could move again and I clenched my eyes shut, forcing myself to calm down.

"It's okay, my rose. It was just a dream." His voice was sudden and cutting, and my eyes snapped open.

He was sitting at the end of my bed.

I whimpered and scrambled through the sheets, trying to get away from him, but I ended up just pushing myself against the headboard. He placed a heavy hand on my leg through the sheets, and I stilled. I was suddenly aware of my body throbbing with pain and I winced.

"I know it hurts, my rose. If you do as I say, I have some pain killers for you. Would you like that?" He asked, his voice almost gentle. I hesitantly nodded. He smirked. "Good girl. Now, I'm going to need you to get up and follow me. We're going to shower, okay?"

My breath hitched in my throat at the thought of him seeing me naked again. My mind began to unravel, and I felt a knot rise in my chest. He squeezed my leg, catching my attention and stopping me from spiralling.

"Is that okay, my rose?" He asked again, forcefully. I quickly nodded. He stood, and I slowly untangled myself from sheets and followed.

I was still dressed in the athletic clothes he'd given me, and I felt a momentary slice of relief.

Blake led me out of my room and down to the bathroom, carefully watching me in case I fell. My legs were shaky and weak, and I almost tripped once on the journey but managed to catch myself.

All too soon we were in the bathroom, and Blake turned to me expectedly. I gulped and froze. He gave me a gentle and almost reassuring smile.

"It's okay, my rose. I would let you shower on your own, but I don't want anything to happen. Alright?"

I slowly nodded. He smiled at me.