Black Rose

Just talk.

When she was gone, I cried.

I couldn't help it. Everything was catching up to me, all of the pain and the truth. It was overwhelming.

I kept reliving what she had done to me.

My head, forced under the water. Again and again and again. Unavoidable. Never ending. The soapy water filling my mouth, my eyes stinging. A moments reprieve, before being forced back down again.

There was no escape.

I tried to stop thinking about it. To focus on the hope, the reality that in just a matter of days I would be free of this place, but it was no use.

My mind just kept returning to the water.

At some point, a while after Gwen had left, I pulled myself up and wandered out of the room, wanting to escape my own thoughts.

I didn't know where I was going until I opened the door to the gym. Without thinking, I climbed on top of the treadmill and turned it on.

I started walking, but it wasn't enough. I turned the machine up higher. Faster. Then faster. And faster. Soon enough, I was running, and I could feel my whole body move.

My breathing began to grow shallow. The speed of the machine was taxing, and I was struggling to keep up. Realistically, I should have slowed it down. But I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to stop.

Instead, I made it even faster.

It was exhilarating for a few moments. I could feel a burning sensation as my limbs struggled to keep up. It hurt, but it was a good kind of pain.

Then I tripped.

I hit the floor, hard. I quickly had to push myself away from the still-moving treadmill.

It kept whirring, and I fell back, exhausted. I let my eyes shut as I caught my breath, recovering from the fall. When I was sure I was alright, I pushed myself up off the ground and switched off the machine.

A part of me wanted to climb back on, but I ignored it. I was still reeling from the fall. I didn't want to keep going.

So I didn't. I turned around, and wandered back to the bedroom. Tired and weary, I climbed under the covers and shut my eyes.

I wasn't trying to fall asleep, but the next thing I knew, I was being gently shaken awake.

"My rose," A quiet voice whispered. Blake.

I frowned, still half asleep, and curled away from him.

He growled and ripped the sheets off of me, exposing my naked body. I yelped.

He was angry for a moment then he gave me a devilish grin, his eyes devouring my bare flesh. "Oh dear, my rose. You really do excite me."

He learnt down above me, and I could feel his 'excitement' brushing against my thigh. I bit my lip to hold in a whimper. He dropped his lips to my ear and whispered to me, "I have been waiting for you, my rose. You have been on my mind constantly since that night."

I could only hold my breath as he began to nibble on my ear, and leave a trail of kisses along my jawline.

Then, to my relief, he pulled away, frowning. "You taste like chalk, my rose. Has Iris been having you do the dishes?"

My breath caught in my throat, reminded of Gwen's episode. It was obvious Blake had no idea of what she had done to me.

He just scowled. "I would ignore it but now it's all I can smell. Get up, my rose. We're going to give you a shower."