The second day of interrogation was over and I lay alone in my bed deep in thought. As a loner, I often find myself stuck inside my mind, often contemplating life decisions. That night I suffered from extremely traumatic flashbacks with Adelaide. No matter how hard I tried to stop thinking, I couldn't. Too many memories sprung back to me.
The beginning of our relationship made me feel like the luckiest man in the world - we did everything together. We were both young, careless and drunk in love.
Addy and I often went on adventures in her parents' motorhome, exploring the beauty and wonder of the countryside. I remember those roads like the back of my hand and all the songs we used to sing. Credit to her, Adelaide was a surprisingly talented singer; she could even hit every and any high note. Her voice was so captivating and smooth and I honestly couldn't help but admire her lips. I remember her yelling at me when I drove too fast and, because I was so reckless, I only put my foot down some more. It was a cheery and merry time in my life that I wish didn't expire so soon. But, like most things in life, it did.
The first incident was promised to be the very last. But she lied to me. It only got worse.
It was a few months into our relationship at this point and I hadn't noted any worrying signs in her behaviour or personality, so it was a huge shock when she displayed it to me.
"Addy?" I asked, sneaking up behind her and embracing her warmly.
"Yes?" she responded, stretching out her 'S', almost mimicking the sound of a snake.
"It's my friend's birthday and I'm gonna head out and celebrate with her. She's a childhood friend and she's in town for the weekend, so to say I'm excited is a huge understatement." I spoke excitedly with a cheery tone, squeezing my girlfriend tighter.
"Her?" she repeated back to me whilst pushing her body out of my arms. She turned to face me with a stern expression across her face and she folded her arms. Fire was burning in her eyes and it worried me.
"Yes, her name is Freya. Honestly, she's nothing to worry about." I assured her, smiling slightly, unsure of the reaction I'd get next.
Adelaide rolled her eyes and slammed her fists onto my chest harshly, "Wonder why you're so excited."
I fell backwards into the wardrobe behind me and felt an unpleasant sensation run up my spine. It hurt, but I didn't let it show. I remained calm. "Addy, it's not like that. Please just have some trust in me, it'll only be a few hours. I won't even drink if you don't want me to." I reasoned.
She laughed manically and slammed her fists onto my chest once again, this time more forceful, "You're not going anywhere."
"Adelaide, please..." I began, only to be cut off seconds later. She grabbed both of my wrists and pulled me forwards, making our bodies brush against one another.
Adelaide was visibly angered and I feared what she might do to me. I couldn't react. Of course I couldn't. Being exposed to abuse in my home, I quickly grasped that it was wrong and that you should treat women with respect. So I stood there, heart skipping beats and leaping inside my body.
"Brave of you to ask such a thing, darling." she started, eyebrows raised and eyes widened. I winced in pain as she dug her acrylic nails into my wrists, piercing and penetrating a thin layer of skin. "You'll be going nowhere, do you understand? Try and step one foot out this house and I promise you that you'll regret it."
Stupidly, I decided to challenge her words. I gently escaped her grasp and headed downstairs. As I expected, she chased after me, but not as quickly as I thought. Whilst she lingered somewhere behind me, I decided to grab a coat and unlock the front door. Big mistake.
She called my name loudly, her voice echoing around the whole house as if it were empty. By instinct, I turned around. My jaw dropped.
"I will cut your throat like a lamb to the slaughter if you leave this house." she stated, confidently approaching me, hips swaying as she did so. I remember her face; she appeared to be so proud of herself. Smug, you could call it. Whatever it was, in that moment, she was careless. She wasn't thinking straight whatsoever. I was afraid she'd hurt me.
"Adelaide, what the hell!" I shouted, voice breaking slightly as I panicked. She drew the blade directly against my Adam's apple and smirked at me deviantly. I hadn't seen this side of her before and I was incredibly scared of it. I didn't understand why she was reacting in such a psychotic manner.
"Be quiet already unless you're going to apologise. Close the door. Now." she commanded, her tone shifting to be harsh and gritty. "This 'Freya'... why haven't I heard of her before, hm?" She questioned, tasting the sound of Freya's name as she did so.
Before I spoke, I reached my hand behind me to grab the handle and gently close the door, "Addy, she's just a friend! What is wrong with you?"
She laughed gently, tilting her head towards my feet, "Oh, you're so stupid... it's cute."
"Excuse me?" I enquired with confusion, face moulded in a puzzled expression.
Gently, she tapped her fingertips up my torso from my abs to my neck, just below her knife. "I called you cute, darling. You're so naive. Don't you know? Boys can't be friends with girls." she stated softly.
A sexist statement, I know.
"Uh- yeah. Yes they can be. Adelaide, what the hell is your problem?" I shouted, neck accidentally brushing the knife.
"My problem is that I can't trust other women around you, sweetheart." Adelaide fluttered her eyelashes at me, batting them slowly and innocently. "Say you'll stay home with me."
"But, Addy!" I stressed, raising my voice yet again. When I tried to grab her hand to push it down by her side, she only swung her arm down herself, slicing my forearm in the process.
I bit my lip, trying to mask the pain, tears forming in my eyes, "Adelaide, you hurt me!"
"Hurt you? Oh, grow up! Be a man, that was nothing." she giggled, throwing the knife on the floor. Quickly, she pulled her body up by my shoulders and leant in for a kiss. I stood there, essentially shellshocked from what had just occurred.
I wish I could say that was the worst I endured over our relationship. Unfortunately, it was not. Whenever she apologised to me, I could tell it was never sincere. She felt no real guilt. Always resorted to getting physical with me or bearing a knife to cut or threaten me with. Not once did I crack. Not once did I try and protect myself.
Whenever she slept peacefully beside me, I admired her. She was so beautiful, so quiet. I couldn't help but cry. All I wanted was the girl I first met, but I knew she was never coming back. What was love had turned sour. I was too afraid to leave, too afraid to stay. So I was stuck. Prisoner.
To this day, I wear the scars she gave me like a soldier.
ΔΙΑΒΑΖΕΙΣ
Foul Is Fair
Μυστήριο / Τρόμου/ Θρίλερ"Life was a game to Adelaide Briggs. I made sure the game ended for her." When a man murders his girlfriend to escape his lifetime of trauma, he plays a chilling game with authorities in order to get away with it. Will his lies support him, or will...
