Memory Remnants

Part 7: Panic

“Alex. I think it's time for you to go to your room. Lizzy is already in hers,” commanded Jonah in a low voice that was quite frankly, frightening. It was as if he had put in an “or else” without even speaking it.

Alex instantly paled. “N-no. I think I should stay with Madeline. She remembers me,” he stuttered.

“Go.”

Alex was shaking all over, but he shook his head. Jonah became visually furious. He grabbed Alex by the hair and he screamed in pain as he tried to fight him off. Madeline got a jolt of fear and tried to get Jonah off Alex, but he was just so much stronger than them. Jonah dragged him out of the room and down the hall. He shoved him into a room that looked to be his bedroom and then slammed the door. He locked it with a bolt lock attached to the front of his door. More fear ran down Madeline's spine. Having a lock there meant it happened all the time and he planned it. It wasn't out of impulse. She could hear Alex banging on and ramming against the door as he yelled.

Jonah turned his cold gaze onto Madeline. She was rooted to the spot. He snatched her hair and dragged her back into the sitting room. She tried to get him to let go, but once again, she was just too weak. Hannah had always been the brawn one for her. He grabbed her neck and pushed her against the wall, making her bang her head against it in the process. Did he do this to her often? And did she just take it or ever fight back? She was not only scared for herself, but also for Alex and Lizzy and even Gavin.

“It seems your amnesia has caused you to forget who's boss. I guess I'll remind you now. I am, bitch! You finally getting a personality now? I didn't even know you ever had one!” he shouted. His other hand came up and slapped her across the cheek, so hard that her head turned with the smack. “Now remember your place and that if you ever go against me in any way, your precious baby brother and daughter will pay. Or maybe I'll kill another one of your unborn abominations.” He smirked and let go of her neck just enough for her to speak.

Madeline stared at him in horror for a few seconds before answering, “B-but... Elizabeth and Gavin are your kids, too.”

“Technically, yes. But your DNA contaminated them and made me not want them. You can keep them. Without me, your nothing.”

“That's not true! I am something without you! I'm a sister and a mom and a friend! I'm not just your wife.” She glared at him right back.

He then tightened his grip on her neck. “Is that defiance?”

She said nothing, mostly because she couldn't.

“Nothing? I guess I'll have to give you a taste of your job.”

He picked her up a bit and tossed her onto the couch. He laid multiple punches on her while he hovered above her. She didn't know what to cover. Her head or her baby? She ended up curling into a ball on her side with one arm covering her head and the other her pregnant stomach. She wanted to scream, but she knew Alex and Lizzy would hear it. She had to be as quiet as possible.

He tore at her clothes until she was wearing nothing. He took off his own pants and did something she had never wanted to do before. She expected it to hurt, but it didn't. She wasn't a virgin anymore. She had a kid, too. It felt gross to feel him inside of her. She didn't like the feeling. Straight sex had never been on her list of things she wanted.

After a few minutes, he was finished and left her. He slipped on his pants while she laid on the couch, motionless. She heard him walk down the hall and the click of the bar lock being unlocked. As soon as it was undone, the door banged open.

A couple of seconds later, she felt a blanket laid over her body. Arms came around her shoulders and pulled her into a one sided embrace. She felt something wet drip on her face, but she didn't move or look a different direction. She felt empty and numb all over. As if her body was far away from her.

“I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I should have told you. I should have warned you that Jonah is a sadist and hates it when he isn't the center of attention,” apologized Alex with a voice that sounded like he was crying.

But she just couldn't seem to feel anything.