Sweet escape

The beast.

Laying in the dark room, listening to snoring and the buzzing of the neon lights outside my window was going to drive me crazy tonight. I emerge from my warm cocoon and plant my feet on the cold hardwood floors, sending a chill through my body. With each step I grow accustomed to the cold floors, stepping slowly as not to disturb the sleeping man that lay in our bed. Walking down the halls, passing by pictures, knowing the sorrow behind the fake smile I wore for them. Making my way upstairs to the kitchen I sit on the linoleum floors that were older than me, goose bumps on my legs from the chill they gave off. Looking down at my exposed legs I see them. The scars he helped produce, through both physical and emotional despair each day. Things were good some days, but on others they were horrific.
"What are you doing up here?"
My thoughts halted hearing his voice. I sit quiet, hoping he'd go away.
"I said, what are you doing up here??"
His tone got lower and more stern. My head bowed like I was taught, knowing I shouldn't have left his side.
"I didn't want to wake you, I couldn't fall back to sleep." I say quietly.
My body shivers as I hear him walk over to me, stopping in front of me. He bends down, scooping up my small frame.
"Come back to bed, I woke up reaching for you." For once the grouch was in a loving mood, spearing me from his harsh monstrous ways.
As he carries me down the steps, he hums softly rubbing my back, I look up in fear of what may happen once we get back to the seclusion of our room. I was only nineteen  but it was like I was married. I had to cook, clean, and take care of his son. Who was this man you ask? This man who emotionally broke me every chance he could get? Who used my body as he pleased? This man was once my best friend, now he's... The beast.

I look at my self in the mirror, watching my chest rise and fall, examining my body. There's light pink stretch marks on my pudgy tummy. Bruises cover my arms, small circles on my wrists and upper arms. The door creeks open, his slender frame coming into view.
"What are you doing in here?" The beast asks.
As he makes his way to me, my heart starts to race.
"I-I was gonna take a shower." I whisper to him, looking down at my feet.
His boney arms wrap around my frame, squeezing my body close to him.
"You know I do love you right? I don't like seeing this stuff on you." The beast whispers, running his hands over the bruises he caused. "You're beautiful." He whispers kissing my shoulder. "When you're done come back to bed and we can watch a movie."
He turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him. I lock the door, before getting in the shower, slowly sinking to the ground. The hot water runs down my body as I sob into my hands.
"I can't do this anymore..." I say to my self. "I need to be happy..."
A bang is on the door.
"Why is this door locked!?" He growls banging on it.
I jump at the sound, scrambling to get out of the shower and open the door.
"Because I didn't feel good, and didn't want you to come in while I was getting sick." I lie, looking up at him.
His face softens as he caresses my cheek. "You don't feel good baby?" The beast says lovingly. "Get comfy clothes on, we can just cuddle up and relax."
I wrap in a towel, coming out to the room. I look at the clock sighing. 3:24 am. I had gotten an hour or so of sleep and I had to be up for class at 7:00. As I go through my drawers I look over my shoulder.
"I'm not going to class tomorrow." I mutter.
"What?" He says raising an eyebrow at me. "Yes, you are." He states.
I frown pulling on a black pair of yoga shorts. "No I'm not, I'm not gonna get any sleep." I turn to get a shirt from my closet.

With one swift motion I'm pulled to the floor by my hair. I look up at him standing over me. "I said you're going!" He shouts.
I scramble to move away. "Y-yes, I'm going." I say anxiously.
The beast moves from standing  over me, climbing into bed. I lay on the floor for a moment, questioning why I stay. Suddenly I remember why, the life in my stomach that I had found out about two months ago. I hadn't told him yet, I didn't know if I was keeping it. I contemplated this being my way out but I couldn't raise a baby by my self. I had to tell him before he killed our baby.
"The fuck are you doing! Get in bed!"
I scramble getting into bed, I lay on my side, bringing my pillow to my chest. I close my eyes and let out an exhale.
"I'm pregnant." I mutter.
"You're what?!" The beast roars standing up, yanking the covers off of my shivering body.
"I-I'm pregnant." I repeat nervously meeting his gaze.
His eyes dilate, as he clenches his fists. It feels as though time stands still for a moment. He reaches for my legs, his anger boiling inside. I scramble, bolting out of the bed we've made our child in. I yank the door, but it won't budge. The more I yank, the more it seems to stick. It finally opens, me stumbling backwards. As I step into the hallway, memories come flooding back. At the base of the stairs, I'm reminded of the time I was held above the ground with his hand tight around my throat, talking through his teeth about me not being on time to get home. I bolt up the stairs, turning to go through the doorframe to enter the living room, but I'm met with another vision, him chaining me to our bed.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt a bit." A grin stretched over the face I fell In love with as he holds up a shiny new saw. He lined the tip up with my belly button.
"No more baby to take you away from me." He says looking up at me for a moment, slowly starting to saw into my flesh, it tearing, ripping open my skin as it makes its way to my womb. Blood runs from the cut like a waterfall.
"Stop, my baby!" I scream, writhing in pain, my body contracting to get away from the saw. "My baby!!!!!" I scream.