𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Jonathan

My eyes shot open when I heard the sounds of sirens whilst hearing a slight banging at the front door, I shot up immediately and suddenly I felt a throbbing pain in the back of my head shooting down to my spine.

"What the hell?" I murmured to myself, as I reached down to touch my crotch lightly I immediately flinched from the discomforting pain shooting through my groin. I couldn't comprehend what had happened to me, but whatever it was left my body and mind in shambles.

My whole body hurt, it felt as if I've been hit with a bus.

I groaned as I attempted to role out of bed, but it just seemed to make the pain ten times wore. "Linda." I called out in a hissing pain. "Linda!" I called out this time louder, I rubbed my head no matter how loud I yelled, there was no answer.

Although it didn't concern me that much at the moment, since Linda's been distant for the past two weeks.

My thoughts were then interrupted when I heard another bang at the door. "Open up, we have a warrant for your arrest!" An officer yelled. "If you don't open this door, you'll give us no choice but to kick this door down and force you out!"

It if as if my heart was going to come out of my mouth and suddenly the pain was no more, why the fuck would the police be coming after me? Why did I feel like this? Why couldn't I remember anything? But most importantly where was Linda?

I had a thousand unanswered questions, that needed to be answered ASAP.

With a hiss I forced myself out of bed, as I gained my balance I  stumbled out the door and towards the hallway, I could hear everything clearer the shouting, the sirens, the banging at the door. It was as if the damn apocalypse was going down out there.

Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks feeling as if I stepped into something wet, as I looked down I noticed that I stepped in blood. looking at the floor I also noticed a trail that led towards door. My thoughts then drifted towards Linda and I panicked.

My breathing grew heavy, thinking of all kinds of scenarios that Linda could've potentially been attacked in our own house, and I had probably been knocked out cold, maybe that's why I couldn't remember anything.

Without a second thought I raced towards the door, my hands trembled as I reached for the doorknob I stumbled with it, until finally getting the door open.

As I opened the door I was met with blinding lights of blue and red and a several police men standing at my doorway, as if my night couldn't get anymore worse. I wasn't able to get out a syllable before I was tackled onto the ground in my own home.

"Hands behind your back!" The policeman demanded, forcing me onto my stomach, as he cuffed my wrists. "You're under arrest for domestic abuse and sexual assault."

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?! You have the wrong person, My wife, she's gone!" I shout at the policeman, as I tried to break free but it was hopeless they were too strong, and with these handcuffs wrapped around my wrists I couldn't even fight back.

The police responded with the snarl, I was then forced onto my feet. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." Another cop recited.

"You don't understand, my wife-" I was then quickly cut off by the officer that had handcuffed me.

"Don't play the worried husband, we all know what you did. You beat the shit out of your wife and if that wasn't enough you had to finish it off by raping her."

My eyes widened, as sweat dripped down my face. "You got it all wrong, you're all in my fucking house, and I've never even laid a hand on Linda!" I protested harshly; I could feel my anger flaring up, as I turned my head towards the cops, but judging by their expression they clearly weren't buying it.

"Take him to the car." The officer ordered, gesturing towards the door.

And like that I was escorted out of my own home, as I was led out the house I was met with a bunch of flashing lights in my face, from the neighbors and other bystanders in the neighborhood.

It was as if everything was going in slow motion, and everyone was out to humiliate me. I could hear people insulting me calling me names such as "Monster" and "Animal" people telling me to "Rot in hell." What the fuck did I do to them?

And to think I've heard it all in the office, I was being called every insult in the book.

"Hey, why don't you give your audience a little show?" The officer that was escorting me said cruelly, on the side of the of the driveway there was a mud puddle.

Without a second thought the officer pushed me forward causing me to lose balance and slip, falling face down into the muddy puddle.

"God damn asshole!" I shout at the officer, as mud drooped down my face, I could hear the growing crowd laughing at me, clearly this officer got some sick pleasure out of humiliating people, either that or whatever he felt for me was personal.

I've never felt so humiliated and disrespected in my life. I was being treated as some kind of rogue animal that needed to be put on a leash.

The officer let out a low laugh the echoed through his chest, before pulling be back up once again. "Get moving." He pushed me towards the police car.

One of the cops stepped forward and opened the door then I was shoved into the car, like a piece of a trash.

I kept my head down as people continued to shoot pictures my muddy face, at least until the car began to move. I couldn't even process the thought of Linda going this far, to go out of her way and make me look bad, to make me look like a monster.

Then it just occurred to me, that she knew everything. I couldn't help but be disappointed in myself for being so foolish, for overlooking all of the signs. I guess a part of me just wanted to believe that there was no way of Linda finding out about my sins, but I was sorely mistaken, but I never knew she could be so vindictive.

"Fucking hell." I murmured under my breath, I felt a knot forming in my stomach, I have never been arrested in my life, never even got a fucking ticket. What the hell was I going to expect now?

...

I've been sitting on the hard cot for what's it felt to be hours, and I've had nothing else to do but think and try to remember what had happened right after dinner.

Pondering on every event that took place that led towards my current state.

It was my first time being behind a cell and it was pleasant, especially having to piss in front of the cops, without being guaranteed of your privacy.

"You foolish man." Those were the only words that echoed through my mind, like a catchy song. The last words I probably heard from Linda before going unconscious.

I sighed and sat forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I looked down at the dirty floor, things felt hopeless right now. They wouldn't even let me see Linda or let me tell them my side of the story.

I guess right now what I should really be worrying about was seeing a lawyer, because no way was I going to get out of this on my own.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't notice the figures casting a shadow over me. "Jonathan Harris?"

I cocked my head up to see two men standing in front of my cell, one looked to be around his fifties while the other man looked to be around his late twenties.

"That's me." I responded curtly.

"Nice to meet you. My names, Paul and this here is Brian." The older man said. "We will be taking you in for questioning today regarding you and your wife."

I sighed rubbing the back of my head, before standing. "Nice to meet you two." I then approached the cell as an officer unlocked it and put me in cuffs again.

I was escorted into a small interrogation room, and sat down at the small table, where to cops cuffed my wrist to the armrest of the chair. While Paul sat across from me Brian sat beside me. I was starting to wonder if this was some kind of good cop, bad cop trope like the stuff I see in the movies.

Paul then sat back on his chair, and so did Brian their body language relaxed and so was their demeanor. "So," Paul started "we're just going to ask you a couple questions, I hope that's alright with you." Paul said brushing his hand over his beard.

For some reason I felt my body tense, I then relaxed my shoulders. "Ask away."

"So, you and Linda have been married for about two years now, is that correct?" Paul asked.

"that's correct." I replied, shifting in my chair slightly.

"And during these few years of marriage, how would you decide your relationship with Linda?" Paul asked.

"Well, we've had out disagreements but other than that I'd say our relationship was pretty healthy." I replied.

"And you've never had any arguments that ever led towards one or the other getting physical?" Paul asked, as he tapped his pen on the table.

"No, I don't know what Linda said to you guys about me, but I'm not the monster she claims I am. I've never laid a hand on her a day in my life." I said, coming off as defensive without meaning too.

Paul and Brian then shot a quick glance at one another before turning their attention back to me. "Then can you explain these for us?" Brian finally spoke. He then pulled out a couple photographs and showed them to me as he laid each one on the table, I looked in horror when I realized these were photographs of Linda's beaten body.

"I-" I paused, my eyes still locked on the photos lying in front of me. "I couldn't have done that."

"Now, Linda mentioned that your guy's relationship had been strained for the past couple of weeks." Paul said. "Why is that?"

I felt their eyes seeping into me, and I could feel that familiar tightness in my muscles the feeling you get when you know something's bad about to happen. "I don't know, I never really thought of that."

Paul then sat forward his elbow resting on the table. "Sir, I want you to be frank with us when I ask you this question. Were you ever unfaithful towards your wife?"

I sighed, there was no point in lying now. "Yes."

It was silent for a moment, before Paul and Brian stood up. "I think that's enough questions for today, thank you for your time Mr. Harris."

Dread seeped in as I watched them leave, I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next, because as for now I was no free man anymore, I had no will if my own and it's because of Linda's desire for revenge. I hope she's satisfied now.

A hatred boiled with in me and above the surface as I began to think about Linda as sat in my cell, the wife who could do no wrong had framed her husband and sent him to jail, but I couldn't let it end like this. I have to prove my innocence and hope once im finished Linda doesn't see the light of day again.