I watch as his eyes turn pure black, full of hatred and wickedness, and I know right then and there that Joel is going to kill me. He spins me around and pulls my arm up behind my back, making me cry out from the excruciating pain he is inflicting upon me. I can do nothing but scream in protest as he pushes us toward the bedroom.
“I am going to love fucking you this time, Erin, because this time I am going to tie you up and there won’t be a damn thing you can do about it. And I love the fact that you have grown a backbone just a little bit. But if you ever try to pull a stunt like that again, I won’t warn you. I will fucking shoot you right between the eyes and not think twice about it.”
He walks us into the bedroom and straight through into the bathroom where he turns on the shower without ever letting go of my arm. Finally he releases his grip on my arm and it instantly hangs limp at my side.
“I need a shower, so take off your fucking clothes because you’re getting in there with me.
“Go to hell, you piece of shit!” I scream at him.
“I’ve been in hell for years, sweetheart. Now take off your clothes or I will take them off for you.”
“You’re a sick, twisted, no good son of a bitch!” I am not giving up this time. He will have to kill me before I give him the satisfaction of breaking me.
“Fine. You want to play games, Erin? LET’S PLAY A FUCKING GAME.”
His next actions happen so fast I don’t even see him coming at me until he has gripped the collar of my sweatshirt and with one big yank rips it down the middle. I attack, clawing and scratching at his face. I bite, I scream, I kick and the entire time I am attacking him he is trying to grab me, but I am on a mission... a mission to kill this man before he kills me. I continue my assault until I hear the click of a gun. Joel has it pointing right at me.
“Well, well, well. You really have changed, haven’t you my darling? Turn around and go lie on the bed and do it now.”
I don’t though. I spit right in his face. The last thing I remember is seeing Joel bring up his arm and his fist colliding with the side of my head.
I wake to the throbbing pain of my head killing me. I try and open both of my eyes, however only my left eye will open. The pain in my head and the right side of my face quickly sets me into panic mode as I recall what happened. My heart starts thumping faster and seems to be in perfect rhythm with the pounding in my head.
It’s still light outside when my mind finally becomes completely focused. I notice I am lying in bed and when I try to get up I can’t, my hands are tied to the bed. Fear starts clenching like a tight fist around my chest and I jerk and pull to try and get the restraints off of me. I can feel the rope start to dig and burn against my skin which causes me to stop, and I lay my head back down on the pillow. My pulse is lodged deep in my throat and a cold chill washes over my body. I look around the room for any kind of movement to see if Joel is around but he’s not and that is when I notice I am laying here in nothing but my panties. Oh, God. Help me please. It can’t end this way. It just can’t.
“You are so fucking beautiful. It’s too bad you’re a fucking bitch.” Joel waltzes into the room. He stands at the edge of the bed as his eyes roam up and down my body. “I loved you. I really did, and you fucked it all up by turning my ass in. Do you have any idea what you cost me when you did that? Of course you don’t.”
Joel starts pacing the room waving the gun around, and I follow his every move not knowing if he is going to pull the trigger or not.
I have to try and reason with him and get him to untie me, but the only way I know how to do it is to convince him to climb in bed with me. The thought of having him lay here and touch me makes my stomach clench and the hairs on my arm stand on end. I look up at the ceiling and tell myself I can do this. I have to do it. I just hope Adam can forgive me for what I am about to do.
“Joel. I am so sorry. We can work this out.” I look intently into his eyes when I talk. He stops and glares at me for several moments and then throws his head back and laughs.
“You must think I am a fucking idiot. You don’t love me, remember? You never did. Those were your exact words a few hours ago and now you expect me to believe you want to work it out. Fuck that shit. We are not working out anything except for the fact that I told you if I can’t have you then no one will. And since your lover boy has been occupied with other things, he’s not here to save you this time.”
“What do you mean, other things? Joel, what did you do? Did you set fire to that house?”
I try and stay calm but I knew he had done it the moment Adam got the call.