No Way Out
919 Words
Lena sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, her body still trembling from the confrontation the night before. Damien had let her go—this time. But his message had been clear.
She wasn’t going anywhere.
The morning light trickled in through the curtains, illuminating the bruises on her wrist. Dark, angry marks that mocked her failed attempt at escape.
Damien wasn’t in the room, but she knew better than to think he had let his guard down. He was probably watching her right now, waiting for her to make another mistake.
Her phone was gone. Of course, it was. She had known the moment she woke up and reached for it. He had taken it sometime during the night.
A sick feeling coiled in her stomach.
He had read her messages.
A soft knock at the door made her flinch. Then, Damien walked in, a warm smile on his face, as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t nearly crushed her throat just hours ago.
“Morning, sweetheart.” He carried a tray—fresh coffee, eggs, toast. Her favorite. “You barely ate yesterday. I thought I’d bring you breakfast.”
Lena’s throat felt dry. “Damien… my phone.”
He set the tray down on the nightstand, his expression never faltering. “I have it.”
Her heart pounded. “Give it back.”
His smile remained, but there was an edge to it now. “I don’t think so.”
Lena swallowed hard. “Damien, please.”
He tilted his head, as if considering her plea. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the device. The screen was dark, but when he tapped it, a familiar conversation appeared.
Claire’s messages.
Lena’s blood ran cold.
“I have to admit,” Damien murmured, scrolling through the texts, “I’m disappointed. After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?”
Lena’s breath came in shallow gasps. “Damien—”
“Shh.” He set the phone down on the tray, next to the untouched breakfast. “I’ve already taken care of it.”
Ice flooded her veins. “What do you mean?”
Damien took a sip of his coffee, completely unbothered. “Claire won’t be bothering you anymore.”
Lena’s stomach twisted violently. “What did you do?”
He smiled. “You don’t have to worry about her.”
Lena shot up from the bed. “No. No, tell me what you did—”
He caught her wrist mid-swing, stopping her from grabbing the phone. His grip was firm but not violent. Not yet.
“Sit down,” he ordered, his voice calm but commanding.
Lena shook her head, panic rising. “If you hurt her—”
“I didn’t,” Damien interrupted smoothly. “But she won’t be helping you anymore.”
Tears burned at Lena’s eyes. “You’re lying.”
Damien sighed. “I never lie to you, sweetheart.”
Lena’s knees buckled. She clutched the nightstand for support, her mind racing. Claire was gone. Damien had made sure of it. And now, she was completely alone.
She had no allies. No way out.
---
The next few days passed in a haze.
Damien never left her side. He called her work again, telling them she needed more time to recover. He cooked her meals, brushed her hair, acted like the perfect, devoted partner.
Lena barely spoke. Barely moved. She felt like a prisoner in her own body.
Then, one night, she heard the lock.
A small, almost imperceptible click as Damien turned the key to their bedroom door from the outside.
Her breath hitched. She ran to the door, twisting the knob.
It didn’t budge.
A wave of horror crashed over her. He had locked her in.
“Damien!” she pounded on the door. “Damien, open the door!”
Silence.
Tears blurred her vision. “Please!”
Still, nothing.
Lena staggered back, pressing a trembling hand to her mouth. He wasn’t just controlling her anymore.
He was caging her.
---
She didn’t know how long she was locked in. Time blurred together—morning, night, it all felt the same. Damien came in only to bring food, to sit with her, to murmur sweet nothings in her ear.
“You just need to rest,” he would say. “Once you’re better, we’ll go back to normal.”
Normal.
Lena wanted to scream.
But then, an opportunity came.
One evening, Damien slipped. He left the door unlocked.
Lena noticed immediately, her heart racing as she crept toward it.
Her hands trembled as she turned the knob, and when it opened freely, she almost sobbed in relief.
She didn’t hesitate. She ran.
Through the hallway, down the stairs—
Then, a hand closed around her wrist.
“No,” Damien’s voice was calm, but his grip was iron. “Not this time.”
Lena screamed, fighting, thrashing, but he was stronger. He yanked her back, his arms caging her against his chest.
“Let me go!” she sobbed. “Please, Damien!”
He stroked her hair, shushing her gently. “You keep trying to leave me,” he murmured. “I can’t allow that.”
“Please,” Lena begged. “I can’t do this anymore.”
Damien held her tighter. “You’ll be okay. You just need time.”
Lena sobbed against him, every ounce of fight draining from her body.
There was no way out.
Not anymore.
- Writer
