World Upside-down

Coming up with a Plan

Three days, it's been three days I've been here. Landon only comes in to feed me and change my drip. The occasional sponge bath and him carrying me to the bathroom. Otherwise, I'm still in the damn restraints. He tells me he needs to gain my trust before he will take them off, but how am I to trust him if he doesn't trust me? This is so ass backwards. My patience is running thin. The anger can only fuel my desire to escape, but I have to stay levelheaded. I have to come up with a plan. Failure is not an option!

The next day Landon comes in with my tray of food. "We are going to do a little test, my love, and if you pass, I will let you out of your restraints, but make no mistake, you will not be leaving this room until I can trust you not to run."

I look at him innocently and with my best smile I say, "Why would I run? You've been nothing but nice to me, other than these restraints. I have no reason to leave you. You're the only one who's ever loved me, I am not going to give that up for anything in the world. I see now that I need you Landon. Thank you, thank you for taking such good care of me. I promise You I won't run. Not ever."

He looks at me for a minute, deep in thought before releasing me from my restraints. He sets my dinner down, baked chicken, a small smothered baked potato, with sour cream, bacon, and cheese, and a small scoop of mixed veggies. My favorite... how did he know? I dig in, shoveling the food into my mouth as fast as I can. I take the knife I was given to cut the chicken, baked to perfection. I savor the taste in my mouth, like this is the first and last time I will ever get to eat. I think about keeping the knife, but it's too soon. I can't make any rash decisions. Even if I did attack him, he'd have the upper hand. He's too strong for me right now.

I finish my food and Landon takes my tray, and then proceeds to put the restraints back on.

"What? Why are you putting them back on? I thought you said I didn't need them anymore?" I say, trying not to show the anger and hurt in my voice

"I said it was a test, you did great, but I'm still not so sure I can trust you with total freedom, yet. Baby steps, darling. We will get there. It's just going to be a little bit longer." he says. "I promise it won't be much longer."

Yeah right, I thought to myself.

With that he turned on his heal and left. Fueling the fire inside of me. Don't you worry Landon. I'll get you to trust me, and it will be the biggest mistake of your life I think to myself. How dare he treat me this way. I promised him I wouldn't run. I told him exactly what he wanted to hear. When will it be enough? I have to up my game.

The days continue with him bringing me food, the same routine. Always some magnificent meal, always my favorites. Nothing ever changed, until one day, about a week or so later, he didn't put the restrains back on. I can't believe it! Does he finally trust me? He takes out my IV and hands me some real clothes. Finally, I can get out of this robe he's had me in, after weeks of wearing it, I'm sure even he's tired of the smell.

He starts clapping. A smile on his face. "You have finally past the trust test, you may now move about the room, but you may not leave and will remained locked in. It will be hard to walk at first since you have not used your legs in a while, so I put a chair in your bathroom in case you want to shower, or bathe, whatever you choose to do. Go clean up and get back to bed, I'll be back in an hour to check on you."

I watch him leave the room and attempt to get off the bed. I fall to floor. Pain shoots through my knees as I come into contact with the concrete floor beneath me. This is going to be difficult! I grab onto the pole that used to hold the Iv drip, and slowly pull myself up and make my way to the bathroom. It was only a few feet away, but it felt like miles. I was out of breath and shaking. I gasp as I see myself in the mirror. My curly blonde hair is matted, my once green eyes are now sunken and dark, I'm skinny... really skinny. You can almost make out every single bone in my body. How could he do this to me? My lips are cracked and dry. I somehow look older, but that can't be, I'm only 14. Anger, anger and sadness is all I feel. I can't believe this is who I have become. I thought he said he was taking care of me. How can I be eating so well, and still look like this? How long have I been in that bed? You will pay for this Landon. If it's the last thing I do, You. Will. Pay!

I stand in the mirror for a little while longer. Staring at the person who looks nothing like me. A living skeleton. A sob escapes my lips. How could he let me get this bad? I thought he said he loved me. Maybe I was a fool to believe that, or maybe he just needed to break me down to this point so I could no longer fight back. Weaken me so he can take over. No, He can't. I won't let I'm. This is my body and I'm in control.