Killer Results

Wake Up

In an Instant

POV David

She was like a doll, lifeless to handle. I undressed her and lowered her into the bath water without response. I kept thinking, any minute she will resist. Soon she will be kicking, screaming to escape, but she just sat in the large tub and soaked.

I stepped away for just a moment, I wanted to strip the bedding she was laying on before I brought her back out. I was only out of the bathroom for a couple minutes, but somehow the young woman slipped under the water.

POV Lauren's Dream/ living the nightmare

They flipped me again, my belly flopped against the dry leaves and my arms dropped to my sides. They didn't even bother to hold me down, the fight was over, my body beaten. I could hear the excitement as they prepared for another round of "bugger the girl till she screams." Would I scream this time? 

Then something graced my fingertips, the handle familiar. I tried to clear my vision, blinking hard and fast. I slowly gripped my salvation then rubbed my fingers crossed its shape. It was sharp, I pricked my thumb and smiled. When I tilted my head down, I could see just enough, and what I saw gave me hope. The scalpel.     

POV David

I stepped into the bathroom and my mind went blank. How far gone are you when you stop fighting to breathe? I'm not sure when I ended up in the tub, but seconds later I had a coughing, crying woman in my arms.

"You can't do that? You can't just quit living!"

"Why not? Living is torture, death is peace. I want peace. I need peace. Let me have my peace." She pleaded for death, and I needed her to live.

I sat her on the toilet and stripped my clothes off. Then, without her consent, I picked her back up and got into the tub with her. With her back to my chest, and my legs straddling her, I knew I could keep her above water.

"You can't find peace like that, let me help you." Grabbing the cloth and soap, I started the slow process of removing the filth embedded on her body. Her scratches were long and angry, while the cuts were small and deep. The areas of greens and yellows would soon be nasty black and blues, they covered her arms and legs exclusively. The scrapes and cuts covered her head, neck, and back.

"What's your name?" I broke the silence in a mild attempt to distract her from what I had to finish doing.

"Lauren."

"Well Lauren, I hope you don't mind, but I'll need you to turn around to finish getting you clean." Without anymore prompting, Lauren pulled her knees in and rotated in the tub to face me. "Thank you." 

I soaped up the cloth and began again. Only now realizing the bite marks over her breasts and stomach. Who would mutilate her in such a way? Monsters! Only a monster would let a woman live after torture, there is no life after having your soul broken, but to mutilate her to live? My father did work like this, his trophies. 

Lauren didn't hesitate to allow me to inspect and clean her entire body. I washed and removed the debris from her hair, and once I was satisfied that she was cleaned I carried her out of the tub and set her on the toilet. I grabbed a fluffy towel and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Promise me you won't try to hurt yourself while I get clean really quick?"

She looked at me and held the towel closer. "Okay."

I quickly pulled the drain on the tub, tossed our dirty clothes in the trash pail, and turned the shower on. I didn't want to take my eyes off her. I don't know if I have ever showered so quickly in my entire life. The water didn't even have time to warm up.

Stepping out, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my waist.

"Okay then, let's get dry and eat." I grabbed an extra towel and walked back over to Lauren to dry her hair. As promised she never moved, but she also made no attempt to dry herself off.

"What do you like to eat?" I made quick work of her long hair, and had her ready for clothes in no time at all. While she appeared fragile, I could tell she was strong and athletic. Her body was toned and muscled, but there was also a distinctive bump in her abdominal area, I hadn't noticed till now.

"Are you pregnant?" She pulled the towel tightly around her, and I saw the first spark in her. She wasn't weak, her lack of fight and overall absent will to live was caused by something else. She confused me.

"I'm not hungry." She stared at me now, for the first time I actually felt like she was trying to read me. Interesting. Well, two can play this game. I stared into her blue eyes for the first time. They were bright, inquisitive, and something more. I could see her planning, trying to think three steps ahead of me. However, the cute way she tilted her head and squinted her brow, made me grin. I think I had her baffled.

I broke the silence but not the eye contact. "Jury's still out?" 

"Huh?" Lauren gasped and looked away.

"Penny for your thoughts." I chuckled. This was the first time I heard her un-monotone voice.

"Sir, that would be bribing the jury." Lauren quipped. "Mac and cheese, grilled cheese, anything with cheese."

I stood up, and put my hand out. "David." 

Lauren tried to stand from her seated position on the toilet, but her knees buckled and she reached out grabbing my arms in a last minute attempt not to fall to the floor.  

I put my arm around her waist, watching as she winced, and lifted her carefully to her feet. She turned her head towards me.

"Lauren." 

"Well Lauren, lover of all cheese foods. Let's get dressed and I will cook for you."

Something changed after I pulled her from the water. During our stare down, I'm not sure what she saw in me, but she was intriguing. Lauren was putting on a brave face, I can't imagine the pain she was in. I dressed her in one of my shirts and helped her to the kitchen. I was a stranger to her, but she treated me no different than an intimate. She wasn't shy, she let me touch her without being bashful, and she let me help her. It was strange to be around a woman like her.