Seeking Relief

Ruined Dinner

Pots clattered to the floor and were sent spinning across the linoleum. The contents of the pots spilled across the floor and splattered up along the cupboards.

The sound of a palm connecting forcefully with skin echoed through the kitchen.

Jade’s knees stung as she fell to the floor, her face throbbed. She sat on the floor on her hands and knees slumped over. Her hair hung, covering her face.

The once handsome man stood over her, screaming so hard spittle flew from his mouth.

She stared at her hands on her knees, she couldn’t see him clearly since her hair obscured her vision.

She could feel the spit from his mouth as it landed on her head.

“f*****g b***h! I told you what to cook, yet you disregarded me.”

“We didn’t have the ingredients to make what you wanted.” She quietly said.

“Then you should’ve gone to the store!” He sneered.

“The store was closed by the time you told me.”

“Are you f*****g mouthing off to me?!”

“N-n-n-no it’s just—”

“I’ll f*****g show you what happens when you mouth off!” He yelled.

In a swift motion, he reached down grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her through the kitchen.

“No! Please! I’m sorry!”

“You need to be taught a lesson. I love you, but you can’t do this.”

He hauled her up to her feet by her hair in front of a door with stairs behind it. Gripping her arms tightly, he dragged her with him as he descended down the stairs with stomping steps.

Jade’s sobs were rampant and her speech was incomprehensive when they reached a certain corner of the basement.

There was a mess of blankets on the floor. Bars that were built into the cement, erected up and over the grungy mess. In the corner of the barred area was a five gallon plastic bucket.

The height of the bars were a good half foot too short for her to stand up all the way, and the width of the barred area was several inches too narrow for her to stretch out completely.

She fought his grip harder as they approached the barred square.

Her cage.

“When you act like an animal, you’re treated like an animal.” He said, throwing her into the dreaded cage.

“When you’ve genuinely learned your lesson you can come out.” He yelled over her sobs.

He locked the usual padlock on the “gate”. He stood up and looked down at her while she begged and told him how sorry she was.

He turned and walked up the stairs in silence.

When he got to the top, he stopped and then turned.

“I love you. But this is the only way for you to learn.” He said.

Then he walked through the door and shut it behind him, shutting her in absolute darkness.

She screamed and sobbed into the black while demon hands reached through the bars grabbing at her.

She screamed as she tried to brush away sharp hands on her skin.