Prologue

BPOV

"Why aren't you up?"

His voice, laced with hints of anger, jolted me awake from the drowsiness I had been in and out for the past few hours.

"James…" I whispered hoarsely, finding it hard to speak. "It hurts, James. My side…and my arm. I can't move my arm. It hurts so bad..."

His face morphed into an eerie expression, which he probably thought was loving and caring but was actually creepy as fuck, and I hated him just a little bit more.

"What is it? Do you need some painkillers?" He moved to my side, and I cringed when he touched my cheek.

"James, I think we need to go to the hospital. I think my shoulder is dislocated…or broken, and I think a rib's broken, too." I didn't mention the fact that it was him whohad done it to me, for fear I would set him off again.

His eyes widened. "No. No, no, no, no, no. NO! I can't. I can't. We can't leave the house. You can't leave me." He turned to me with frantic eyes and begged, "I can't lose you again, sweetie. We can't risk that. You belong with me."

I gritted my teeth together and screwed my eyes shut before forcing out, "Jamie, I won't leave your side, but we must go to the hospital. This is bad, and it'll only get worse. Please?" The last word was a sincere plea. I looked up at him. I could feel tears on my cheeks.

He stood up abruptly, rubbed his face roughly, and then started to pace around my little room, muttering to himself.

I couldn't make out what he was saying, and I didn't really care. I had heard enough of his nonsense. Especially in the past week. He had gotten so much worse. He hardly slept. He hardly ate. And his violence had just kept escalating. I closed my eyes and breathed deep and slow, trying not to move too much.

"Okay." His voice was but a quiver. "I trust you, sweetie. You proved yourself to me, and I trust you." I opened my eyes, and he looked torn, crazed, disheveled... As always.

"I'll have to handcuff you, sweetie. I can't risk anything. They can take you away from me again. I know a doctor in town… He can look at you I trust him."

I clenched my eyes shut again and breathed out, "I don't care. Just get me help."

"Do you want me to carry you to the car?"

My reply was instant.

"No."

I sat up slowly and groaned from the pain in my shoulder and side. This fucking asshole had seriously done some damage this time. Not that it was the first one. I couldn't say that I regretted it now; this way I would have a better chance to escape. There was no way I was missing this opportunity.

I could barely stand. My head was spinning, and it wasn't from the pills he had been giving me every day, since I hadn't taken one last night. Maybe I had a concussion... I had to wonder how I knew these things. How did I know for sure that I had a broken rib and a dislocated shoulder…? It was so natural, like breathing. I just knew. Maybe I was a… Was I a nurse…or a doctor?

I left my room and stumbled down the dark hall, leaning against the wall with my left side. Every step reverberated with a dull ache in my body.

James held the front door open for me, and I stepped out into the bright morning light. It was sunny, and I squinted up at the sky with a small smile. The last time I had felt direct sunlight on my skin was over a week ago. This place was usually rainy, and the surrounding forest was thick and dark. I had hardly ever left the cabin.

I made it into the cab of James' beat up truck with great difficulty. He hovered over me but fortunately didn't make a move to help me. Once I was in, he grabbed my arms, and I cried out in pain.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry, sweetie, but I have to handcuff you." His voice was gentle, pleading...disgusting.

I turned my head away, fighting the tears, and he slowly handcuffed my hands to the handle above the door.

Aside from the pain in my shoulder, I would now have to deal with numb hands, since they were lifted above my head.

James hopped into the cab. The engine came to life, roaring loudly, and the sound hurt my...everything.

I peeked out the window, trying to understand where in the world we were.

The road we were on was barely visible under the old leaves and withered grass. Everything was brown and green, and there were so many pine trees. It seemed like we were far away from civilization. But it didn't matter anymore; we were getting closer to it. And fast. Too fast.

I looked at James, and he looked insane. He was. His lips moved furiously, but whatever sound came out was masked by the incessant roar of the engine. His movements were jerky and there was a slight tremor in his hands. The road was bumpy, and he was driving so fast that it was beginning to seriously hurt me.

"James..." I said softly, but he didn't seem to hear me. "James," I said again, more loudly. He threw a quick glance my way but otherwise didn't react. "James, slow down! You're driving too fast!"

James suddenly floored the pedal, and I was thrown forward with great force.

I didn't even have time to scream as something flashed in front of the car - some animal…deer, maybe. James shouted something and turned the wheel sharply. The world spun, tires screeching, and then everything faded to black.