DISCLAIMER: I own nothing other than the plot.
I sat at my computer, typing quietly as I speedily tried to find the motivation to finish my paper.
BANG.
I winced. Shane was home. Maybe he's just had a bad day…
"Caiiitlyyn? Where are you?" he slurred as he called to me.
And maybe he got drunk to keep the edge off…Oh who am I kidding? Since when does Shane not come home drunk for no other reason but to be drunk?
"I'm in here Honey," I called out to him.
"In where?" the drunken man called, most likely from the couch in the next room. "Where are you?"
"I'm in the office. Just let me finish this paper real quick and I'll be all yours," I called over my shoulder, not bothering to turn around, focusing on speed-typing to finish.
"What if I don't want to wait?" he growled into my ear, making me jump. "What if I want you now?" he asked as he reached around the back of the chair and started groping me.
I gulped. By his actions, I knew what was going to happen and I was scared. Whenever he had too much to drink he wasn't very gentle, but always apologized in the morning…
I slowly disentangled myself from his grasp as I turned around and stood to face him. "Shane…Honey, I think you might want to sit down. You're drunk and-" I stopped as his hand collided with my face, causing me to fall to the floor, but not before the back of my head hit the edge of my desk, immediately causing stars to appear before my eyes.
"Who-do-you-think-you-fucking-are-Cait?" he shouted at me between punches, as he kicked and pummeled my frail body.
"I-I don't know…" I whimpered.
"Not good enough," he growled as he straddled me, pinning my hands over my head. "After all I've done for you, who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
"I-I'm sorry."
"Remember what I taught you, Caity…
"The world is cruel
The world is wicked
It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city
I am your only friend
I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you
I who look upon you without fear
How can I protect you, girl, unless you
Always stay in here
Away in here?"
"I-I don't know… you-you can't…" I whispered as I tried to keep the fear out of my voice as the tears slowly rolled down my face.
"That's right," he murmured, closing in, "I can't. Now…what else did I teach you?"
"I am deformed."
"And you are ugly (And I am ugly)
And these are crimes
For which the world
Shows little pity
You do not comprehend
(You are my one defender)
Out there they'll revile you
As a monster
(I am a monster)
Out there they will hate
And scorn and jeer
(Only a monster)
Why invite their calumny
And consternation?
Stay in here
Be faithful to me
(I'm faithful)
Grateful to me
(I'm grateful)
Do as I say
Obey
And stay
In here"
"I'll stay in here."
My vision faded into blackness as he did what he wished.
When I woke up the next morning, I realized two things: one, I was in Shane's—our—bed. Two, Shane wasn't next to me.
"Wha-?" I barely whispered before his silhouette became visible next to me.
"Cait? Baby?" Shane asked worriedly. As if! He's only worried that he could've gotten in BIG trouble.
"Shane?"
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake!" he whispered as he pulled me into his arms. "I thought that…that I…I'm sooo sorry baby. Please, please forgive me?"
As if I had a choice. Ha! But there is no way that I'm forgiving him after all that he's—
"Of course I forgive you," I whispered to him. Of course. I'm such an idiot…
A few days later, Caitlyn was sitting at the windowsill, watching all the people walk in the street below her. They have no idea what they have…I love Shane, but I don't know how much longer I can survive this… I smiled as "Out There" came on my iPod. I listened to the first part and joined in as Frollo left Quasimodo.
"Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone
Gazing at the people down below me
All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone
Hungry for the histories they show me
All my life I memorize their faces
Knowing them as they will never know me
All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day
Not above them
But part of them
And out there
Living in the sun
Give me one day out there
All I ask is one
To hold forever
Out there
Where they all live unaware
What I'd give
What I'd dare
Just to live one day out there."
JASON'S POV:
Jason was simply walking through town because it was a nice day and he felt like being outside when he realized that he had, inadvertently, stopped in front of Caitlyn's and Shane's apartment building. Thinking he'd stop by just to say hi, since he hadn't seen Caity in a while, he walked up the stairs to their floor. When he got to their floor, he simply walked up to their door and was about to knock when he heard singing. Pressing his ear to the door, he could barely make out Caitlyn singing the end of "Out There." Smiling, he started singing along with her softly.
"Out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives
Through the roofs and gables I can see them
Ev'ry day they shout and scold and go about their lives
Heedless of the gift it is to be them
If I was in their skin
I'd treasure ev'ry instant
Out there
Strolling by the Seine
Taste a morning out there
Like ordinary men
Who freely walk about there
Just one day and then
I swear I'll be content
With my share
Won't resent
Won't despair
Old and bent
I won't care
I'll have spent
One day
Out there."
"HOW DARE YOU?" Jason heard Shane yell before he started hearing screams of pain and the sound of Caitlyn begging for help.
Without thinking, Jason broke down the door and rushed into the apartment.
CAITLYN'S POV:
A few seconds after Shane started beating me, I heard the door crash and started screaming louder, hoping that help had finally come.
"Caitlyn? Shane? Where are you? What's going on?" I heard Jason's voice down the hall.
"Jason? Jason! Help! I'm in here! Please hel-" was all I got out before everything went black.
I felt like ending this here. This was originally going to be a one-shot but will most likely be a two or three-shot. Please R&R and let me know what you think!