Emily's heart pounded as she got ready to go to this church Bill kept talking about. How could she get their attention or get them to believe her? The past week he had been sickly sweet, and she returned every bit of it, laying it on thick. Her arm was still healing and sore as hell. He had been kind enough to let her wear a sling. He had been none too gentle with her injuries. She couldn't stew on the fact that he had shot her, ice ran down her spine. She shook her head. What kind of church was this for him to be so nonchalant about taking her there? Surely these godly people would rescue her?
She applied her mascara shakily. "Fuck!" She snapped when Bill bumped into her, causing her to poke her eye with the mascara wand. Her eye watered, causing it to run. He gave an insincere apology as he continued to move around her. Emily cleaned it up and waited for Bill to be done before reapplying. When she was sure it was safe to apply it, she did quickly. She screwed the lid back on and applied some chapstick. Emily fluffed up her hair and defined some of the spirals. It was a wavy chocolate brown with defined spirals interspersed, it reached down to the small of her back. She glanced at Bill nervously, who had been watching the whole time. He nodded in approval.
Emily sat on the bed and waited for him to finish up and unshackle her so she could finish getting dressed. She wore a plain maroon dress with a scoop neckline, it went to her mid calf. She wondered if he was going to make her wear anything to cover the deep scars on her ankles. She stared at the scars in despair.
Bill appeared from the bathroom dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a red flannel button up with a gray undershirt. He noted her sullen expression. Emily jumped when he placed his hand on her back. She sighed in fake relief to not create anymore tension between them.
She wanted to just run as soon as he freed her ankle again. Emily shook the thought out of her head. He kept flashing the gun in his waistband all morning to remind her who really is in charge. "Bill, you don't need to keep doing that." She said with an exacerbated sigh.
Bill wasn't sure how to take that. He looked at her suspiciously. Emily screamed internally. "You're hurting my feelings and scaring me." She managed to say calmly. "I'm terrified of being shot again, by my husband..." She looked away and stared at the floor.
Bill set his jaw. He still felt horrible for shooting her but if he hadn't...she would have gotten away. "You would have ran away if I hadn't." He said hotly, his blood pressure rising.
"You were smothering me." She shot back.
"More like you were laying it on thick." He spat, crossing his arms.
"Whatever, just taken this off so I can finish getting ready." Emily huffed, thrusting her leg towards his chest.
Bill pulled the key out of his pocket and reluctantly freed her ankle. She rolled her ankle around, dismayed with the deep red indention. "What do you say?" He said condescendingly, his hands on his hip. "What?" She asked him in disbelief.
"Thank you." He said irritably.
Emily stared at him for a moment before laughing. He stared st her puzzled. "Yeah, okay." She scoffed and got up to finish getting dressed. Bill couldn't believe how she just laughed at him. He stopped himself from bending her over and giving her a good spanking. It could be the pregnancy hormones. He watched her put her socks on, one by one. He couldn't believe she was actually carrying his seed, his child.
Bill hoped the sermon would get her to see the error of her ways.
Emily finished putting on her kitten heels and waited for Bill's approval. He raked hungry eyes up and down her figure before nodding in approval. He wanted to tear off her clothes and make a twin right then and there. Bill took a deep breath and calmed himself. "You look..." He trailed off and pulled her into a long kiss.
He broke the kiss and pinched her cheek. "No funny business." He warned, patting his gun. Emily sighed and rolled her eyes as she walked out of the bedroom. Bill grabbed her arm, a panicked look on face. "Relax, Bill, I'm not going anywhere without you." She sighed heavily. "Damn right." He said, tightening his grip. Emily opened her mouth to say something but shook her head instead, letting Bill lead her to the truck.
"You didn't tell me you got a new car." She said, staring at the truck in shock. She spotted his totaled old car on the other side.
"Yeah, no thanks to you." He snapped.
He held her even tighter as he opened the passenger door and pushed her in. Emily struggled to right herself, her heart pounding wildly in her throat. Bill hastily pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket and cuffed her to the door. "Is this really necessary?" She asked in annoyance. "You know it is." He spat sourly as he shut the door. Emily struggled to put her seat belt on. Bill got in and started the truck.
Emily put the a/c on blast. Even though it was barely 11 in the morning, the truck was already sweltering inside. Bill was already sweating, some dripped down into his eyes. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before he got going.
"What is this going to be like? I've never been to a church before except for my granny's funeral." Emily asked, picking at the cloth seat with her nails.
Bill looked over at her in surprise. "Your parents never took you to church? Were they some kind of atheists?" Bill asked in disbelief. What kind of parents would deny their children Jesus?
Emily shrugged, "We just never really talked about it. It wasn't a big deal." She answered truthfully, wondering why he cared so much.
"It is a big deal! I'm so sorry, Emily!" Bill have her a pitiful look, enveloping her hand in his rough one.
"Why?" She asked with thinly veiled annoyance.
"If it weren't for me you would be damned to Hell." He said worriedly, squeezing her hand.
Emily laughed, "Oh, Bill, I'm already in Hell."
Bill squeezed her hand so hard she leaned towards him, her face contorted in pain. "It. Was. A. Joke." She hissed through clenched teeth.
Bill let up and set his jaw, staring at the road angrily. "It wasn't a funny one." He spat.
"Lighten up, you're so high strung. Are you sure you aren't the pregnant one?" She said with a sigh, rolling her eyes. She kept a cool surface. Her eyes were glued to the outside, keeping an eye out for landmarks and road signs. Her heart raced, making her feel overwhelmed and lightheaded. What was this church like? Surely no good if he felt comfortable enough to take her there.
"So what can I expect?" She asked, clearing her throat.
"Just sit quiet and listen to the sermon. I still can't believe your parents never took you to church. We'll be better parents then they were." He said, spitting the last part hatefully.
"I don't see the issue, but okay." She shrugged. She had a sinking feeling about this church. Would they help her? Her stomach was in knots. Should she break out into a run and scream bloody murder or try a more covert approach?
Bill bit his tongue. He didn't want to start an argument. She was going to church thanks to him and their children would know God. He laced his fingers with hers. To say he was nervous was an understatement. Their relationship was rocky on the best of terms. An awkward silence fell between them.
"Think of any baby names yet?" He asked tenderly, coming out more awkward then he wanted.
Emily choked on her spit and began coughing violently. Bill glanced over in concern. "Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded her head as she kept coughing.
Emily took a few breaths and cleared her throat. "I haven't." She said, holding back her snarky response.
"Oh." Bill said in disappointment.
"Have you?" She asked awkwardly, cringing internally.
"If its a boy, which I'm hoping for, I want to name him after me. If a girl then...Susie." He answered, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Yeaaah I don't like either of those." She said, balling her fist.
"You can name it if its a girl." He said in a snippy tone.
Emily blinked her eyes in that really did you just say that way. "We'll see about that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked tensely, a dangerous edge to his voice.
"I said we'll see about that." She hit back with more bite.
"I get I say in this too, like you have any better ideas." He snapped with a huff.
"I'm not going to name it something stupid." She sneered. Or anything at all if I have any say in this. She rolled her eyes at the window. Bill nearly crushed her hand in his grip, causing her to cry out. Emily cowered down, her hand aching in his iron grip. He let up a few seconds later after showing her he was the one in charge. Emily wrenched her hand out of his and placed it safely in her lap.
"You need to learn to respect me, Emily. I won't stand for this disrespect anymore." He snarled, his knuckles turned white from how hard he was gripping the steering wheel.
Emily watched as they rapidly approached the first house she saw since they left. It was a good sized house, white with blue accents. She looked at Bill in confusion when he pulled into the driveway next to one of the other cars that were there. "What are we doing here?" She asked, her heart pounding wildly.
"We're here." He said flatly as he put the truck in park.
"This is a house though." She said, even more confused.
"Church is where you make it. Don't embarrass me, Emily. Don't talk unless spoken to and don't cause a damn scene." He said, warning her, he flashed his gun yet again. Emily rolled her eyes. She just wanted to get inside and scream for help. Bill got out and came around do her side. He opened the door, pulling Emily out of the truck with the door. "Hey! I'm still attached to the door." She snapped as she got her footing. Bill sighed and unlocked the cuff on the door then attached it to his own wrist. "You're kidding." Emily said miserably.
"No, behave." He said, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"You said don't make a scene but this is." She threw up their hands for emphasis.
"I told you, everyone understands our unique situation. Now give me a kiss." He said, leaning down to kiss her. Emily gave him a quick peck and sighed heavily. Bill grabbed the back of her head and forced her to kiss him longer. He let her go once he was satisfied. "I love you." He said in a softer tone that sounded almost forced. "Let's just go." Emily said, eyeing the shirt pocket he put the key in. Bill set his jaw and led her to the door.
Emily could barely hear over her pounding heart. She couldn't remember the last time she saw another person. This was her chance. Bill opened the door for her and shuffled her inside. The inside was generic farm house decor. She heard people talking when a man came from what she assumed was the living room to greet them.
"Brother Bill!" He greeted enthusiastically, shaking Bill's hand with vigor. "I see you finally brought the wife." He said, giving a passing glance to Emily. The man was taller than Bill and wore an unbuttoned denim shirt with a black undershirt and a pair of dark jeans, he was looked to be early forties with a clean shaven face and close cropped brown hair.
"This is Emily." Bill introduced her to the man, tensely.
"It's nice to finally meet the little handful. Hope you're not causing Bill too much trouble anymore. I'm brother Brad." He said not waiting for her response. Emily pleaded with her eyes. Someone had to help her.
"Nice to meet you too, Brad." She managed to say over her hammering heart, she swallowed thickly, shaking her wrist, trying to bring attention to it. Brad looked down but said nothing. Bill slipped his hand into hers casually. Emily wanted to charge into the living room and scream for help. She followed Bill to the living room and sat when he did, on a large brown leather sofa. They were sat next to another couple, Emily on the end and separated.
"Is this the little trouble maker?" Another man laughed, eyeing Emily with a critical eye.
Bill raised his brows and nodded. "She has been a handful, but she's settled down." He said, giving her hand a squeeze. Emily wondered what the hell Bill told these people, especially since they didn't bat an eye to the cuffs.
Emily began hyperventilating, shaking her head, tears leaked down her face as blood crashed in her head. In a room full of people and she couldn't say anything. "What's wrong with her?" One of the men asked. The women watching silently. "She's just overwhelmed." Bill said, a warning in his voice as he squeezed her hand hard. Emily shook her head violently.
"He's fucking crazy, he's kidnapped me, help me!" She lost her nerve and screamed, damning herself.
Bill popped her in the mouth, blood dripped from her mouth as she screamed for help. She snatched the key from Bill's pocket and sprang to her feet only to be stopped by Bill's arm. She struggled to get the key in the lock as Bill and a couple of the other men intervened and restrained her arm, digging the key out of her fist. "No no! Help me! Please!" She screamed, dropping her weight.
"Let her cry it out." Brad said sourly.
"Please, I've been kidnapped and held prisoner. Call the police!" She pleaded, screaming at the top of her lungs. Everyones eyes were fixed on Emily as she writhed on the floor. A few of the others watching shook there heads.
"What is wrong with you?! Help me!" She screamed. Yanking against the cuffs, pulling Bill's arm painfully. Blood dripped from both of their wrists.
"Help me!" She screamed, sobs wracking her body, her face wet with tears, snot, and blood.
"This one is feistier than Lenore, no wonder you cuffed her to you." One of the men said after he let go of Emily and handed Bill the key back. "You need to show her who's in charge or she's going to keep acting like that."
"Hon, clean yourself up, you're embarrassing your husband." One of the men on the love seat said.
"Who cares?! I need help! He's a monster! He kidnapped me! Are you people fucking deaf?" Emily screamed, struggling to pull her hand through the cuff.
"We all heard you loud and clear. Get up and have some respect for you husband and yourself. Tantrums are unbecoming of women." Brad said sternly.
"He's not my husband!" She yelled, getting to her feet, pulling against the cuffs with all her might. Bill pulled her down to the couch and crushed her between him and the couch end.
"You married him before God and many witnesses. You're stuck with him whether you like it or not, whether you wanted to marry him or not, you are joined to him for life." Brad said, taking a breath.
"What about his last wife then?" Emily demanded, icy fingers trailing down her back as her stomach dropped.
"She committed a grave sin by leaving her husband. You need to learn your place, woman." Brad spat.
"Emily, sweetheart, calm down, you have a good husband. You're making him feel unloved and unwanted by bad mouthing him. Apologize to him and reassure him that you love him." Dave said, standing to the side of the living room. He had black hair that was greying, a weathered face, and a plain maroon button down shirt and dress pants.
Emily's eyes bulged out of her head. He couldn't be serious.
"Go on, apologize to him." Brad demanded, his arms crossed over his chest, looming over her.
Emily looked around them room in disbelief, pure terror etched on her face, no one looked to have taken her side. She stared at Brad in shock. "Help me." She pleaded. His hard cold glare broke her. Emily reached for the gun in Bill waist band. Bill grabbed her hand before she could grab it from under his shirt. "Just fucking shoot me, I don't care anymore!" She screeched.
"Brother Bill, give her something to believe in." Brad commanded coldly.
Bill slapped her so hard she saw stars. Emily cried and curled in on herself, her arm screamed from all the movement. All faith lost in other people. Her cover was blown, she was scared of what punishment he would dole her. Emily saw no other way out. She was crushed in Bill's arms. "Bill, I'm..." She sobbed. "I'm sorry." She whispered to him. Bill glared, he had a feeling this is how things would go.
"Do you accept her apology?" Dave asked, seeing things calm slightly.
Bill set his jaw. "I'll need some time." He managed to say.
"Things will get better, you have to work with him." Dave said, patting Emily's shoulder before taking a seat in one of the chairs in the corner.
"I ask everyone to be gentle with sister Emily. She's having a hard time adjusting. She just needs a little more time and gentleness." Dave said, hoping to calm things down and dissolve the tension in the room. Whispers filled the room, Emily hid her face in the back of the couch. Bill swallowed his rage and stroked her forearm, scaring her even further, trying to calm her. He shushed her quietly and kissed the back of her head. Emily wasn't sure what to make of this. Her stomach churned, she was utterly fucked.
"We'll go on with the sermon today. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Ephesians 5: 22-23." Brad started, looking pointedly right at her, earning a Emily a few glares from the other women there.
Emily sobbed as everyone ignored her. How could they condone this? She was forced to marry, who cares what this god asshole thought. She was trapped, no doubt sure Bill would never let her see the light of day again. Brad's words blended into the background. She didn't want to hear the garbage he was spewing. This wasn't church, this had to be a cult, she concluded. Fuck Dave and his apology bullshit, fuck everyone that watched her and didn't help. Was this really her life now? Bill loosened his grip on her and passively tried to comfort her. He would deal with her later when they got home.
Emily was startled out of her thoughts when everyone started talking again. Was it over? She lifted her head and dried her eyes with the back of her sleeve. The men were talking animatedly while the women were talking quietly amongst themselves. "Is this a fucking joke?" She croaked in quiet disbelief. She noticed eyes burning through her. The group of women were staring at her and whispering. She mouthed help me to them. They shook their heads at her.
Emily took a closer look at them, a few of them looked closer to her age, but she felt like she was possibly the youngest. All of them were heavily pregnant and a couple had young toddlers on their hips. Was that her fate? Why wouldn't anyone help her? They clearly heard she was kidnapped. Bill wasn't kidding when he said they were in the know. Her shoulders slumped forward what was the point of fighting anymore?
"Why don't you take her home and set her straight?" Brad said as Bill helped Emily to her feet. Ice ran down her spine.
"She'll get whats coming to her." Bill said sourly.
"Good, see you soon brother Bill. Don't let her give you a hard time." Brad said before turning to another member.
Bill pulled her out the door and too the truck, saying goodbyes along the way. Dave watched the two intently as they left. Emily dragged her feet, worried about being trapped in the truck with him. She got in after he opened the door for her. Bill took the cuff off himself and put it on the truck door. His wrist was sore and bloodied. He shut the door carefully.
He got in the truck and locked the door and windows with via the parental controls. Bill didn't say anything as he backed out of the driveway and pulled onto the road. Emily waited a few seconds before trying to throw the door open, she yanked on the door handle several times, screeching and yelling. She tried the window to no avail. Emily began hitting the window with the cuff on her wrist, but she couldn't muster enough strength in that arm. She slid down in her seat sobbing.
Bill shook his head and clutched the steering wheel angrily. What was he to do with a wife that hated every fiber of his being? He couldn't get the last one to stay in love with him and this one never loved him to begin with. He glared at the road miserably. Would he never have the happy family he dreamed of?
"Whoa!" Bill hollered when Emily jerked the wheel, causing him to swerve into the other lane and almost off the shoulder. He got back into his lane, after he shoved her off. He restrained her arm so she couldn't try that again. " What the fuck, Emily?" Bill demanded, squeezing her painfully hard. She shook her head as she cried.
"Don't shake your head at me! What the hell is wrong with you?" Bill demanded again. "Quit your cryin' and tell me what the fuck your problem is." Bill spat, glancing at her every few seconds. Emily shrugged and shrunk in on herself, nearly hyperventilating. "You made a fool of yourself today, showed your true colors, and I was stupid enough to believe all your little lies." Bill yelled, his nostrils flared.
"You win." She croaked.
"What?" He snarled.
"You win, Bill." She said, her voice raspy.
Bill looked over at her angrily for a seconds before putting his eyes back on the road when her words sank in, stunning him into silence. He cautiously released her arm and grasped her hand gently. "Please don't hurt me anymore." She pleaded brokenly. Bill caressed the back of her hand, his heart ached that he even needed to do those things. "I'll forgive you, Emily." Bill said softly. Emily wondered what he meant by that. "Are you done lying?" He asked. Emily sighed and nodded. "Do you love me?" He asked, tense. "In time." She said carefully. Bill relaxed some, it was better than being lied too or told no, her answer left him surprised. She wasn't sure who was worse, Bill or the people complicit in keep her with him now.
The drive was long and tense. Bill parked in the drive way and hopped out. He unlocked Emily's door and carefully opened it. She watched him despondently. He uncuffed her from the door but left the cuff on her wrist. "Can you take this off too?" She asked in defeat. Bill was about to protest when he saw how low her spirits were. He cautiously took it off and watched her walk into the house, dragging her feet with each step. Bill followed behind her, worried she would try to run out the back door. He was surprised again when she crawled into bed and pulled a blanket over herself.
Bill undressed to his undershirt and boxers and climbed into bed with her, he pulled her to his chest and spooned her. "You're not going to punish me for earlier are you?" She asked numbly.
"No." He whispered, kissing the back of her head. She sighed in relief. "Hey Bill, why did they bring up Lenore?" Emily asked. Bill tensed as he searched for the words. "Probably because you reminded them of her some. She was a nasty piece of work and they don't want to see me hurt again." Emily stared at the wall. How could they just sit there and make her out to be the bad guy? She hoped one of them reported it or something.