The earth remains quiet and dark, yet she cannot find sleep. The early morning greets her with yet another dose of nausea. Crumpled against the cold tile of the bathroom floor, her thin form appears weakened by her condition as she is determined to rid her body of that which consumes her.

Every night becomes routine; the acts of one beyond desperate, denying herself the very food forced upon her by his hand, pressing her finger deep within her throat until she convulses towards the porcelain bowl, dampening her hair with her sweat as flashes of light blind her swollen eyes. Her body holding nothing more to expel as the dawn brings with it more sickness, more pain, and more agony as the child within her cries out to be fed, she feels the twisting of her own organs as her body screams for her to obey him.

The scent of his cologne that always seems to linger in the air repulses her, the very thought of him inside her sickening her to the point in which she vomits up blood. She can only continue her quest, praying she will soon end the life that is slowly smothering her, wanting nothing more than to make it so that he can never invade her soul again.

Gasping against the violence of her heaves, she only gains a sliver of comfort from the chill of the ceramic tile against her hot cheek, happy to cling to it over the softness of the sheets she must share with him.

Her hot breath fogs the cold floor, the stench of cleanser stings her nose, making it seem that the sickness within her will never subside. Closing her mind, hoping to somehow overcome the agony invading her, she feels a cold breeze blow on her as the bathroom door opens.

"Mommy?" the panic voice calls out, his bare feet running to be by her side.

Feeling as though she is moving under water, she struggles to lift her heavy lids, the light penetrating the room stings her eyes as her pupils react to the change.

His tender hand sweeps her hair away from her wet brow, clearing a space for his lips to plant a soft kiss.

"Are you sick again?" he asks, fear and concern evident in his shaking voice.

Picking her thin hand off of the floor, she grasps his, finally feeling her pain subside as she clings to her son, her lifeline.

X x X x X

Twisting the metal hanger in her hands, she reddens her palms with the force, determination blazing in her pale green eyes. Knowing his eyes are always upon her, his fruit growing within her his prize, she cannot find an escape, cannot run fast enough to one who could free her.

Following his lead of destroying that which is weaker, she continues on with her plan, hooking the cheap metal into a makeshift instrument capable of setting her free, her desperation once again stealing away her sanity.

Working as though in a trance, she stands to her feet, sliding her panties off her legs as he shaking hands clutch the hook shaped hanger. Fixing her eyes on the picture of Lex on her night stand, believing in this moment she is saving her son, she lays back onto the bed, her bended knees covered by the length of her gown. Envisioning the satin sheets soon tarnished, she grips the metal in her hand, wondering if the pain will be less than the act that placed his beast inside her.

Allowing her knees to fall apart, she pulls the silk up her form with her fingers, exposing her ivory skin to the chill in the room, her chest rising and falling quickly as she fears his footsteps will soon echo in the hall.

Holding in her breath, she lowers her hand to her waist, the cold metal scratching her thigh as she struggles to get it into position.

"Lillian," her terror forcefully calls from the hallway. "Why is this door locked?"

Her nerves and paranoia swell up, escaping her lips as a terrified scream. She drops the wire, frantically scrambling for it.

"Lillian! What's wrong!" he yells, pounding on the door.

The door blows open, his foot falling down hard to the ground from his kick. Instantly he sees her, the wire grasped in her hands.

"Lillian! No!" he dives across the room, grappling with her insanity.

His powerful hands wrestling the object free from her grasp, she cries out, fighting against the arms that once again chain her, robbing her of her freedom of choice.

"Nooooo," she screams, needing to be heard, wanting to make him punish her with his hands, thinking then her wish might be granted.

"Shhhh," Lionel hushes her as she fights against his tight grip, her arms flailing, desperately trying to free herself from him.

Her frame giving out, she goes limp, not able to even fall to the ground without his hands controlling her. Holding her tightly to his chest, he strokes her long hair, whispering in her ear "I forgive you."