Hello again :)
This is a one-shot, inspired by the song 'Elastic Heart' by Sia, that may become an actual story at some point if I find the inspiration to continue this.
Definitely not for Radam fans. I hope this serves justice for the many fans (and my own) hatred towards Adam.
A/N: This is set after series 5 episode 20, but Rachel never leaves Waterloo Road after her marriage. Eddie is still the deputy, so this is very AU.
I hope you enjoy :)
Warnings: Abuse, miscarriage.
Blood smeared. Glass shattered. A shard of glass lodged into the broken flesh of the deathly pale man currently bleeding out persistently into the newly stained floor. One piece of glass, that was all it took to potentially kill a human. Though in this case, the deed was done. He was dead.
He had deserved this, she recognised absently. From the moment he had first struck her with his unforgiving palms, to this fatal moment. Staring at him now, she felt no remorse. He was supposed to be her husband, her soul mate. How far from the truth was that? Now, with him lying on the kitchen floor she could see his true colours. He was callous and spiteful, a narcissist. Why did she ever marry a man who would do this to her? Her first chance at being a mother, gone. Taken from her grasp by a monster like him.
The memories were clear in her mind. The day of her 12-week scan, how she had been so joyful and tearful. However, to come home to find her husband in an alcohol-induced haze of anger spoiled all those cherished emotions.
She had tried so hard to take the bottle from him, but his violence had erupted past the boiling point. There had been no stopping him as he came flying towards her, practically pushing her onto the ground, incoherent words tumbling from his mouth as he swayed and punched and kicked. Forceful blows to her ribs, legs, arms, stomach. The smell of his intoxication lingered on his breath as his words repeated, fire blazing in his eyes. She had closed her eyes as the assault was prolonged, not recalling when it had ceased.
A few minutes, that was all it had taken for her chance of being a mother to be destroyed mercilessly by a vile, untrustworthy man.
His name was like poison to her lips, the thought of his sneers sending an uncomfortable chill down her spine.
Another memory invaded her thoughts, a new scene from the previous few hours. She had been late home from work, an hour later than her usual arrival. Opening the living room door to see him sitting stoically facing the TV. The only indication of his mood was the clenched fists in his lap.
"I'm sorry I was late home, Adam. I had some last-minute paperwork to sign."
"Your lying. You were with him, weren't you? Your deputy, Eddie Lawson? You love him. I can see it in your eyes." Adam had spat the words as if they were poisonous venom. His stance and the slur of his words revealing his usual intoxication.
"What are you talking abou-"
"Don't you dare interrupt me! You're having an affair, I know you are. I should have known from the strange moods you've experienced recently. Did you ever even love me, Rachel? Or was it just out of desperation, you were lonely and I was there? Is that it? How could you be so cruel? I'm supposed to be your husband, do I mean nothing to you?" The fearful look in Rachel's eyes was spurring him on as he revealed his inner thoughts from the past few months. His anger was increasing rapidly as he saw the ashamed flush creep up onto Rachel's face.
"Why do you always use the husband card in every argument? Is that the only thing you have left to use against me? Eddie is my best friend, how can you even think for a second that I would ruin that friendship and our marriage because of-" Rachel paused, taking a deep breath to calm the beginning of her rage. "I'm not doing this now." Her tone lowered to a murmur as she dejectedly walked into the kitchen, immediately grabbing a wine bottle and glass. Not thinking for one second that Adam would follow her.
The kitchen counter dug painfully into her stomach as Rachel was pushed forcefully into the hard object by a strong shove from behind. The wine bottle no longer in her grip as it smashed against the tiles, a variety of different shaped glass shards scattered across the floor.
"You look me right in the eye and tell me you don't love Eddie!"
Bruising fingers gripped her chin and forced her to face him. The pain in her stomach starting from the newly forming bruise. "I can't. Because I do love Eddie, always have and always will."
Adam towered over her, glaring vehemently for a few excruciating moments before he backed away and started to pace the kitchen.
While Rachel began to clean up the glass on the floor, she finally realised what she had admitted to Adam. Although it was the truth, Eddie was a true gentleman, unlike Adam.
The shock had finally vanished from his mind as he slowly walked over to the side, picking up a knife, pointing it ever so slightly in her direction. His movements were slow and unknowingly observed by Rachel in her peripheral vision.
Rachel had prepared for this, the glass already in her hold. This had to be the end of this intolerable marriage. She couldn't stand the constant tension every day. Something had to give.
A perfect opportunity had become available as she saw Adam turn, his back facing her. And then she struck.
The shard of glass pierced through the skin of his back, twisting and turning as it dissipated his life.
Rachel stood over him, watching and waiting for his final moments to end. This was the moment she had been waiting for. She could finally go back to being Rachel Mason, headteacher of Waterloo Road. And maybe, she could finally have her chance with Eddie. The blood forming a puddle near his now lifeless form, the unused knife laying near him. Never again would he be able to destroy someone's life.