I wake to the strong burning sensation down my back. It hurts. My eyes creep open, scared to look. Oh gosh, it really hurts. My eyebrows knit together, as my jaw clenches. Not this again.
Hot… too hot…oh Lord it's hot.
I can barely see what's happening, as tears prick my eyes. Pain is immanent, scorching me from the inside as well as out. I rotate my head to left to search for the source of the pain. There stood right behind me is the cold hearted bitch. My mother.
In her cold,wrinkled hands, she told a candle from the dining room. It's embossed with gold leaves weaving around the base up towards the was of the candle. She flips it down, In the direction in my exposed back. Hot, melted was, drips down the shaft of the candle, slowly reaching the wick. Little droplets pool into the air and fall free down on top my spine. My eye widen and I try to move, yet I'm shackled to the iron cast bed. Struggling, I pull against the restrains as the was hits my flesh. It burns, digging deep and then solidifying under the coolness of the room. Help. My mind silently wishes for a savour, someone to stop this.
"why… why are y-you doing this?" I whimper between tears.
"Anastasia, you wreck my celebration I wreck that lovely skin if yours. You did that to me remember. I have thousand of marks due to you."
"Please.." I beg. My hands pull again, trying to free myself, but she just stands there and laughs.
"Oh, Anna, my dearest Anna. You really need to learn some manners. I told you specifically to not talk to Mr Grey, and what did you do!" Every word is harsh against her tongue.
"I… I didn't m-mean to. H-he came t-o...to me." I sob.
"And you think I'll believe you, you worthless little girl".
She hisses at me as she tilts the candle again. "STOPPPP!" I scream, tugging against the rope. My mind protests, as I simply sit there and let the droplets drip on to my skin. Little scolded bumps raise upon my skin, sizzling under the wax. Her hand is fixed, dripping the wax continuously. I hiss and scream, begging for her to stop.
"I'm sorry." I sob for forgiveness.
"You will learn your lesson. You will not defy me." Her voice echoes in the room.
"Please"
She grins as she drops the naked flame on to my skin. The smile stretching from ear to ear, like the Cheshire cat. But more like the mad batter, she simply stands there watching me absorb the pain she's inflicting. My body erupts in pains, each nerve sizzling to the end. Tears fall so much that I can't see. I can hear her jimmi choo shoes click against the floor, as she comes closer to me. Her frail hard untie the rope from around my fists, releasing me from the restraints. My wrists are raw from the rope. Little slashes are apparent from my struggles and pools of blood start to fall to the floor. I manage to shrug the candle from my back and onto the floor. Thankfully the flame has dwindled down to just and orange wick, so I don't have to worry about causing another fire tonight. I can focus on my blazed back.
The door clicks as I turn to run at Elena. My body slams against the door and I burst into more tears. For a second, I sit there ignoring the intense pain surging through my skeleton. Then, I run towards my closet, grabbing my thickest coat, shrugging it around my throbbing naked flesh. My bed sinks, as I slump down in it, holding myself. I pull my knees up to my chest, rocking against the mattress. The coolness soothes my back almost numbing it completely. Why can't it be different? She was supposed to want me now. She didn't want you then, why should she want you now. My mind battles against me, counteracting every possible conclusion I try to come up with.
She never loved you.
With my legs curled to my chest, I fall into an uncomfortable sleep, my mind wandering into the deep grey eyes.
I wake to shuffling and muffled whispers from the other side of the wall. Checking the clock beside me, it reads 3:00 am. Who is up at this time?
"Take her with you Christian."
"No Elena." His voice is rough and laced with sleep. If only I could see his face right now; I bet he's look so good.
"Christian she has no respect, being dragged into those homes probably did it."
"That's not her fault is it."
"It might've been, you don't know what's she's capable of."
"So you're telling me that you're trying to help girl you took in She's not your submissive." Submissive? What on earth is he talking about?
"Christian I said this earlier, I don't do that anymore. Three months is all I ask for you. She needs to learn how to respect others, not treat them like dirt. She may have gotten away with it before but she needs saving. Anastasia is going down a dark path,just like a certain young man did long ago." I can just imagine how her tongue is weaving her manipulation.
"Enough, Elena. Two months and if she plays up and causes chaos, I won't hesitate to send her right back here." The authority in his voice sends shivers down my spine, I close my legs and squeeze them together, forgetting about the dull ache between them.
"Thank you Christian. I know she will learn well."
Learn well? My mind is puzzled. I stare blankly at the wall, trying to fit the pieces together, yet they won't fit. I want to go, but anywhere she will send me will probably be far worse than here. Christian has something odd about him. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to find out what it is. Two months? Really?. The ache grows. I don't even know this man. For all I know he could be into some weird things. But anything is better than here, better than being with her.
I glance at the clock again. 3:17. Time moves slowly as I think. I savour it. I pull the cotton seats up to my best, staring directly up at plain ceiling, just wondering what I am going to be doing in the hands of Christian Grey. It's cold, but the burning sensation on my back distracts me from the freezing temperatures. In these four years I have never gotten used to how cold the attic of Elena's house gets. I remember times where I would be curled up, shivering, not knowing if I could stand because I was is numb. Mrs Robinson didn't care then, nor does she now. My face rests on the tattered pillow, sinking slowly into it as my mind wanders to the mysterious Mr Grey. How can I live with him? I hardly know the man. Surely, it must be better than this. Surely, he can't treat me any worse than Elena does. I can handle pain. The burning on my back is prominent, but manageable, I could handle anything. Just like my head sunk into the pillow, I quickly sink into a restless sleep, waking a few times as I hear more murmurs.
When I wake again, it's to Mother, no Elena, shaking my shoulders.
"Anastasia, get up. You're leaving in fifteen minutes. Pack your things." Her voice is cold and monotone, as if she doesn't care. I don't ask any questions, due to my Eavesdropping from hours previous. My feet barely reach the floor, as I swing them over the edge of the iron bed. They plop into the floor and glide towards the wooden chest in the right hand corner of the room. I don't have many possessions and those that I do have, I treasure. I bundle my worn clothes into a small rucksack, throw my favourite books in and then my notepad. My books are my escape, my release from her wickedness. They give me a sense of security, whilst allowing me to lose myself within them. Pride and prejudice rests on top of the clothes, carefully places so the pages don't get torn. I run to the bathroom, brush my teeth and hair my best hair. My chocolate mess, dangles slightly above my breasts in an orderly manner. I opt for a simple pintail, to tame the beast, tied with a blue scrunchie to match my navy cardigan. My light bag is placed securely onto my back and I leap down the stairs a waiting my long wished for freedom.
At the bottom of the staircase Mr Grey is waiting. He wears the same as last night, except for a new, fresh silver plaited ties on his crisp white shirt. Where had the blood gond from last night? I assume Elena had it washed and prepared for this morning. In his hand is a travel bag, that I don't even remember him arriving with last night. This man is full of mystery. He welcomes me with a small smile, but doesn't look me in the eye. His grey or es wander around the room, avoiding me at all costs. Swiftly he he holds out his hand for my rucksack and mumbles "come along Anastasia." I obediently follow his out of the wooden sorry into the grounds of the house. Parked directly outside is, what I gather is his, expensive and rather ostentatious looking car. He circles it, placing my bag, along with his, in the boot of the flashy car. I stand there awkwardly, not knowing if I'm allowed to sit in it yet or if I am traveling separately. Christian, twists back around, opening the car door for me, signaling that i have permission to enter. The seats are the finest leather I have ever seen. They are so comfortable. I let out a strangled moan as I recline into them. It almost soothes my back, hugging it into its preheated embrace. Once the engine roars, the worried feeling I've had suddenly evaporates.
We don't talk. Classical music provides a barrier between us, as it undertones the mood. Christian is focused on the road, not even stealing a glance at me once. Last night he was reluctant to have me stay, of course he won't start a conversation. I bite my lip, pulling it between my teeth, tugging and releasing it over and over. He fidgets in his leather seat, rolling his eyes slowly. I see him shake his head in disapproval. "Stop biting that lip, Anastasia."he growls.
"It's.. uh.. Anna, Mr Grey." I attempt convensating.
"I don't care what you prefer, stop biting that damn lip."
"Why?" I whimper.
"Anastasia, life with me will be a lot easier." I hear his teeth grit, as he pushes out the words.
"But it's calming." It comes out more like a whine
The breaks slam. My body jolts forwards and then back, as I'm retracted by the seat belt. I look at Christian with a shocked face.
"For fuck sake Anastasia, you are not a child anymore. You do not get to complain. You do not get to whine. You are living with me, not Elena. You might get away with that infantile attitude there but here, I would take you over my knee right now." He presses the gas quickly and we are soon back to driving. Over his knee? What? I look away and securely bite my lip again. We don't talk for the rest of the journey, but boy do I have a lot of questions.