Safe and Sound

Chapter 2- What did I do?

Claire's POV

Black and blue. The only colours I was focusing on for the past six months. How could a sudden change come so fast? What did I do wrong? The question ran around my head at lightening speed everyday. What did I do to upset him so much?

Looking at myself in the mirror scared the hell out of me. I looked different. My skin was so much more pale than it was six months ago. My hair was constantly dull and pulled back in a messy updo. I unwrapped myself from my slightly torn, silk red dressing gown and revealed to the mirror my shaken, beated, bruised and disgusting body.

My dull underwear made my body look all the more sickening. Bruises ran up my arms, cuts ran down my neck and thighs, tears ran down my cheeks.

What did I do wrong? What did I do to upset him? Ever since the matter with the Draug happened, he hasn't been the same. None of us have. Michael and Eve have no idea any of this is happening. He acts the same around everyone else. He's always playing video games with Michael and making witty remarks to Eve. But to me, he's the monster.

And no, staring at myself in the mirror, I felt myself tear up once again. Crying, I was used to it. I was used to the sheer pain of having to go through the horror everyday. And the worst thing of it all... I still love him.

Fear took over me and my bedroom door slammed open. I quickly wrapped my dressing gown back around me and turned around. He was stood there, with his hands clenched by his side. He was practically growling at me. The fear inside me started building up as I realised no one else was home apart from me and him.

I backed away as far as I could. Towards the wall. I tried putting as much space as I possibly could between us but it didnt last very long. He came walking towards me. His jaw was set and his eyes narrowed.
'What're you doing?' He grows.
'Shane...' I choke, trying to back up even further. The wall wouldn't let me.
'You're supposed to be making dinner.' He continues.
'I know.. I... I was going to but I got-'
'Don't give fucking excuses!' He screams. I didn't realise how close he was to me until I felt his fist touch my cheek. My head lashed to the side as he took one hard, long punch.

'SHANE!' I squeel as I fall to the floor. I slowly looked up at the nightmare before me. He crouched down as I tried to squirm away. He grabbed hold of my wrist with an iron grip and pulled me right to his face.

'I've been working all fucking day.' He says as his grip on my wrist gets tighter. 'And I come home to fucking nothing. Do you want the fairies to do it, Claire? Is it your day of?'
'No! Shane, stop! Please, you're hurting me!'

He laughs right in my face and twists my wrist, making me scream in pain. He stands up and stares down at me for a few seconds before picking me in the gut, making me grunt and curl into a tiny ball. I felt tears erupt from my eyes. I couldnt control it.

'Now when you're finished crying like a little girl, dinner's not going to make itself. Get a move on.'

He walks straight out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I lay in the corner of the room, finding it hard to breath. Today I got it easy. Today wasn't the worst of what he actually does to me. I knew there was more to come and I knew it was going to be worse than this. A lot, lot worse.

What did I do so wrong?

Sorry its such a short chapter! Please review! xxx