Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and not to me… sigh.I also don't own Sleeping with the Enemy. The book belongs to Nancy Price and the movie belongs to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.
Sleeping with a Monster
Previously…
I fought down the shudder that threatened to overtake my body as I felt his arms snake around my waist from behind me. I couldn't help but wonder why James was interested in my body tonight. This was not one his 'usual' nights. James was very rigid in his schedule and did not deviate from it very often. However, I was too disgusted at the 'chore' that lay a head of me tonight to press the issue. I knew to leave well enough alone as James attacked my neck with rough kisses dragging me upstairs towards our bedroom.
Chapter 2 - Hope
3 months later
It was clear that James was escalating his need for perfection again. First, he would start with the insults and put-downs. Then he would start deliberately making messes so I would have to clean more. Eventually the pressure would build until he would lash out at me physically, thus relieving the pressure. I didn't know how much more of this I could take. His escalations were starting to come weeks apart instead of months. I was in a constant state of stress and had some how managed to lose another 5 pounds. Not that James minded the loss of weight. He monitored my weight every day to make sure I was keeping my perfect form. I knew at the age of 24 this wouldn't be too difficult, but what would happen when I started to hit my thirties and forties when the metabolism slows. Would I gain weight? I shuddered at the thought of remaining married to James that long.
But something was off. I was scared and I didn't know what I could do. I knew in the next day or two he would hurt me physically if his current cycle held true. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I heard the garage door open. My fear escalated as the door to the house opened and James entered. We went through our usual greeting as I tried to keep from turning my back to him. I needed to see what was coming at me head on. As soon as I had finished reciting the evening's menu, he sneered and walked past me without kissing me. NOT a good sign. He walked over to the stereo and turned up the music. I knew what was coming, the music was just there to mask my cries. I almost slipped up and showed James the absolute terror that was creeping up my spine. My head was screaming for my body to run but I had long since given up on any kind of rescue. If James was willing to skip dinner for this, what else was he willing to do? Horror settled into what was left of my broken heart with the realization that things were escalating much too quickly. I braced myself for the next round of bruises that would pepper my body, adding their color to the ones that had not quite faded from the last attack.
*********
I rolled out of bed at the sound of my alarm clock - 5:30 am. I was not a morning person, but I had to make breakfast for James before he went into the office. After he left for work, I settled into my daily chores, hoping to finish early so I could have a few hours to figure out what to do. The aching had finally started to ease from the last round of James's so-called love for me. I finally found out the reason for the escalation. He had switched my birth control pills, the ones I only pretended to take, for placebos three months ago and was now frustrated that I was unable to conceive. Not that my wishes were ever discussed. I was nothing but chattel to him. Of course he did not let the opportunity to tell me how worthless I was pass him by. His insults and put downs were particularly viscous that night. I was never more grateful for the Depo shot I had received as I was at that moment, even though James was venting his frustrations out on me. He was also making good on his promise to continue his attempts to 'impregnate' me every night until I conceived. I knew the only reason James wanted a baby was so he could make it harder on me to do everything perfectly, because it was never enough. I suddenly realized how desperately I needed to get that Depo shot now more than ever, as my three months were up.
I hurried through my chores before I raced out the door to the clinic. I arrived in record time and rushed into the waiting room. Luckily the lines were short and I was able to get right in for the shot. Since it was routine, I didn't need an appointment. Nevertheless, Dr. Cullen did come in to check and ask how the shot was working. He didn't leave the exam room this time as Margaret administered the shot and I forgot about the bruising on my hip. She let out a small gasp when she saw the marks on my skin there, but she gave me the shot anyway. I did not miss the look Margaret gave Dr. Cullen as she motioned for him to follow her out into the hall. I quickly thought of an excuse for the bruising, as I readied myself for the barrage of questions that she was about to unleash on me. As I turned to face the door, I was surprise when only the doctor came back in.
"Mrs. Cook," Dr. Cullen said solemnly closing the door behind him.
"Marie," I corrected him quickly trying to act as if nothing was a miss.
"Care to explain that nasty looking bruise?" he said getting quickly to the point.
"Oh that. Well, I slipped on the last stair in my house and fell. I'm quite clumsy, you know," I quipped rather flippantly.
"And the bruise that was on the back of your neck three months ago?" Dr. Cullen shot back not missing a beat. My thoughts scrambled in my head looking for the explanation I had used the last time I was here. However, before I could answer he said.
"You can get help, you know. There are crisis centers. Have you gone to the police?" Suddenly an intense sense of shame overtook me as all color drained from my already pale face.
"No I can't," I whispered, too ashamed to look Dr. Cullen in the eye. "The best thing for me right now is to not get pregnant," I added quickly as I tried to brush past him.
"Marie," He said softly. "What good is not getting pregnant if you don't survive? It's only a matter of time before he does something more than bruise your skin." I looked at his face full of sorrow and concern for me and I started to break. I knew he was right and a new sense of desperation started to take hold.
"He will kill me if I leave. I have no place to go, no money, and no support. He has endless resources. I can't just leave. It seems that the only way I can get away is through death," I ranted before my voice cut out as the sobs started to rack my body, causing me to collapse back into my chair. Dr. Cullen scrutinized me for a moment as I tried to quiet my crying.
"Normally I would report this abuse to the police, but somehow I believe what you say. Moreover, I believe if the police were to get involved it would make things worse for you. I don't think the wheels of justice would work fast enough to save your life," he said quickly, looking at me intently.
"What can I do to help?" His voice rang with the sincerity of his offer.
"Dr. Cullen…," I started before he interrupted me.
"Carlisle, please," he said with a small smile.
"Carlisle." I paused to take a deep breath before I continued, "I can't get you involved in my problems. You don't know what kind of a monster James is." I wanted to dissuade him from getting his hands dirty with the mess my life had become in such a short time.
"I think I have a pretty good idea, judging from what little bruising I've seen. Look Marie, you can't continue on like this for too much longer. You've lost too much weight, your blood pressure is up, you look like hell. You say you have no one, but you have me. I am willing to help you. Please don't wait until it's too late," Carlisle said with conviction. I don't know why, but I trusted him. Maybe it was desperation, maybe I had finally lost my sanity, or maybe I so tired of keeping the secret that I needed to get it off my chest. Whatever the reason was, I did not care. Carlisle was offering me a chance to escape and I was taking it.
"I need a plan," I said simply, finally looking Carlisle in the eye.
"How much time do you need?" he asked, settling down to business.
"I've got less than a week to get something in place," I murmured quietly.
"What happens in a week?" Carlisle said curiously. When I didn't answer, his eyes got wide and he growled.
"His beatings have escalated to once every couple of weeks. My last one was a week ago, but it's getting worse." I felt the shame started to well up again.
"What set him off, if you don't mind me asking?" Carlisle asked.
"I haven't been able to get pregnant," I sighed with a triumphant little smile. James had not succeeded in breaking my spirit completely, but there wasn't much left.
"Oh... And I guess that's not going to happen either, so we had better get you out of this situation now," he said, his voice sounding far away.
"I'm not completely without resources; I just can't get to them unnoticed. When my father died about a year ago, he left me a key to a safety deposit box in a bank in Atlanta. He was a cop and sensed there was trouble in my marriage, although I never told him. James, of course didn't let me go to the funeral." My voice cracked at the memory of missing my father's funeral.
"Anyway, my father had made provisions to have the key along with the name and location of the bank sent to me upon his death. I knew my father wanted me to come to him for help, but I didn't want to put him in harm's way. Apparently, he made a contingency plan, because when the key arrived there was a hand written note from my father acknowledging that if I had received his letter, then he had died. However, in the note he told me he had provided me with the necessary funds and instructions to break free of James. I just need to get to the bank," I said in a rush.
"But why Atlanta?" Carlisle furrowed his brow obviously intrigued.
"James is a very successful investment banker. He is recognized in almost every bank in the Miami area. Moreover, as his wife, I am quite recognizable as well. I think Charlie, my father, didn't want to raise any questions for me if I were to be seen accessing a mysterious safety deposit box," I finished with a humorless laugh thinking of how this whole situation sounded like a cheap spy novel or a bad soap opera.
"So we need to get you to Atlanta and from there somewhere far away from Florida," Carlisle mumbled almost to himself. He seemed deep in thought. I glanced at my watch and realized my time was short.
"Carlisle, I can't stay. I've got to get back." I stood quickly to leave growing anxious of the time.
"Okay, we don't want to make your husband suspicious. I will take care of getting you to Atlanta. I'll need to make some phone calls, and I might have a place for you to stay. How do you feel about moving out west?" he said quickly running his words together as he spoke. To say he was a little distracted was an understatement.
"I grew up along the Pacific Coast, so out west somewhere is fine, as long as it isn't Washington. That would be the first place James would look if he were to become suspicious." I felt a sudden sense of awe for this generous man who was quickly becoming the light at the end of my long dark tunnel.
"Good, good. I have a nephew who owns a few rental properties. I'll give him a call and see if he has anything available. In the mean time, we've got to figure out how to get you out," Carlisle said quickly.
"Please don't tell anyone about my circumstances. I need a fresh start; a clean slate if you will. I will need to change my name and appearance. It will be easier to become someone else if I don't have to keep explaining my past to everyone," I said, suddenly feeling a small spark of something I thought I had lost a long time ago – hope.
"Okay. Your secret is safe with me. I will not mention it, but I will tell my wife, you must know. I don't keep any secrets from her and she's going to want to know what I'm doing with an attractive younger woman." Carlisle winked. I nodded not wanting to give this man a reason to rethink his generosity.
"Before you go, here's my card. It has my office numbers, home phone, cell, answering service, email; all of it." He pressed the card into my hand. I turned to put my hand on the doorknob but before I opened the door, I turned back to face Carlisle.
"You need to know that I can't just get up and leave. If James thinks I'm alive he will find me and when he does he will make good on his threats and kill me." My small spark of hope almost felt defeated.
"Then I guess we will just have to kill you first, now won't we," Carlisle said with a slightly devious smirk.
A/N: For those who are wondering, yes, Edward is in this story. His first appearance will be in chapter 4, but it is brief. No worries, this is a story about Bella and Edward. - SavageWoman