Brandy rested her head against her knees as she sat on the mattress, her eyelids growing heavier by the second. Her mind once more started going to Mark, and how she hoped he was still looking or waiting for her. She had no idea how long she had been here, but it seemed like forever. Time no longer existed to her. All she noticed was the hunger and pain she felt, and the lack of sleep she got.
For a year now, she had been forced to stay in the same small room all day long, unless he let her use the bathroom. After three months of leaving her in the closet he shoved her into, he finally took pity on her, and let her stay in the spare bedroom. He may have done that, but he still refused to feed her. According to him, she had become fat since they split up, so he only let her eat twice a week. Even then, it was only bread and water. Over that year, her weight had dropped to below a hundred pounds, and she looked like she was down to nothing more skin and bones. On top of this, Tom would barge into the room on nights when he had been out on a drinking binge, and beat her mercilessly in a drunken rage until she fell unconscious. There were even a number of nights when he would go as far as raping her. She was truly in hell. Finally, though, one day Brandy would be saved from her misery, thanks to a big mistake Tom made.
~*~*~*~
Tom was sitting on the couch, watching a show, when there was suddenly a pounding on the door. Muttering curses under his breath, he reluctantly got up, and went to answer the door. He was brought back when he found two officers standing there.
"G-Good evening officers," he stammered, not hiding his surprise.
"Evening, sir. I'm Officer Kowalski, and this is Officer Johnson. We're looking for a Thomas McAllen, and was told he is residing at this address. Are you him?"
"I am, yes. Can I help you?"
"Yes, actually, you can. We receive a call not too long ago that gave us some disturbing information regarding you. May we come in and check things out?"
Tom kept the entrance to his apartment blocked. "Information? What kind of information?"
"We were told you are holding someone in here against his or her will," Officer Kowalski replied, obviously growing agitated. Tom thought hard on how they could have heard about this, and suddenly realized he had told Jim. Tom cursed silently, regretting ever telling that asshole. He should have known better!
"I have no idea what you are talking about, officer. I would never do something like that," Tom commented, growing nervous.
"Then you won't mind if we take a look," the same officer said, trying to make his way past Tom.
"Why do you need to check my home?" Tom demanded.
"Because whether what we were told or not is true, we still have to check the premises. Now we can either enter peacefully, or forcefully. Either way, sir, we ARE going to get in."
With his heart beating wildly, Tom reluctantly stepped aside so they could enter. Each officer went into a separate room, searching it high and low for any sign of a hostage being held there. Tom watched them as they grew closer and closer to the back room, and was by now sweating bullets. Finally, Officer Kowalski came to that room, and tried to open it, but found it was locked. "Sir, we need to check in here as well," he said.
"Why? I already told you no one else is in here. Why can't you believe me?"
The officer sighed loudly, clearly losing his patience. "Sir, if you don't open this for us, then we will be forced to bust open the door," Officer Johnson said, just as frustrated.
"Okay, okay," Tom muttered, taking his keys out of his pocket and unlocking the door for them. They walked in, and Tom squeezed his eyes shut when he heard the commotion they made when they fond Brandy. He was in deep shit.
Brandy was just about to fall into another restless sleep, when she heard the door open. "Please, Tom, not toni-" she started to say, looking up with heavy eyes, but was surprised when she found two officers standing there.
They immediately rushed over to her. "Ma'am! Are you alright?" Officer Kowalski asked, taking her face in his hand and studying her. "She's at the least very malnourished," he commented, and shined a light in her eyes. "Ma'am, do you-" he started to speak, when Brandy suddenly burst into tears of relief, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Beyond furious, he comforted her by patting her back and holding her. "I thought you said you were here by yourself?" he demanded.
"S-She's my roommate," Tom stammered.
"Very likely," Officer Kowalski said as he gently pulled her away, and Officer Johnson immediately grabbed Tom.
"I didn't do anything to her, I swear!" Tom yelled, struggling against his hold, and let out a yell of frustration when Officer Kowalski rushed over to help him restrain Tom.
"The more you struggle, the worst this is for you," Officer Johnson said. Finally, Tom gave up his struggle, allowed them to handcuff him, and then drag him out to the car.
"Miss, you stay right where you are. I'll be back to get you in a moment, okay?" Officer Kowalski said to Brandy in a gentle voice. She simply nodded, and watched numbly as they dragged Tom away. A few minutes later, sure enough the same officer came back into the room. "Ma'am, did this man cause you any physical harm?" he asked as he sat down next to her. Still unable to find her voice, Brandy just nodded. Officer Kowalski shook his head at this. "Let's get you some medical attention," he said, and stood back up. Taking her hand in his, he helped her off of the mattress, but as soon as she tried to stand up, she nearly collapsed. Seeing that she was not strong enough to walk, he lifted her up into his arms, and carried her out of the room. Just before losing consciousness, Brandy thought to herself, "It's finally over. This nightmare has finally ended."
~*~*~*~
As Brandy woke up, she immediately noticed a huge weight had been lifted off of her chest. When she opened her eyes, she saw she was in a hospital, and couldn't help but to grin when she remembered what had happened. She was finally away from Tom, and he was going to get what he deserved. Her stomach suddenly growled loudly, and she realized just how hungry she really was. Looking over, she found the nurse call button, and pressed it. It took a couple of minutes, but a nurse finally came into the room. "Hello there, dear. Did you need something?" the nurse asked.
"Can I get something to eat, please? I am extremely hungry," Brandy asked.
The nurse smiled. "Of course, sweetheart. What would you like? Dinner will be served soon, but I would be more than willing to bring you some kind of snack."
"Crackers, or something like that would be fine."
"Do you want something to drink as well?"
"That would be great."
"What would you like, hon?"
"Water would be great."
"Alright. Just wait one second, and I'll be right back," she replied, and walked out of the room. Brandy slowly got herself up, to where she was in a sitting position, but had to squeeze her eyes shut when everything started spinning. After taking a couple deep breaths, though, it eventually passed. "Here you are, hon," the nurse said, setting the items on the small table and bringing it over to Brandy.
"Thank you," Brandy replied, looking down at the things she brought.
"I thought I would bring a couple different things, to make sure I got what you wanted. Would you prefer something else?"
"No, this is fine. Thank you," Brandy replied, smiling at her. She smiled back and walked out of the room. Brandy opened up the small pack of Cheez-Its the nurse brought her, and popped one in her mouth, closing her eyes as she chewed it. It had been so long since she ate something she actually liked. She vigorously ate everything, and gulped down her orange juice. Once she was done, she threw the trash away and pushed the table away, leaning back and letting out a sigh. It felt nice to for once truly relax. Hell, she hadn't been able to for…wait, just how long had she been there? Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called out, clearing her throat when she heard how raspy it was.
The door opened, and she saw it was the same officer from the previous night. "Is this a bad time?" he asked, removing his hat.
"No, you can come in," she replied, and he shut the door behind himself before sitting down in the chair beside her.
"I know all of this must have been tough for you, but I was wondering if you would be willing to answer a couple questions for me."
"Yeah, sure," she replied, resituating herself.
"What day did Mr. Johnson bring you to his home?"
Brandy thought hard. "October…17th."
The officer looked up. "Of 2000?"
She nodded. "Why? What day is it now?
"October 10th of 2001."
Brandy's eyes went wide. "I was in there for a year?"
"If what you said was true, then yes ma'am, you were," he replied. "Now, from the beginning, would you mind telling me everything that happened?" Taking a deep breath, Brandy proceeded to tell him everything Tom did to her, and the more she told, the more relieved she felt to get out in the open all that had happened. By the end of it, she was trembling. "I'm so sorry all of this happened to you," Officer Kowalski commented, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I really hate hearing about things like this."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it," Brandy replied, forcing a small smile.
"Would you mind letting me see the scars?" Brandy hesitated to reply. "If it's too soon, that's fine. You'll eventually have to let us see, considering the fact that it's evidence, but-"
"No, it's okay. I'll show you it," Brandy replied, and slowly stood up. Turning her back to him, she allowed him to examine her back, suddenly feeling vulnerable.
He gently opened the back of her gown a bit further, but never once undid it. "This is all from when you were with him?" he asked, and she nodded. "I've seen enough for now, ma'am. You can sit down again," he added, and she once more sat on the bed.
She hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Officer…there is more."
"Oh great," he commented, and sighed. "Go ahead."
"I don't know if anyone was ever told this, but…three years ago…Tom nearly stabbed me to death. I still have scars on my chest and stomach from it, too."
"It was the same guy both times?" Brandy nodded, her gaze falling on her hands. "Ma'am, what does this guy have against you?"
"I assume it's because of his bitterness towards me. We were a couple up until right around the time he stabbed me. I guess he never got over our separation." Officer Kowalski shook his head. "I'm just tired of him ruining my life. All I want is to see him pay for all he's done. I can't take it anymore," Brandy added, her eyes stinging with emotion as she said this.
Seeing she was growing upset, he pulled her into his arms. "I promise you I will try with all my being to get that bastard in jail, where he belongs, and as long as you would be willing to testify against him, I think there a high chance of him being put in there for a long time."
Brandy sat back up and wiped her eyes. "I will do whatever it takes to help make sure he gets what he deserves. I just can't deal with him anymore."
Officer Kowalski nodded respectfully, and asked, "Is there anyone you want us to call for you?"
Brandy shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Once I get out of here I'll get a hold of the people I need to, but thank you. I do have a small favor to ask, though."
"And what is that?"
Brandy looked back down at her hands. "I have no clue where I am, or how far away I am from where I lived, so I was wondering…would it be too much to ask for a little help in getting back home?"
He gave a small smile, and replied, "I promise I will help get you back home, okay?" Brandy smiled back and nodded. Standing up, Officer Kowalski put his hat back on and added, "I'll leave you to rest up for now, but in about three days, we need for you to come into the station so we can get more information, take pictures of you scars, and whatnot."
"Okay. Thank you officer," Brandy said brightly, giving him a genuine smile. He smiled back and said good-bye before leaving Brandy to herself. As she sat back, she once more began to wonder what Mark was doing at that moment, and if he was thinking of her as well.