Hey guys! Thank you for all the tweets/alerts/reviews/subscriptions! Please enjoy the seventh chapter of "The Woman In Chains"...
Twitter: TheCliffyG
No Beta Reader, so ignore mistakes if any :)
WARNINGS: Angst/Sadness/Mentions of Assault/
The Woman In Chains
CLARE
"So...you're gay?"
"Yes," my brother confirmed, holding hands with Eli.
They were both looking at me with nervous eyes, as if I was going to tell them they weren't allowed to be in love. Eli looked on the verge of tears, and Jake was grinning, as if he was waiting for something.
"I-I think that's...that's great Jake. If you guys love each other, then that's all that matters," both men's chests heaved out, and Eli held out his hand, "T-Thank you Clare, so much. Accepting this, our love, it means a lot."
"Why wouldn't I?" I smiled, "If my brother is happy, if you make him happy, that's all that matters to me."
"See, mom and dad didn't really approve of me being the way I am. Before Eli, I dated this guy back in college, invited him over for dinner. Glen wasn't too happy, neither was Helen. Glen was upset, knowing he would never get any grand kids," I hugged Jake, stroking my hands over his back, "As long as you're happy, grand kids don't matter. Did you l-leave them? Is that why you left?"
"I left to get a new start, and forget all of that. In the process of finding my way, I found...someone special," Jake reached out for Eli's hand, and tears formed in my eyes at the sight of a truly happy couple.
This goes to show that people who love, no matter what they look like, what gender or personality, love is universal. Eli and Jake, by just a glance at them, you could tell they were happier than Owen and I could ever be.
"Did you guys tell her?" Adam walked into the living room, taking a seat on the couch.
"Yep, she knows," Jake whispered, pecking Eli's lips.
I was so used to visuals and memories of finding Jake with a girl on top of him in his room. Or even that one time I found Jake and his girlfriend underneath my bed to hide from Glen and Helen.
How could a guy like Jake go from such a man-whore to...to this?
"H-How did you know you were gay?" I asked Jake, who flashed a toothy smile at Eli, "Girls weren't fully pleasing me...sure they had the physical pleasing down pat, but then the emotional...I don't know, all the girls seemed so heartless. After losing you, I wanted to talk my problems out, but the girls never listened-all they wanted was what's in my pants. Sooner or later, I started looking at guys in the locker room during Gym. Then, before you know it, I put two and two together, and I just knew. It's a confusing feeling at first, and taking in the fact that you're different is hard, but it's worth it. I mean, look at this guy I found...he's handsome, loving, caring, a best friend I always wanted, and we promised to always be there for each other. Isn't that what love is about?"
"I don't really know what true love is about...but I would bet all my money that you guys have it."
Jake placed his hand over my arm, "Thank you Clare, for accepting me. I know it's a lot for you to take in, and it will be for a while, but I'm just so relieved that you don't object to us being-well, us."
After a couple of minutes of watching how all three men were engrossed into the gory movie, I decided to slip on Eli's shoes (knowing they would fit me from our close shoe size), and throwing Jake's flannel over my arms.
"I-I think I'm going to go for a walk guys, I'll be back," the second I said that, all three men shot up from the couch, saying things like 'you can't leave, you won't come back' and 'sit down, we'll take care of you here'.
"I said I'll be back, don't worry," I repeated through gritted teeth.
"I'm coming with you," Adam offered, and I stared back at him, "You're staying here."
"I would like a half hour to myself, if you don't mind. All of this is a lot for me to take in, and I need time to take it all in. Please, just a half hour walk alone and I'll be back," I promised, as Adam handed me his cell phone, "Call the house number if you need someone to pick you up or anything. Please, don't hesitate."
My heart warmed at Adam's worried expression. I placed my hand over his tense shoulder, "I'll be back Adam."
With her fingers crossed behind her back, Clare walked out the apartment door...
They didn't understand, she had to go back, she didn't belong.
5 HOURS LATER
OWEN
"Yes sir, we found her. She's currently resting on a cot right beside my desk. She was out of it when we found her. She was walking on the side of the highway, claiming to be looking for you," I smiled, "I'll be down at the station to pick her up."
I slipped my cell phone into my pocket, before turning to my butler, "Run a warm bath for Clare, she's going to need something to wake her up."
"Yes Mr. Milligan, as you wish. I'm sure Mrs. Milligan will be happy to be back," I nodded, muttering, "Oh she will be."
After spending an hour thanking the police officers, signing jerseys and telling the media how thankful I am for the finding of Clare, I was finally allowed to drive home.
Clare's eyes were glued to the window, her fingers fidgeting in her lap, "So, are you going to talk to me or what? I had people on the look out for you. Where the hell were you?"
"I-I...I was...I took your car, and I got lost on the freeway. Soon, I ran out of gas and had to walk back. I stopped, I didn't eat and I had to-," I cut her off, my teeth gritting, "You know Clare, lying will only make the punishment worse. Do you not understand that my car, that you took from me was found in the video game store parking lot! Now what's the bullshit story excuse you have for that, huh?"
"I-I went there to get some-," I laughed, "Of course, your fat ass needed food."
The rest of the ride back to our house was silent, until I pulled into my garage parking lot behind my house. The media were jumping on my car, flashing pictures of Clare and I.
"I'm carrying you out of the car and back into the house, you got that?" I sneered over at Clare, who nodded, "Anything for publicity, right?"
"Climb into my lap," I instructed, and she slowly did so, groaning when my jeans rubbed against her pale skin.
"Fake a smile."
Clare was good tonight, her head resting limply on my shoulder, acting as if she was the poor victim. I smiled, kissing her forehead and the flash photography went wildly off course.
"How are you feeling Clare?"
"What really happened to you?"
"Are you happy to be back in the arms of your fiance?"
I made my way into the house, and handed Clare off to my butler, Jones, "Here, hold her for a second. Is that warm bath ready?"
"Yes sir. Welcome back Mrs. Milligan," Clare immediately corrected him, "It's Clare Edwards. Jones, you know that."
"My apologies Ms. Clare," my upper lip twitched with aggravation, as I removed my jacket, hanging it up in my walk-in closet. I took Clare out of Jones' arms, and was greeted with the extra fat feeling she'd gained where she was.
When Mr. Jones was out of sight, I placed Clare on the edge of the bath tub, and began to remove her clothes...
CLARE
"You got fatter you know?" Owen poked my stomach, pulling at the bones of my sides, "You gotta' lose that shit-it's disgusting. Your breasts got flabby too, and oh God, look at those thunder thighs! Tomorrow morning I want you running on that tredmile in the basement, do you understand?"
I nodded, unable to speak.
"Wash yourself off, I'm going to burn these clothes. When I get back I expect you to be wearing your tight striped panties, and that's it-you got that?"
My cheeks warmed, an uncomfortable throbbing in my throat, "Y-Yes master."
"Good."
I watched with teary eyes as Owen carried Jake's flannel, Adams boxers and Eli's shoes out of the bathroom. Those were the last bit of sanity I could ever hold onto, and even that, Owen was taking away from me...
ADAM
I refused to watch the news, about how the famous 'Clare soon-to-be Milligan' was found on the side of the highway and rescued by a police officer on duty.
This was why I shouldn't have trusted her, and I did. I put my heart on the line, my body in front of a speeding truck, and I ended up the same way as all the other times...smashed in pieces.
My heart was soaring, a lump caught in my throat, and tears were streaming down my raw cheeks. The way my hands shook at the thought of what he was doing to her at the moment was quickly driving me insane.
Jake and Eli left a while ago to go 'save' Clare, but it was impossible, she isn't able to be 'saved' when she was already gone!
LONG GONE.
A part of my mind was praying that Clare was able to escape Owen, or that she changes her mind and makes a run for it. The other, pessimistic side of me knew that Clare was most likely face down on the floor, covered in fresh new 'love bites' and bruises from Owen.
The way she looked into my eyes and how her head rested carelessly on my chest last night was what kept my negative thoughts in a tiny mental box in an imaginary attic. But I knew I shouldn't have trusted her-Eli was right, he's always right.
My fingers made their way to the remote, and I clicked onto the news, watching Clare being carried into Owen's mansion, her head lying on his shoulder. Her eyes were lifeless, and only I could see the look of pure horror on her face.
My knees went weak, crashing onto the wooden, living room floor. Clare Edwards had broken my heart, and she didn't even care that in this case, she was hurting herself as well.
I traced my fingertips over the screen, outlining her tiny frame with my index finger, "I-I could've saved you...y-you just never gave me a goddamn chance."
CLARE
Slap
Creak
Grunt
Those were the three noises being heard for the past two hours. One coming from the whip, another coming from the bed spring, and the other from Owen.
All three noises were reactions from one.
My body shook unpleasantly from the tenth-unwanted-orgasm of the night. I couldn't help it, my body was adjusting to the sick ways of Owen.
A woman's body was fragile, and not meant to be treated this way. But did Owen listened when I screamed 'Stop!' at the top of my lungs? Did he listen to me when I clawed at his chest, begging for him to slow down?
No.
This was my life now.
Once upon a time I came across two paths, one that had a sign saying 'Life', and the other, 'Death'.
I, Clare Milligan, took the one less traveled by...
END OF CHAPTER 7
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I didn't reread this chapter...didn't have time, so ignore mistakes!
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Cliffhanger Girl
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