9 CONSEQUENCES

'Stop.' Edward hurled abuses at my retreating form, running to catch up with me, the harsh crunch of my feet over fallen leaves having given my bravery away.

I continued to run, increasing my speed, desperate to find any sense of humanity in this dense jungle I was lucklessly stuck in. The wind whipped through my hair, leaving goosebumps all over my flesh, as my breath quickened with each step that I took ahead, but I refused to stop.

I could not afford to stop!

And so, I continued to run, tripping over tree branches and handling myself at the very last second, the crunching of leaves under my feet making my escape a very noisy one.

'You liar.' Edward accused me, close enough to catch up to me, my feet moving faster at this realization. 'You had promised.'

I refused to give out a verbal answer, least concerned by his accusation.

He could accuse me all he wanted, if only I got to get away from him and here!

'Bella, I am warning you. The second I catch up to you…'

I ignored his threat, letting it trail off with the blowing wind, my goal in front of my eyes. It would not matter what he thought of doing if he never caught up to me, or if I found help before he was successful in doing so.

Yes. I had to hurry.

I continued to run downhill, catching my breath, as I assured that I wouldn't fall, tightening the grip on my feet as much as I could. Small uneven pebbles that adored the ground I was rushing through, made me curse out in agony, but I ignored them.

I would deal with it once I was away from here.

Yes. The pain that I felt was secondary compared to the temptation of reaching home and seeing my parents again.

It would all work out.

I would be able to escape this monster that was hell-bent on catching up to me, a few close misses in his favour.

I had managed to be ahead of him for all this while, blood oozing out of my soles as I began to pant, sweat drenching my forehead, my legs tired but still motivated towards our goal.

'You will regret this!' Edward threatened me, his outstretched hands almost grabbing me in their hold, missing at the very last second.

I let out a yelp, quickening my speed, my eyes wide in terror and horror.

I needed to be faster.

He had almost caught up to me!

'Edward, please let me go.' I begged, making one last effort to convince him. 'I promise I will not tell a soul about you.'

'Just like you promised not to run?' he accused me. 'Look, princess, come back with me now and your punishment will be less. If you continue with this stupidity, I don't take guarantee for my actions.'

I shook my head in denial, no path but to walk on the current one available in front of my eyes. I would have to outrun him.

There was no other option but that!

I thought about my parents. I thought about Ali. I thought about my future. Memories of every time I had smiled swimming through my mind on repeat.

I had to do this.

I owed myself this.

I could not go back in that hell; Edward would kill me!

No.

I had to keep running.

I had to save myself.

'Ow!' I cried out, having tripped over an unseen rock, cradling my ankle in my hand as tears lined my eyes, letting it go less than a second later as I looked back to realize that Edward had nearly caught up to me, a wicked grin on his face- aware that he was at advantage.

No.

I could not get caught.

Pain was secondary.

My tears were secondary.

I had to get away from him.

I had to save myself.

I forced myself to push harder, wiping my blurry eyes with my right hand, the green trees that surrounded me, a witness to my desperation.

I could do this.

I wasn't that weak.

I continued to run downhill, my feet rushing through the uneven surface.

I was almost there.

I could hear children playing, water running, and life existing. Never in life had I been this relieved to hear the chitter-chatter of daily life.

It was strange.

Tough times did indeed teach you the value of the smaller things!

'I will catch up to you.' Edward warned, his feet scarily close to fulfilling his warning.

No.

I would have to think of something.

I needed to create some distance between us; enough distance that I would reach help before he caught up to me, the cat and mouse race between us needing to come to an immediate end.

This mouse wouldn't last for much longer otherwise.

I quickly picked up a decent sized rock from the side of the road, turning back and aiming it at his ankle, a sigh leaving my lips as my target hit the mark, a shout leaving his lips as he fell to the ground in sudden pain, clutching his aching ankle.

I offered him one last look, quickening my speed, and pushing every thought of him catching up to me away from my mind.

I let out a breath, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear, as I kneeled in an attempt to regain my depleted energy.

I was safe.

I had managed to outrun him.

It was done.

I was free!

I could not believe this.

I took my head in my hands, shivering in disbelief, the satisfaction coursing through my veins too much to take in, as I breathe through my nose, stealing a fleeting look at my surroundings.

I couldn't see him anywhere; the rock had done the trick!

But still, becoming overconfident now would-be foolishness. I was not completely out of the woods yet- in the literal sense, too.

I stole one last breathe in, beginning to walk ahead, my feet tired as they begged for respite, a temptation I could not let into.

I had managed to outrun him but underestimating him was never an option.

He had underestimated me and look what happened there!

I could hear the tittle-tattle of the life that existed around me, mere steps away from where I was, my feet once again on a conquest to reach those sounds that were destined to help us.

The pain that I felt did not matter.

My exhaustion did not matter.

My blood oozing soles did not matter.

Nothing did but this.

I had to save myself!

'Oh.' A gasp left my mouth, my feet stilling as the sound of flowing water reached my ears on a sudden, tempting me with the thought of splashing cold water over my sweat drenched face.

I looked around me; Edward was nowhere to be found.

I could possibly afford this brief de-route.

I would be quick.

I desperately needed the relief that only water could provide, my panting having finally reduced to a bearable level.

Yes.

I would hurry.

I nodded my head to myself, a decision made, walking in the direction from which I could hear that melodious- auditory ambrosia- sound, my eyes widening as a newfound sweet heaven graced my sight.

Without further delay, I ran towards the secluded waterfall in the middle of nowhere, its water transparent as it gushed through the mountains, immersing myself in its cocoon-like comfort, splashing freezing cold water over my face as my lips parted to join in the instant relief. I quickly washed my legs and hands, getting rid of the grime that these past six days had left on me, simply standing under the flowing water as it rid me of all my worries and pain, my eyes shut as I lived in this one moment, the feeling of relief coursing through me indescribable.

I could possibly continue to stand here for the rest of my life, without once regretting my decision!

Soon though, getting back to reality, I walked away from the pouring water, the chirping of the birds making me smile wide.

I was so close to freedom; I could almost touch it in my fingertips!

I wiped my fingers over my eyes as I briefly cupped my face in my hands, the relief and indescribable satisfaction on my face here to stay.

Just a few more steps to take…

'Missed me, princess?'

I let out a scream, my eyes wide in horror, as I froze at my place, a gun coming to rest on my temple, stilling my feet in absolute terror.

'Walk straight. No tricks.'

I complied, having no other choice in the matter.

'You have been a very naughty girl, princess.' Edward teased, roughly grabbing and squeezing my arm, a yelp leaving my lips from the pain that rendered me helpless. 'I was doing you a favour, and this is how you repay me?' he pulled at my hair, my face tilting upwards as a tear rolled down my eyes. 'I think you need me to remind you what I am capable of doing.' He forced his hand onto my neck, forming a death grip, as he began to squeeze, my eyes widening as the sensation of being choked spurted through my rational mind.

He was choking me!

I was going to die!

'Ed…' I futilely attempted to speak his name out, my eyes begging him for mercy.

Please.

Please don't kill me.

'Give me one good reason why I should let you live.' He grunted, harshly spitting the words out. 'And if you cannot give me, consider yourself a new member of God's family.'

NO!

I can't die.

I don't want to die!

'Plea…'

'That is no reason now.' The hold on my neck tightened, every breath now a battle fought, tears of desperation lining my eyes. 'I want a reason, not a beg. You made a fool out of me. WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I LET YOU LIVE?' He screamed the words out, throwing me away like one did to a ball of unneeded paper lying around, my body flying through the air as I landed on the pebbled ground steps away from where he stood sneering down at me, my breaths heavy as I gasped for air, shutting my eyes briefly as the relief of still being alive set in.

For how long though, no one could guarantee.

'You took advantage of my goodness. And you will have to pay the price for it.' He curled his lips in amusement. 'Now the actual fun begins!'

'Edward… please, no…'

My plea fell on deaf ears as he pulled me by the hair through the rough terrain, back to my prison, the tiny pebbles that littered the ground forcefully pushing through my skin as they left angry red marks denoting their presence.

I cried out in pain, begging for help that never came, my back submerged under the hardness and unevenness of the ground that lay beneath me.

My elbows were bruised, blood oozing out of them. And so were my ankles. Scars covered every inch of my exposed arms, twigs and dirt sticking to me like honeybees to a honeycomb.

I shut my eyes, unable to witness this painful sight for any longer.

It would end soon, I had hope!

.

.

.

'Get in.' Edward kicked me on the shin, tears of embarrassment freely flowing down my eyes. 'Quickly. I don't have all day.' He ordered, spitting on me.

I effortlessly complied, crawling towards my spot in that dark, merciless room, defeated, the ghosts of suffering and pain that dictated this room haunting me with their satisfaction at seeing me once again.

So quick at that.

I had failed.

I had let myself down.

I lay vanquished.

'Good girl.' Edward winked, thoroughly amused by his upper hand in the situation, his tone patronizing as he wordlessly gloated about his victory.

He knew that he had won.

He knew that I was helpless.

He knew that I was now at his mercy.

Fully.

'Your punishment is not over yet.' He smirked in joy, the sadist in him looking down at me. 'No more food for you. You don't deserve it.'

'I will die.' I expressionlessly whispered, refusing to look up and meet his eyes. He did not deserve that satisfaction.

'Good. Do that.' He shrugged, grinning. 'One less problem on my head.'

I simply nodded my head, the fight in me long over, as I ignored the pain that every inch of my body was currently experiencing.

It was pointless. A man who decided to abstain me of nutrition, was not going to bring in a doctor here for me!

'You will not call for me. I don't want to see your miserable, ugly face.' He continued, sneering. 'And last, if you every try any such trick again, I will not stop to throw you to the ground. Take this as an advice more than a warning.'

I shut my eyes, wincing, aware that he had left me alone, leaving the cabin, the door wide open as the smoke of his lit cigarette reached my nostrils.

I was the only one to blame for my current predicament.

And now I would have to pay the price for it.