The room felt charged with tension as I squared off with him.

"Let go of me then I'll show you," I said, my voice steady but exasperated.

He held onto me even tighter, his stubbornness evident. "No."

I could feel my frustration building. "Then how can I leave?"

His response was infuriatingly cryptic. "Try it."

My eyes narrowed in disbelief. "You want me to physically hurt you to leave? Wasn't the hit to your balls earlier good enough?"

A smug, almost mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Oh that. It must have been shit because I didn't remember until now."

I rolled my eyes. "I really do not have the will or energy to physically try to remove myself. Get off me and I'll walk out that door without looking back at you once."

That must have really struck him. That I could walk away from him without turning around for him. And I could. Deep down within me, I would break into millions of pieces but I would keep walking.

He must have thought I wouldn't do it. He must have thought I was delusional enough to stick with him.

His grip on my slightly loosened and my body always wailed at the loss of his touch. I wanted him. I wanted every single one of his touches but my sanity deserved a chance to breathe.

He moved slightly back until I could feel the cold air coming in between us, almost creating this invisible barrier.

As I stood there, my resolve firm, I could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes. It was as if he had underestimated my determination to break free from his toxic grasp. The room felt heavy with the tension between us, and for a moment, it seemed like time stood still.

His voice, which had been so commanding earlier, now wavered as he reluctantly said, "Fine, go ahead, walk out." His gaze bore into me, searching for any sign of hesitation.

In that dimly lit room, I summoned every ounce of strength I had left. My steps were deliberate, each footfall a resounding declaration of my determination to stand up for myself. I could hear the faint rustle of fabric as I distanced myself from him, the air growing cooler with every inch of space I put between us.

Though my heart ached with the weight of what we once shared, I refused to look back.

My back was a fortress, guarding my emotions as I continued forward. I could feel the heat of his gaze burning into my back, a silent plea for me to reconsider, to turn and look into his eyes one more time. But I couldn't bring myself to do it.

My body halted as I reached the doorknob, my hands resting on the cold material for a few final moments I could have with Nate.

"You know," I began, my voice steady, "there was a time when your touch meant the world to me, when I would have done anything to stay with you. But I've come to realize that I deserve better than this. I deserve a life free from pain and toxicity."

With one final, determination will to put myself first, I opened the door and stepped out into the unknown, leaving behind a chapter of my life that had been filled with both pleasure and pain. All without looking at him once.

As I walked away, the weight on my shoulders lifted, and I knew that no matter how difficult the journey ahead might be, I had taken the first step toward healing and finding my own happiness.

And I wanted that for myself. I wanted to be the girl who was smiling and saw the world kind. I wanted to be that girl who would be filled with joy every morning and every night. And I would become her.

Nate had no place in that life. He would forever be a part of her, but I knew when I had to cut the cord.

I headed to the only room I knew I could go to. I knocked on her door, once, twice, before a dishevelled Emma opened the door. I frowned at her, wondering what had put her in such a state before she seemed to be wide awake.

As I stood there in front of Emma's door, I couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected sight before me. Claud, with his hair askew and a mischievous smirk on his face, looking over from Emma's head. It was a surreal scene, and I couldn't resist the urge to tease them both.

"Close your mouth, princess," Claud quipped, his voice filled with amusement.

I blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, realizing that I must have looked utterly dumbfounded. Emma, on the other hand, seemed to be in a state of disarray, her hair tousled and her expression a mixture of guilt and desperation.

"Did I interrupt something?" I asked, feigning innocence, though my lips curled into a sly smile. Emma's eyes pleaded with me silently, a plea that begged for understanding and perhaps a touch of humor in this awkward situation.

"I made a mistake with him," Emma finally admitted, her voice tinged with regret, "and I think I want a girl to slap some senses back into me."

I couldn't help but laugh at her candid confession. It was like a breath of fresh air amidst the heaviness that had hung over me just moments ago. "Well, Emma, I came to you just for that," I replied, a mischievous glint in my eye.

Claud chuckled and moved so he could get out the room. It didn't go by me how he traced his hands over Emma's exposed arm as he bypassed her. "I guess I'll leave you ladies to it then," he said, shooting me a wink before disappearing down the hallway.

With a knowing look exchanged between us, Emma and I stepped into her room, closing the door behind us.

I couldn't help but seize the opportunity to lighten the mood. I turned to Emma with a playful glint in my eye and asked, "So, Emma, spill the beans. What happened between you and Claud?"

Emma blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that matched her embarrassment. "It's not what you think," she stammered.

I raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Oh, really? Because from where I was standing, it looked like quite the scene."

Emma sighed, realizing she couldn't evade the question. "Okay, fine. We had a bit of a misunderstanding, and things got a little heated."

Ellie grinned, her teasing tone persisting. "A misunderstanding, you say? Well, I hope Claud didn't twist your arm too much."

Emma rolled her eyes and chuckled, the tension from our earlier conversation finally giving way to a more lighthearted atmosphere. "Nothing like that. We just... well, we needed to clear the air, and it turned into a bit of a wrestling match."

I burst into laughter, unable to contain myself any longer. "A wrestling match? Now that's a new one."

Emma joined in the laughter, and the sound filled the room.

"Do I want to ask why you're here and not with Nate right now?" Emma asked out the blue.

I dropped my head, the earlier feelings of hurt and sadness wafting through me again. "Can I tell you about it another time? I just want to sleep it off right now."

Emma quickly nodded and dashed towards her bed. She patted on it and welcomed me so easily.

"A good night sleep is really what we both need right now. Tomorrow it will be breakfast and spill the beans time," she winked at me.

***

We were both woken up with heavy footsteps going down the hallway and a few people shouting. There was a loud banging at the mains door downstairs.

The loud sounds invaded my ears and fear clenched my whole body. What was happening?

Emma jumped out her bed and quickly opened the door, zero fear in her as she dashed out the room. I couldn't even move from the bed.

Did they come for me?

He is here.

He found me.

I'm going to die today and everyone in this house will die with me.

I gathered my knees to my chest and started trembling as dark thoughts consumed me. I was teleported back to my fathers house, under his mercy and he inflicted every lash and every pain on me.

"Ellie!" Someone screamed my name from downstairs and I let out a small whimper.

A small voice in the back of my head told me to man up and start gathering some things to defend myself with.

A sudden splurge of adrenaline came to me and I used it to quickly find something and hold on tight to it. Coincidently, it was a single stand clothing rack, with a few broken hands. But it would do.

"Ellie, come down. Someone is here to see you." Emma's voice carried to my ears, past all the other shouting I could hear.

When I didn't move, I heard her run back up the stairs and she saw me all ready to fight. A soft look crossed her face before she approached me carefully. She removed the rack out my hand and guided me out the room. "Don't worry, no one will hurt you here." She reminded me as she let me down the hallway and down the stairs.

I could see Nate and Claud blocking the front door with a menacing stance. Who would possible be there?

"Here is the woman of the hour. Now everyone drop your freaking weapons and your balls and let friends unite."

Friends?

I frowned at her and before I could ask who she meant, Claud stepped aside to give me a small view of who was standing there.

I stood frozen on the spot and when I heard my name on his lips, I let out a chocked sob. My legs moved on their own accord as they sprinted towards the man standing a few feet away from me.

He managed to grab me just as I threw myself on him.