The bedroom talk
Nora
After I refused to kiss him, he rested his forehead against my mine and squeezed the back of my neck. After a few seconds, he sat up and said no more. Within five minutes, we arrived. As soon as Thomas parked the car in the driveway, he got out to open the door for us. After Erik got out and grabbed my hand, I had no choice but to follow him and let him help me.
The door of the house opened, and Rosa came out to greet us. When she saw me, she grabbed my hand and said, “Oh! I'm glad you're feeling better now, Nora. Erik was so worried about you.” Her gaze hardened as she continued, “I want to give you some advice—don't let this happen again. You have to change your attitude. A marriage cannot go on like this. And it is your responsibility to bring peace and happiness into this house.”
“Now it's not the time for that, Mother.” Rosa smiled at her son and changed her expression completely.
“Erik, you are right, it isn't my job to correct your wife; it's your responsibility. Nevertheless, I urge you to rest, Nora.”
I had already started to feel my blood boiling before I had even entered the house. It wouldn't be convenient for me to do anything right now because my health was in danger. I went through the door, the same door I never wanted to go through, and went to my room without saying anything, but Erik's booming voice immediately stopped me.
“You didn't finish your time in the basement.” I was shocked by what he said. Not after what he did to me. But I was helpless, completely at his mercy. So, I changed the direction of where I was going and headed for the basement. The door was open, and everything was ready for my welcome. As I put my foot inside, all the pain and despair that I felt that day came back to me, doubled.
The sob that was threatening to come out got caught in my throat. But unable to do anything else, I took another step in, and then another. Behind me, I felt the air that caused the door to be closed, making my hair fly. Then I heard the BANG! Of the door closing and the sound of the padlock being put on.
Breathing deeply, I try to control my heartbeat, feeling my pulse racing. I felt a little better after a few times breathing. It was clear to me that there was no way out until he decided.
I sat down in bed and looked around me; at least, he had left my medication list. Then I looked down and saw the clothes I was wearing. The hospital gown, and his blazer. I immediately shook it off and threw it on the ground. I'll use it as a mat, thinking it's him.
The next thing I did was go to the bathroom to get his smell off my skin. The shower I can say was the most horrible, there was no hot water. But I needed to wash, so I gathered my courage and started with the shower. I did it as fast as I could, since the cold, and I, are not friends. And of course, there was no towel to dry with. By then, I was freezing, but I had no other choice.
I squeezed out my hair immediately, put on my hospital gown, and went to bed. Fortunately, this time there was a blanket. The heat returned to my body, and I stayed a while longer like this because I was already getting sleepy. But I remembered that I have to take my meds, so I reached out to toss them and took the first box. I took a pill, then one from the other, and finally the last one, I threw them into my mouth, and I swallowed them.
I closed my eyes, and let the effects do their work. My eyes were so heavy that I couldn't stay awake any longer. So, I didn't fight any more and fell asleep.
∞∞∞
When I opened my eyes and looked around, I forgot for a few seconds where I was, and then I remembered and closed them again. I didn't want to see this place. Then I stayed in bed until I couldn't take it any more, and got up to go to the bathroom. Already knowing what would happen if I had a shower, I discarded that idea. The next thing I did was grab my underwear and wash it.
The hours passed without me knowing exactly what time of day it was, or if it was late, night or. morning. And only once a day that door was opened for a maid to put down a tray of food and close it again. This went on for three more days. Until one morning, the door opened, and Erik walked in. This surprised me very much, Erik has never come here while I am in captivity. And if it's time to let me go, he always sends one of his henchmen with the news.
I was in bed, covered with a blanket. He looked at me from head to toe and said, “You can go out now, you have an appointment with the doctor, he needs to check your progress. Based on what he finds, you will be discharged.” I didn't bother to answer him, I got out of bed and walked to the door, but Erik stopped me by putting his hand on my shoulder. I turned to see his hand resting on me for a moment and waited silently for him to say what he wanted.
“When we get back from the doctor, I want you to go to a beauty salon. You are a mess. Then we will go shopping for a dress for tomorrow night. The wife of a partner of mine is having a birthday party, and we will discuss business there. I don't have to tell you that the people that I am involved with are dangerous. And anything that comes out of your mouth can put you at risk. So, you are warned, go, you have half an hour to be ready.”
In complete silence, I continued on my way, until I left that place. I felt, at that moment, that I could breathe again.
I was going upstairs and came face to face with my husband's mistress. She was leaving the room that she and my husband shared together. I felt like the veins in my eyes jumped. My heart was poisoned more by the hatred I felt towards this pair. But I had to swallow it and feign indifference. She jumps with fright when she sees me, I was sure she wasn't expecting me around.
The unpleasant woman was dressed in almost nothing. Seeing her body and imagining them together made my stomach turn. But when I saw her standing there, my mind began to work. The only thing I could lose now was my life. So, I smiled at her tenderly, and she, after recovering from her amazement, returned the smile. Adjusted her clothes, she said to me, “Nora, how good to see you back.”
I kept my smile as long as I could until I replied, “I'm sorry, but I don't know your name,”
“Oh! You are right,” She walked over to me and held out her disgusting hand, surely full of contamination from both of them. Swallowing the disgust, I took her and waved.
“My name is Claudia. Your husband and I have known each other for a long time. He has told me many things about you, but I have never had the pleasure to talk to you in person.”
I was about to throw up, so I gently let go of her hand and lowered it to my side. I put on my smile again, and replied, “Claudia, it's a pleasure, but you will have to excuse me. I have an appointment with the doctor in half an hour and I have to hurry. But I would love to talk to you more on another occasion, what do you say?”
I saw how her eyes got wider and began to shine. Slut. “Of course, Nora, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other very regularly.” With that said, I headed to my room and dressed for my doctor's appointment.
Reaching my room, I went to the sink and put a lot of soap on my hands. I washed them for minutes and stopped when I thought I was clean enough. I did not bother to bathe, or shower. I put on a pair of sports pants and a dark T-shirt, a pair of trainers, then, tied my greasy hair from not bathing for days in a ponytail, and voilà.
Coming downstairs, Erik was waiting for me at the door. When he saw me, he made an unpleasant gesture and motioned for me to hurry. We got in the car and started for the hospital.
The road was silent as always, neither he nor I had anything to say to each other. There was really nothing between us. Well, maybe yes, there was something, hate on my part.
Arriving at the hospital, we waited at the reception for my name to be called. About five minutes later, they told me that I could enter the doctor's office, with an entirely different person. It was not the same one who treated me the last time. I would have liked to thank him for his attention.
The doctor and a nurse started doing tests and asking me if I had any pain or symptoms of anything. I told them that I had nothing, and in fact that I felt good. The doctor took some notes and performed more tests. In any case, the doctor advised me to be extremely cautious because it could be worse if I were to receive another impact on the head. I was discharged from the doctor's office an hour after, and as Erik promised, he took me to a mall to pick out a dress for tomorrow's birthday.
Once there, I got carried away by the bustle of the people, the lights, the sideboards, and the smell of the food stalls. All that made me forget my reality. So I went shopping. I passed store by store, and I tried on the number of dresses and clothes that I wanted. I didn't care that Erik was fed up with this, I was on my own. Not only that, but I bought not just one dress, but many. I also chose blouses, pants, and without fail, several pairs of shoes and trainers.
When I finished, I was exhausted, without wanting to do anything else, nor was I hungry. But Erik insisted that we go to a restaurant to eat. As if I could say no.
Once in there, we ordered, and thereafter, Erik spoke, “I scheduled an appointment with the stylist in half an hour. I gave her instructions to take care of you, your appearance is not up to my standards. And tomorrow you must look presentable. When you're done, Thomas will come to pick you up. I have things to do.” I nodded, letting him know that I had heard him. Erik got up from the table and left.
The waitress arrived with the dishes, but I told her that the man who was with me had left, that we wouldn't need them any more. She left, letting me savour my food in peace and alone.
When I finished, I went to the beauty salon and the assistant immediately took care of me. She started doing my nails, then, my toenails, gave me a facial treatment and then did my hair. And I came out of there, three hours later, as a new person. I spoke to Thomas, to let him know that I had already come out, but he was outside the place waiting for me.
He asked me to follow him, as we walked to the car and headed in the direction of Erik's house. Upon arrival, he carried all my purchases up to my room and I followed him. He put the things down on the floor and left, not without saying goodnight to me before leaving. I didn't bother with the things on the floor, and I went to my wardrobe and took out my pyjamas. But first, I had to have a bath, since I had days without one. Then I filled the bathtub with different fragrances.
After I waited for it to be full, I went in. I had a great time there until the water got cold, and I was forced to leave. With one towel, I wrapped my head and with the other, I dried my body. But I realized that I had forgotten my pyjamas on the bed.
When I went to bed to find my clothes, I dried myself perfectly, and when I took off the towel to get dressed, the door to my bedroom opened. And I grabbed the towel back to cover as much of my body as possible.
Erik's intense gaze was fixed on me as he stood in the entry. He, in seconds, held my hands before I had a chance to do anything. Upon falling the towel on the floor, he focused exclusively on my body. The man was hungry for me and wanted to possess me. I could swallow with difficulty. The last time I was in this position was a long time ago.
I struggled to free my hands from his grip, but he wouldn't let go, so I broke out in a cold sweat. No, this was not happening.
Erik put my arms behind my back and began kissing my neck, my shoulders, and my breasts. There was a look of starvation on his face. When he became too rough, he threw me on the bed and sat on top of me. I was horrified and began to cry. That's when Erik put his hand on my face, blocking my view from his.
I heard how he unzipped his pants and opened my legs with his knee, but I was able to say no when I felt his penis at my entrance. Afterwards, it was impossible to stop him, he lashed out at me like a possessed animal.
My body was unprepared, and it had been a long time since my last time.
“Ah!” I tried to deflect the pain by grabbing the bedsheets with my fists. It was painful. His thrusts were so strong that it seemed like he was trying to hurt me.
“Ah!” Hold on Nora, this will end soon,
“Ahhh!” His movements became more erratic until I heard him groan. I stayed still there, without moving, waiting for him to remove his hand from my face, and get off me.
The need to run to the bathroom to clean me of his dirt was crawling all over me, but he buried his face in my hair and inhaled deeply, holding my head near to his chest. And after a few more seconds, he sat up and said, “You are my wife, Nora, this is my right, and I decide to have it any time I want it. I have given you enough time to adjust to your new reality, but enough is enough, it is time for you to take your role, in this house.”
After a few seconds, he got off me, and I only heard the sound of the door closing. I wasted no more time and ran to the bathroom. I scrubbed myself for hours because ants were crawling up all over. When I was done, I got out of the shower and went to the room, picked up my pyjamas from the floor and put them on calmly. Then I went to the closet and took out a new set of bedsheets and bedspreads. I went to bed and took everything off. Then I made the bed again with a clean set. I dried my hair as best I could and got into bed as if nothing had happened. I closed my eyes and let the day end.
