“Do you see that? The Holy Water is burning him!” Mrs. Dolan sounded frightened and Mr. Dolan cracked the whip down even harder.
This same scene played ever night for god knows how long. I felt weak and was honestly ready to give up, but the thought of Madison kept me going. As much as I hate her right now, I wouldn’t want to leave this world without seeing her one last time.
~.~
It had to be about a month that I’ve been chained down here. I lost track of the days while my hope that I would escape out of here diminished into nothing. The whippings and beatings were multiple times a night, the Gospel music played on repeat all day, and the whole starving me with only bread and water had me wishing for death.
Right when I was ready to close my eyes and prayed this was the last time I fell asleep, I heard a scuffle upstairs. I can make out Mr. Dolan shouting while Mrs. Dolan was screaming in hysterics, furniture was being tossed and broken, but I couldn’t make out the third voice I heard. I knew this was my only shot to get out of here, so I mustered the last of my energy and started shouting, “Help! Help!”, over and over again.
The banging and breaking increased until I heard one final loud thud. I hope whoever was upstairs will come down here and find me because I can’t see myself lasting another day. The basement door was flung open and I heard someone rushing down the stairs. It was still very dark, but I was able to make out the voice asking where I am.
“Jude! Where are you?” Ben yelled while he stumbled around in the dark looking for a light switch.
“I’m over here! The light switch is left from the stairs.” He found the switch quickly and flicked it on. It took me a few minutes to get adjusted to the bright light since I’ve been living in the pitch black for too long.
When I was finally able to open my eyes fully, the look on Ben’s face was one I’ll never forget. He looked pained and I realized I must look terrible. When the nightly whippings became to much of a bloody mess, Mr. Dolan liked to use his fists on the rest of me. For how swollen my face felt and how much weight I lost, I was probably unrecognizable.
“I’ll tell you everything Ben, but please just get me out of here.” My voice couldn’t help but crack. I always prided myself on being strong and never breaking, but this time I couldn’t be.
“Of course. Do you know where the key is to get you out of those chains?”
“Fuck! He carries it on him on his belt loop.” Without another word, Ben ran up the stairs. I really hope he would be able to get the key without a problem. I felt bad that Ben was in the middle of this now, but I was happy someone cared enough about me to come check on me.
“Got it!” Ben came rushing back down the steps. I was tired of praying and religion, but at this point I was thanking God that I met Ben when I did.
He got the chains undone, but I was still too weak to get up. Ben must have understood the situation because without thinking twice, he picked me up and put me over his shoulder. I felt him staring at my scars on my back and I couldn’t blame him. For how much my back was in pain, I could only imagine what horror it showed.
We got up the stairs into the kitchen and the sight of it shocked me. Their china cabinet was pushed over, dishes and chairs were broken all over the floor, and even their radio was smashed into pieces. The most surprising part was seeing a bloody Mr. Dolan unconscious on the floor with Mrs. Dolan rocking back and forth praying in the corner of the kitchen.
“God doesn’t save people like you. When you’re in hell, tell the devil I said hello.” Those were the last words I ever said to her and she responded by rocking faster and praying louder.
Chapter Twenty Three
Madison
I don’t know what I expected. I should have known he would just consider me as a one night stand like the rest of the girls he hooks up with. It was just part me of hoped I was getting the old Jude back that actually cared about me. I thought maybe he would let go of the past and let me in, but I thought wrong.
“Listen Madison…” I held my hand up to stop him from whatever speech he is going to give me about tonight. He had this whole time in the car to say something instead of making it awkward with the dead silence. All I wanted right now was to get in my bed with some of my heart left intact.
“Just stop.” I hated that my voice cracked. I didn’t want to give him anymore power over me, but right now I was hurt. Without looking at him, I got out of his car and headed to my door. I felt his stare the entire time until I closed the front door.
“Someone looks a little flushed.” Stella rushed over to take a peak out the curtains.
“Why is he punching the steering wheel?” Huh? I went to go look, but as soon as I did he sped away.
“I’m so stupid Stella.” I slouched down onto the couch and wrapped the blanket around me. Stella must have put two and two together because she
