Chapter 4 Free

Natalie stares at me in horror with her hands covering her lips in shock.

Why was she staring at me that way... Oh.

I finally realized I was standing before her, naked and vulnerable at the moment, my scars completely visible to her.

I stared at her silently, waiting for what she would do, I waited to see that look of disgust on her face, just like everyone else that saw my body.

I am shocked when she breaks out in a sob, and I stare at her confused about what to do.

With tears in her eyes, she walks to me wrapping her arms around me and pushing my face into her chest.

My heart rate increases because of the physical contact between us, my body itching to get her off me.

"I'm not going to ask you what happened, I'm not going to make you tell me what happened. I'm going to wait for you to feel safe around me and tell me what happened." She says still holding me tightly.

Even if she had asked now, I don't want to tell her.

"You do realize you're holding a naked female right?" I ask her still standing there awkwardly with my hands by my side.

Chuckling, she finally releases me cleaning the tears from her eyes.

I want nothing but to scrub the places she touched, but I don't know how to act around her yet. Would she hit me when she finds out I feel revolted when she touches me.

"Look at you, you're such a toothpick. We have to get you filled up with food quickly." She says cheerfully changing the topic while dragging me into the bathroom.

"Let's get you cleaned up first and in new clothes."

I stare at her as she drags me in, trying to understand her sudden mood changes.

"Do you want me to help you wash?" She asks while I step into the tub.

I give her a side eye, not replying to her question.

I still feel itchy about her touching me and she wants to wash me?

I developed a dislike for people touching me because of Daniel, I absolutely loathed it when someone touched me.

"I'd be outside if you need me." She smiles at me about to step out of the bathroom.

Before she went, I needed to tell her something.

"Natalie," I call her name and she stops midway out, turning to look at me.

"Yes?" She asks confused about why I stopped her.

"Don't tell anyone about what you saw," I say. She looks confused for a moment then she smiles and nods.

"I won't tell a soul." She promises before leaving the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.

Sighing, I sink into the bathtub finding the hot water soothing.

Did I really escape from Daniel? Was I really free from that man? After eleven years, did I finally get my freedom back?

I did it. I really did it.

Unable to control my emotions I let out a heart-wrenching cry, my tears streaming down my face and mixing with the hot water.

I didn't care if Natalie heard me, I cried. I cried for all the times I wasn't allowed to cry, I cried for all I lost and for my younger self.

Bringing my knees to my chest, I held myself tighter, praying this wasn't one of my dreams where I finally escaped. I prayed I wouldn't wake up to find myself still in that dark room with Daniel standing over me.

I scrubbed myself, scrubbing the dirt and dried-up blood from my skin. I scrubbed so hard my skin turned pink and was stinging, hoping to scrub out the effects of the past too, but that didn't work.

Unblocking the drain, I watched as the blood and mud drained off.

"Do you want me to wash your hair?" Natalie asks from the door and I gasp in shock, covering my body with my hands subconsciously.

I didn't hear her come in. How long has she been standing there?

I stared at her suspiciously as she stood by the door waiting for me to either accept or decline her help.

"I swear I just got here." She raises her hand in mock surrender.

Not saying anything, I looked at my reflection through the mirror on the opposite wall.

Red hair, freckles scattered on my face, tiny malnourished body.

My mismatched eyes were something that stood out more to me, the red and blue color of both irises staring back at me.

"So what do you say?" Natalie asks making me turn my attention to her.

Sighing, I sit on the bathtub with my back to her, holding my knees to my chest.

She shrieks in glee, rushing off to a cabinet by a corner. I hear stuff moving but I don't turn back to look at her. She placed the bottles close to me and I see it's just hair shampoo and hair conditioner.

Her hand touches my skin and I immediately recoil.

"Don't touch me," I tell her, fighting the urge to take the sponge and scrub my skin clean once again.

She remains quiet for a while not saying anything, finally, she sighs grabs the showerhead, and wet my hair. I bite my tongue when her hands come in contact with my hair, trying to stop myself from reacting.

After about twenty minutes of me controlling the urge to throw her hands away, she finally washes it off, drying my hair with a towel.

Carefully I step out of the bathtub, another towel tied around my body.

"I wasn't sure what your size was, so the clothes might be a bit large on you." She says but I don't really mind. The bigger the better.

Daniel hated it when I wore clothes that didn't fit me.

He always wanted me to show off my body and look hot for him.

I look at the clothes that lay on the bed, and without much thought, I throw them on without bothering to wear undies. Liking how comfortable they made me.

"So do you like them?" Natalie asks, looking at me with her usual smile.

I look at myself in the mirror, my reflection completely different from how I looked yesterday.

A loud knock sounded on the door and I jumped, completely frightened.

Natalie looks at me in pity, before her attention goes to the door.

"Who is it? I was certain I told no one to disturb us"

"Open the door, Natalie." He orders her.

My anxiety shoots up as my heartbeat increases because of fear.

Him? Why was he here?

"Natalie." He calls her name knocking once more on the door.

Rolling her eyes, Natalie walks to the door unlocking it.

"What do you want?" She asked him, staring up at him in distaste.

He ignores her, his eyes falling on me. He gulps as he looks me over, taking my small frame in.

"That's the best I could do," Natalie says but he doesn't reply, his eyes still on me.

Why was he looking at me that way? Does he think I'm attractive?

Oh God, what am I even thinking?

I rubbed my arms awkwardly, feeling hot under his gaze.

"Why do you look like you want to eat her?" Natalie asks, looking between the both of us.

Not saying he word, he turns around banging on the door as he leaves.

What was that?