Free Obsessed by Bella Maybin Page A

exasperation. “What was that ?” she asked accusingly.
     
    “I…I fell.”
     
    “What do mean? How did you fall?”
     
    “I guess I got lightheaded and...and...I don’t know. It must be from all the sedatives you’ve been giving me,” I said. I prayed she wouldn’t notice the dirt I tracked on to the floor or see any disturbance with the window.
     
    She shook her head. I heard the front door open and the men’s voices were suddenly near. She called out to them. “Everything’s good. College girl just fell down. Got a little boo boo.”
     
    There was more laughing from out front. They lingered for a moment, probably to grab more beer, then headed back outside.
     
    “Shower’s over, bitch,” said Jackie. “Get your ass up and come out here.” She slammed the door, again leaving me alone.
     
    I let my head drop and was thankful for avoiding a near catastrophe. I got to my feet and inspected myself for damage. Nothing worse than what I had coming in.
     
    I switched the water to a more agreeable temperature and quickly rinsed myself. The escape attempt had an odd effect on me. It gave me hope. It made me angry. I was going to get the hell out of here one way or another.
     
    Stepping out of the shower, I didn’t even look for a towel. I knew there would be none. I ripped the shower curtain the rest of the way from where it was left hanging from the bar and used it to wipe away as much of the water as I could. But that wasn’t my concern. What I really was focused on was my next option.
     
    It became clear that I was going to have deal with Jackie first before I got out of here. I searched the room for anything I could use as a weapon. There was nothing beneath the sink. The cupboards were empty. Likewise for the drawers. I thought about the shower rod, but I couldn’t get it out of the fixtures. Nonetheless, the idea of chasing Jackie around this dump with a long, metal spear brought a smile to my lips.
     
    Then I saw it. My true last hope. I knocked the toilet paper roll to the floor and pulled the top off of the toilet tank. The porcelain piece was cold and heavy. But it wasn’t so heavy that it was unwieldy. In fact, I felt dangerous with it in my hands. I was gonna crack that bitch and get the hell out of here.
     
    ***
     
    My confidence may have been false, or short-lived, but either way, I was sick of being their victim. With my big toe, I slowly swung the bathroom door inward. I leaned close to the wall and peered around the corner into the empty hallway. Where did she go?
     
    Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. My senses heightened. I could hear shuffling somewhere down the hall. She had to be back in that room. I took a breath and pressed forward. There was nobody else inside, or at least that’s what I told myself. If I was going to do this, I could only focus on her. I walked with strong footsteps toward the room.
     
    When I stopped outside the bedroom, I heard her pause as well.
     
    “Well, are you comin’ in or not?” she asked. “It’s not gonna do you any good to put it off. Now come on in so I can get you dressed.” Her back was to me. She hadn’t looked up from sorting out the clothes.
     
    I gripped the top of the tank tightly in my hands and gritted my teeth as I walked up behind her.
     
    “Come around. I wanna see if this fits.”
     
    I didn’t move.
     
    “Damnit, don’t make me get one of the boys to come in here and get you ready,” she spun to look at me. “Because you’re really not gonna like tha-”
     
    I swung the heavy porcelain with all of my might. It connected squarely with her left temple and broke in half. She reeled back against the bed, a small line of blood dripped from somewhere near her eye. She looked up at me dazed...stunned.
     
    Her mouth formed an “O” but no sound came out. Her eyes met mine then darted to the door behind me. She was losing her feeble grip on consciousness. With the piece still in my hand, I hit her