33----He bought me a gift

"Diana."

I rolled over onto my back. I yawned as I stretched my arms above my head. Ben sat on the edge of the bed. He was wearing a hoodie and a scarf around his neck. He put a hand in the front pocket of his sweater and brushed hair from his forehead.

"How does your head feel today?" he asked.

"Better," I said.

"Very good," he said.

He leaned down and kissed me. His hands came out of his pockets. Something cold wrapped around my wrist and I heard a "click". I know this feeling from Oliver.

I pulled away from Ben and saw one end of his handcuffs wrapped around my wrists. I jerked my arm, but the cold metal dug into my flesh.

"Let me go!" I screamed. I turned my legs to the side and tried to kick Ben. He stood up from the mattress and ducked out of my reach.

Ben pulled the other end of the handcuff to a wooden post on the headboard. I fought him and he easily defeated me. I clutched my other hand to my chest, but he managed to pry it away. He placed the other end of the handcuff on my wrist. He walked away from me as I was pinned to the bed. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

I gritted my teeth, my wrists burning. "Calm down, Diana," he said.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I have to go into town today," he said. "I'm going to get us some food and see if I can find a way to get antibiotics."

"Then why am I handcuffed to the bed?"

"I know what you were trying to do last night. I saw the keys on the counter. That explains why you were acting so strange."

I took a sharp breath. A lump formed in my dry throat and nausea spread to my stomach. The plan was to handcuff me to this bed and leave me here. This is how he was going to kill me.

"Book--"

He raised his hand to shut me up. I bit my lip. My shoulders hurt as I shrank back into bed.

"Don't worry, I'm not angry," he said. "I know you just want to visit your family. You know I'm sorry that can't happen yet. Maybe in the future, but not right now."

While I fought with him, Ben straightened the sheets and blankets that had been pushed to the end of the bed. He put the blanket over it and I adjusted the pillow behind my head. I kept biting my lip as he melted into me.

His fingers brushed the skin of my wrist. I looked up and saw that it was already red.

"Do me a favor and don't hurt yourself," he said.

"Let me go," I said.

"I can't," he said. "I'd love to take you with me, but I'm not sure anyone would recognize you. I can't really trust you just yet, and I don't want you wandering around the forest and getting hurt."

"Please, Ben. I promise I'll stay in the cabin."

"I hate having to do this, but it has to be. I'll only be there for an hour or so. Go back to sleep."

He leaned forward and kissed me. I turned my head to the side so he missed my lips. He sighed and pressed his lips to my cheek.

"I'll be back soon," he said.

He left the room. I listened to him walking around the cabin. The door slammed shut and the car engine revved.

I'm finally alone! But I was controlled.

I had to break free and run for help. I pulled down the restraints. The metal made the bones in my wrists ache. I shook my weight so I could roll over onto my stomach. The chains on the handcuffs were long enough to allow me some movement. I kicked the blanket off me and knelt down.

The chain ran through a post on the wooden headboard. I pulled the chain to the post. If I pull too hard, the wood may split. My hands will be glued together, but at least I'll be able to get out of here.

I leaned back as far as I could. I put all my weight on the chain. All I need is a broken link. I screamed in agony as the metal cuffs tore into my wrists. I closed my eyes tightly, tears welling up in my eyes. The fire burning in my wrists spread up my arms. I opened my eyes and saw warm blood dripping from my sleeves onto the pillowcase.

I stopped pulling, panting. I leaned forward and rested my head against the headboard. Tears welled up in his eyes and ran down his cheeks. I sniffed and sobbed as I leaned back again.

I flinched as the metal caught in the cut on my hand. I took a step back and screamed over the sound of my gritted teeth. I grabbed the chain with my hands and tried to free the metal from the wound. I pulled on the chain but nothing moved.

Blood dripped down my arms. I turned my wrist and saw that the thin skin around my wrist had torn open. Blood dripped onto the bed below me.

I fell on the bed. I twisted my wrists against the restraints and a new stream of blood began to trickle down my arms. My salty tears filled my lips. I tried to dry my eyes with my shirt sleeve. I curled up into a ball and lay on my side.

If I kept fighting, I would tear my wrist more. I couldn't allow myself to bleed while waiting for Ben to come back.

There was no clock in the bedroom and I couldn't remember how long he had been gone. I stood there and cried. I wanted to keep struggling to get free, but my wrists screamed in pain. Any movement caused severe pain in my arm.

I want to go home. I want to lie in bed. I wish my mom would ask me how my day went when she called me down for dinner. I wish Marcy would call me in the middle of the night when she gets bored working the night shift.

My eyes were still dry when I heard Ben return to the cabin. The door slammed shut and the plastic bag rustled.

"Dee-" Ben said as he walked into the bedroom. When he saw me, he stopped at the door frame. "My dear, what have you done again?"

He quickly walked to the side of the bed. He grabbed my shoulders and rolled me onto my back. My hands burned and I gasped. Ben's eyes were fixed on my bloody wrist. He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his keys. He took off the handcuffs. I crossed my arms over my chest. My shoulders hurt and I tried to stretch them.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

It was obvious what I was doing, but I had to lie to Ben again. I couldn't let him know I wanted to run away. I want to make him happy.

"I didn't expect you to come back." I lied. My throat was sore from crying and my voice was hoarse. "I am anxious."

"You know I will never leave you," he said.

He put his arms around me and lifted me into his lap. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and rocked us back and forth. He pressed his lips against my temple. I didn't move my hands, and the blood had already soaked through the front of my T-shirt.

"I won't leave you alone again," he said.

I cursed under my breath and rested my head on Ben's chest.

"Let's go clean up," Ben said. "I have prepared a gift for you, let me show it to you."

I raised my head from him and frowned.

"Did you buy me a gift?" I asked.

He smiled and kissed my cheek. "Yes, I did. Come on, let me show you."