The Tamed and Broken

I regained consciousness on the hospital bed, the smell of dried blood heavy in my nose.

Dylan stayed by my side, and it showed in the bags under his eyes and his untamed hair. He hadn’t slept a wink.

The moment I woke up, he embraced me with joy, but I pushed him away.

He was taken aback.

“Sarah, did I hurt you?”

I shook my head and scrambled out of bed to kneel before him.

“I’m sorry, sir. I wasted your time and energy.

“Please take me back to the manor. Ms. Bates needs a sparring partner, and Dobie can’t go without my care.”

Dylan stepped back, his eyes boring into my robotic smile.

He reached out to hold me, but I flinched, pulling my hands over my head in defense.

Dylan stared at me in surprise, his voice raspy.

“Sarah, w-what happened to you?”

I hung my head low in silence. The steady beeping of the medical equipment rang through the ward.

The shrill noise of a ringing phone broke the silence, and Tammy’s voice boomed through the speaker.

“Dylan, Dobie refuses to eat. I’m worried sick.

“I don’t know what to do. Maybe Sarah should come back.”

Before Dylan could say anything, I removed my hospital gown.

Dylan gasped at the sight of the menacing scars all over my body.

The call was cut short. Dylan’s voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

“These wounds… What happened to you?”

Keeping composed, I put on my domestic uniform and smiled ingratiatingly.

“Sir, it is my job to take good care of Ms. Bates and Dobie. I should get discharged from the hospital now.”

Losing his head, Dylan grabbed me by the collar.

“What happened to you?”

I replied in confusion, “What’s wrong, sir? Why aren’t you happy with my obedience?”

Dylan’s shoulders shook.

“I-I just want…”

With Tammy calling again, I had to bring his attention to answer the phone.

“Sir, it’s time to go, or Ms. Bates won’t be pleased.”

Back in the manor, Tammy clung to Dylan’s arm and pouted that he hung up on her.

I went to get Dobie’s food.

Dylan’s eyes followed me, his eyes vacant. Picking up on his behavior, Tammy barked an order at me.

“Get back to your quarters.

“You are not to step out of the quarters without my permission. Is that understood?”

“Yes, of course,” I responded subserviently.

Late into the night, the sound of muffled moans came from the room next door.

It was Dylan’s room.

Tammy strained her voice as if making sure I could hear her.

“Don’t you want me, Dylan?

“I missed you… Make it count. Give it to me raw...”

I pushed the window open a crack, so the night breeze would brush away the sedative powder hidden in my sleeve.

My phone vibrated.

“I’ve disabled the surveillance in the back. Take the fire exit out.”

Staying still, I merely listened to the frantically increasing panting in the other room.

When the drug kicked in an hour later, I retrieved an evidence chip from the lining of the dog bed.

I disappeared into the night and slipped into the car that had been waiting for me.