His Destructive, Toxic Love

Casper was just here to blow off some steam.

With a cane in hand, she struggled her way upstairs. Each step felt like it took every bit of strength she had left.

He glanced down, lit a cigarette, and a cold, thin smile crept across his lips. The smoke swirled around him, his dark eyes taking on a mysterious, unreadable look.

...

Eliza's legs were completely numb. All night, it felt like they'd been amputated.

In the morning, she groggily got out of bed and checked her temperature-102 degrees Fahrenheit. She called Chelsea, "Chelsea, could you get me some fever medicine? I've got a fever." "What happened? Hold tight, I'm coming."

Without asking more, Chelsea rushed to the pharmacy, grabbed the meds, and drove over to Eliza's apartment complex.

"Elle?"

"Elle!"

Chelsea knocked for ages, but no one answered. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She remembered the spare key under the flowerpot and quickly fetched it.

She burst through the door and rushed to the bedroom. Eliza was in a feverish haze.

"Elle, are you okay? Forget the medicine. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Chelsea wasted no time getting Eliza to the nearest hospital. She watched Eliza's pale face, swollen knees, and injured palms, feeling a pang of heartbreak. How had this once-vibrant girl ended up like this? Eliza woke up the next morning. She saw Chelsea and struggled to sit up. "Chelsea."

Chelsea touched her forehead. "Thank God, the fever's gone."

"It's been ages since I had a fever this bad," Eliza said, managing a weak, self-deprecating smile.

Chelsea couldn't bring herself to smile back. Eliza's injuries had to be Casper's doing.

"What happened to your legs?"

Eliza didn't want to say, but Chelsea insisted. So, she gave a brief explanation.

Chelsea was furious. She had seen cruel people, but none as bad as this. The worst part? Even after all this, Casper still hadn't released Robin.

"What did you do to deserve Casper? He cheats and tortures you. Elle, you need to leave him, or he'll ruin you."

Eliza lowered her eyes. Of course, she would leave. She couldn't die-what would happen to her mom? What would happen to her brother, who was still stuck in Mercy Hospital?

"Chelsea, I don't think Casper will release Robin anytime soon. You have connections. Can you make sure Robin stays safe in there? I can pay."

Chelsea understood Eliza's worries but wondered if she even had the money to pay for her brother's stay. In the two years Eliza spent with Casper, all she had gotten was a free housekeeper and someone to vent on. Aside from injuries and family misfortunes, what else did she have?

"Where would you get the money? Has Casper given you a dime in the last two years?"

Though it stung, Eliza shook her head. "No."

"He's such a bastard."

Eliza stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Chelsea handled everything. Eliza's leg got the best treatment and healed quickly. As her health improved, so did her spirits.

Holding her cracked tablet, Eliza continued sending out resumes. An art training institute in the city center extended an offer for an interview. She decided to go after getting discharged the next day.